Thanks for youre reply, Belle Gin, colorectal right? your father?
5 treatments total doesn't seem too bad at all.

I just lucked out and found a Roche Acrobat file with common and less common
side effects of Avastin
http://www.rochecanada.com/pdf/avastinpiE.pdf
so you know what to watch for...
Strangely it says that "Drugs that may interact with AVASTIN include:
irinotecan"
Go figure...

and more on Avastin  - the half life is approximately 20 days, so I see why
it's given every 3 weeks.
I aslo note that there's two sized/dose? vials...
http://www.australianprescriber.com/index.php?content=/magazines/vol28no4/104_10
6_newdrugs.htm

Bevacizumab Avastin (Roche)
100 mg/4 mL and 400 mg/16 mL in single-dose vials

Bevacizumab is a genetically engineered humanised monoclonal antibody against
vascular endothelial growth factor. By binding to the growth factor,
bevacizumab prevents it from binding to endothelial receptors.

In a study of 104 untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
bevacizumab was used in combination with fluorouracil and folinic acid. High
and low doses of bevacizumab were tested in this regimen. The response rate,
as judged by changes in tumour size, was 24% with the high dose regimen and
40% with the low dose regimen. This gave the low dose regimen a statistically
significant advantage over the 17% response rate seen in a control group of
patients who received fluorouracil and folinic acid alone. Compared to the
control group, patients given the combination containing the low dose of
bevacizumab also had a significantly longer median time before their cancers
progressed (9 versus 5.2 months). Their median survival was 21.5 months
compared to 13.8 months in the control group.1

Following this trial, the low dose of bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) was studied in
addition to a regimen containing irinotecan, fluorouracil and folinic acid.
The four drugs were given to 402 patients with previously untreated metastatic
disease and the results were compared with those of 411 patients given the
three-drug regimen plus a placebo. Overall the response rate was 44.8% in the
bevacizumab group and 34.8% in the control group. The progression-free
survival was 10.6 months with bevacizumab compared with 6.2 months. There was
also a significant difference in median survival time; 20.3 months in the
bevacizumab group versus 15.6 months in the control group.2

Bevacizumab has to be diluted and given as a slow intravenous infusion once
every 14 days. The antibody has a half-life of approximately 20 days.

Although bevacizumab improves survival by a few months it increases the risks
of adverse effects. In the phase 3 trial there were significantly more serious
adverse events in the patients taking the bevacizumab regimen than in those
taking irinotecan, fluorouracil and folinic acid (84.9% versus 74%).
Bevacizumab was associated with increased leucopenia, diarrhoea and
hypertension.2

Although there is a risk of venous and arterial thrombosis, including stroke
and myocardial infarction, there is also a risk of fatal haemorrhage in
patients taking regimens that include bevacizumab. The gut perforations which
can occur with bevacizumab2 may also be fatal. As wound healing may be
affected, treatment should not begin until at least a month after surgery.
Proteinuria is another problem and if the nephrotic syndrome develops
treatment should be stopped. Congestive cardiac failure has also been
reported.

Bevacizumab is approved for use with fluorouracil and folinic acid, or with
fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan. [end quote]

And to answer my own question: Avastin disrupts the process of new blood
vessel formation (on a different web page), so I think we have enough
information now on Avastin.

Best wishes to your father; some colorectal patients seem to do quite well,
for a number of years.
J

Thanks Goerge. You guys are the best. I forget who was asking now, but is surely
reading your experiences.

Is US Thanksgiving over? I'd like to start a roll call.
Hopefully we'll have your Dec 1st update in it, as well.
hugs from me to you,
J