Colorectal Cancer Treatment With Avastin & Folfox
Colorectal cancer occurs when cells within your intestines mutate and begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. Doctors rely upon a number of treatments for colorectal cancer, including a combination therapy using the medications Avastin and Folfox.
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Identification
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Folfox is a prescription intravenous chemotherapy drug that contains folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin. Avastin is the brand name of the prescription medication bevacizumab, which is also administered intravenously.
Function
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Folfox functions by preventing cancerous cells from making copies of their genetic material, making it impossible for them to continue growing and eventually leading to their death. Avastin cuts off the supply of nutrients that cancer cells require to survive, which also contributes to their death.
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Indications
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Doctors typically use the Avastin and Folfox combination treatment for Stages 3 and 4 colorectal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. In some cases, the drug treatments are used following surgery to remove the colorectal tumor.
Time Frame
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Most doctors prescribe one intravenous infusion of Folfox every two weeks for up to 12 weeks of treatment, explains Cancer Research UK. How often you receive Avastin depends upon the type of your colorectal cancer.
Side Effects
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Common side effects of Folfox for the treatment of colorectal cancer include an increased risk for developing bacterial or viral infections, tiredness, breathlessness, easy bruising and fatigue, cautions Cancer Research UK. Side effects frequently associated with Avastin include belching, nosebleeds, loss of balance, diarrhea, dry mouth, hair loss, heartburn, indigestion and weight loss, warns the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
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Even with treatments like Avastin and Folfox, only 7 percent of patients with Stage 4 rectal cancer and 8 percent of patients with Stage 4 colon cancer survive for five years after treatment, according to the American Cancer Society. The prognosis for Stage 3 cancer is better with a 56 percent five-year survival rate for rectal cancer and a 44 to 83 percent survival rate for colon cancer.
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