Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers effecting women in the United States. There are several types of breast cancer. Some are more aggressive than others. Treatments for breast cancer are determined by how aggressive your cancer is and how far along the cancer has progressed. Clinical trials and research have found that certain combinations a treatments work best for certain cancers. For metastatic breast cancer, the combination of paclitaxel and bevacizumab is a common treatment.
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic cancer is determined by whether or not the cancer has spread from its primary site. Your primary breast cancer cells can break off and enter your blood stream or lymphatic system. These cells may end up in another area and begin to grow. Once new growths appear, your breast cancer is classified as metastatic. Metastatic breast cancer can spread from one breast to the other or spread to other organs. Metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer and has a risk of continuing to spread if left untreated.
Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel is also called Taxol or Onxal. Paclitaxel is a anti cancer chemotherapy drug. This drug is approved for use in treatment of breast, ovarian, lung, bladder, prostate and many other solid tumor cancers. Paclitaxel is given through an infusion in your vein. Paclitaxel inhibits the micro tubule structures in your cells. The micro tubules play an important part in the dividing and replicating of cells. Inhibiting the micro tubules cause the cells to die. Paclitaxel is used to cause death in the cancer cells.
Bevacizumab
Also known as Avastin, bevacizumab is a tumor starving therapy. Bevacizumab blocks a protein in your cells that is needed for growth. This protein in often overproduced in cancer cells causing them to grow uncontrolled and spread. Bevacizumab blocks the protein causing the cells to starve as it no longer gets what it needs to grow. Bevacizumab is taken as a pill and is not considered a chemotherapy drug. Bevacizumab is given to patients to help stop the growth and spread of their cancer.
Paclitaxel plus Bevaciumab
The Federal Drug Administration has approved the combination of Paclitaxel and Bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in patients who have not previously received chemotherapy. Metastatic breast cancer is aggressive with the risk that it will continue to spread. This combination will attempt to kill the cancer cells as well as stop the cancer from spreading. Using paclitaxel plus bevacizumab fights your cancer cells in two different ways in an attempt to kill as many of the cancer cells as possible. If your breast cancer has not spread, your doctor may only use one treatment. Combining treatments is often used to treat aggressive or metastatic cancers.
Considerations
Discuss all your treatment options with your doctor. Learn what type of breast cancer you have and what the risk of spreading is. Combination therapies can be harsh and cause serious side effects. Being prepared for these side effects will make your treatment more bearable. Keep in mind that every treatment plan is dependent on the individual patient, and your doctor may have other treatments planned for you.
Tags: breast cancer, cancer cells, breast cancer, cancer spread, your doctor
