| fall of 2003, Bridget Beranek, a 44-year-old wife and | | | | Fortunately for Bridget, a new treatment for metastatic |
| mother of two young girls, was gearing up for a busy | | | | colorectal cancer had just been approved by the FDA, |
| holiday season filled with family functions, parties and | | | | only weeks before her diagnosis. Her oncologist |
| shopping. So when she began to lose her appetite and | | | | decided to treat her with a combination of traditional |
| energy, Bridget initially chalked it up to holiday stress. | | | | chemotherapy and a targeted therapy called |
| When the New Year came and went, but Bridget's | | | | Avastin® (bevacizumab). Though she occasionally |
| symptoms were still present, she knew it was more | | | | has side effects such as fatigue, Bridget's cancer has |
| than stress. After several visits to her primary care | | | | responded to the treatment and she is doing well. She |
| physician, Bridget saw an internist, and underwent a | | | | is thankful to be able to spend time with her husband |
| colonoscopy. In March 2004, she was diagnosed with | | | | and daughters, and to practice her favorite hobby, |
| stage IV colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver. | | | | photography. |
| "I know it sounds cliché, but I couldn't believe this | | | | Typically, metastatic colorectal cancer patients |
| was happening to me," said Bridget. "Scheduling a | | | | undergo surgery followed by chemotherapy. Today's |
| colonoscopy was not a priority for me because I was | | | | targeted therapies, which are designed to attack |
| under 50 and lived a healthy lifestyle. I ate right, didn't | | | | cancer cells in a more specific way than |
| drink or smoke, and went regularly for a mammogram. | | | | chemotherapy, provide an additional tool for doctors to |
| One thing I learned from this experience is that colon | | | | use in treating this disease. Avastin, for example, is an |
| cancer is a disease more people, especially women, | | | | angiogenesis inhibitor, which means it interferes with |
| need to be better informed about." | | | | the blood vessels that feed cancer tumors, to help |
| The American Cancer Society reports that colorectal | | | | prevent tumors from growing and spreading to other |
| cancer, commonly referred to as colon cancer, is the | | | | parts of the body. Avastin is approved for use in |
| second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the | | | | combination with intravenous 5-fluorouracil-based |
| United States, second only to lung cancer. It is also the | | | | chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients with |
| third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and | | | | metastatic colorectal cancer. |
| women. | | | | It is important to keep in mind that Avastin has been |
| Risk factors for colon cancer include a family or | | | | associated with side effects in colorectal cancer. |
| personal history of the disease, intestinal polyps or | | | | Serious side effects occur rarely, but can include |
| chronic inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, a high-fat | | | | gastrointestinal perforation and slow or incomplete |
| diet, and being age 50 or older. Symptoms may include | | | | wound healing and blood clot complications. Other |
| changes in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, | | | | more common side effects seen in clinical trials include |
| vomiting, fatigue, blood in the stool or unexplained | | | | nosebleeds, high blood pressure, proteinuria (too much |
| weight loss, though many people are diagnosed | | | | protein in the urine, which may be a sign of kidney |
| without any symptoms. | | | | damage), weakness, pain, diarrhea, and a reduced |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | white blood cell count. |
| (CDC) recommends men and women over age 50 | | | | Because everyone is different, it is not possible to |
| who have an average risk for colon cancer receive | | | | predict what side effects an individual may experience. |
| screening. Higher-risk patients, such as those with a | | | | If you have questions about side effects or treatment |
| family history of the disease, should talk with their | | | | with Avastin, talk to your doctor or another member of |
| physicians about when they should begin screening. | | | | the health-care team. |