Avastin (bevacizumab)
Targeted therapy (VEGF antibody) · Used for: Colorectal cancer, Lung cancer, Ovarian cancer
💉 Given by IV or injection · Targeted therapy (VEGF antibody)
Cliff notes
What it is: Targeted therapy (VEGF antibody).
How it's given: An IV infusion every 2 or 3 weeks, usually with chemo. Biosimilar versions exist.
How it works: Tumors need new blood vessels to grow. Avastin blocks a protein called VEGF that signals new blood vessels to form, so it helps starve the tumor.
Common side effects and what helps at home
| Side effect | What can help |
|---|---|
| High blood pressure | Your team will check it at visits; you may check at home. |
| Nosebleeds | Usually minor. Pinch your nose and lean forward. |
| Protein in the urine | Checked with urine tests. |
| Headache, tiredness | Rest and fluids. |
Not everyone gets these. Your team may suggest other ways to manage them.
Call your care team now if you have:
- Severe belly pain, constipation with vomiting, or fever (possible hole in the bowel)
- Bleeding that won't stop, coughing up blood, or vomiting blood
- Signs of stroke or heart attack: chest pain, sudden weakness, trouble speaking (call 911)
- Wounds that won't heal. Tell your team before any surgery
- Severe headache, confusion, seizures or vision changes (rare PRES)
- Swelling in your legs, shortness of breath or sudden weight gain (possible heart failure)
- Foamy urine or swelling (protein loss from the kidneys)
- Chills, rash or trouble breathing during the infusion
Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain or signs of stroke.
🗓 What to expect
1️⃣ Before you start
- Ask your team for a written schedule and an after-hours phone number.
- Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements.
2️⃣ During each infusion
- You'll get the medicine through an IV in a clinic; nurses check you during the infusion.
- Tell the nurse right away about chills, itching, flushing or trouble breathing.
- Bring a snack, water and something to pass the time.
3️⃣ Between doses
- Watch for the side effects below and use the checklist.
- Keep up with blood tests and visits.
- Call your team for anything in the red box.
✅ Side-effect checklist
Print this and check off what you notice so you can tell your team.
| Side effect | Noticed? | Notes for my team |
|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | ☐ | |
| Nosebleeds | ☐ | |
| Protein in the urine | ☐ | |
| Headache, tiredness | ☐ |
Help paying for Avastin
Official manufacturer program:
- Genentech Patient Support Services: Benefits checks and copay help; the Genentech Patient Foundation for uninsured or low-income patients.
Copay cards are usually only for people with commercial (job or marketplace) insurance. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, look at free-drug programs and these independent foundations:
- PAN Foundation: Copays and coinsurance, including for people with Medicare, when a disease fund is open.
- HealthWell Foundation: Grants for copays, deductibles and premiums when a fund is open.
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation: Help with treatment copays for insured people under income limits.
- Good Days: Copay help and some travel costs.
- NeedyMeds: Free database of assistance programs, open to anyone.
📋 Medicare: Medicare Part B usually covers drugs given by infusion in a doctor's office or hospital outpatient clinic. You typically pay 20% after the Part B deductible. See Medicare and your cancer drugs.
More: Our guide to paying for cancer treatment.
💬 What experts are saying
OncLive reports that on February 10, 2026, the FDA approved Keytruda with weekly paclitaxel (with or without Avastin) for some people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer whose tumors test positive for PD-L1. A tumor test is used to see who may qualify.
Source: KEYNOTE-B96 Approval Reinforces Shift Toward Biomarker-Driven Treatment in Recurrent PROC (OncLive, March 5, 2026)
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❓ Questions to ask your doctor
- What is the goal of this treatment for me?
- How will we know if it's working?
- Which side effects should I call about right away, and what number do I call after hours?
- Which medicines, vitamins or supplements should I avoid?
- Will this affect my ability to work, drive or care for my family?
- What will this cost me, and who can help me with coverage?
Support groups
- Fight Colorectal Cancer: Patient guides, advocacy and community
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance: Helpline (877-422-2030) and patient navigation
- LUNGevity: Patient education, support groups and survivorship programs
- GO2 for Lung Cancer: Helpline, biomarker testing support and navigation
- Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA): Woman to Woman peer support, education and research
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC): Support groups, the Teal Hearts Network and education
- CancerCare: Free counseling, support groups and financial help
- Cancer Support Community: Support groups, a helpline and the MyLifeLine online community
Common questions
Why do I need to stop Avastin before surgery?
Avastin can slow wound healing. Your team usually stops it weeks before and after surgery.
Does Avastin cause hair loss?
Avastin itself isn't known for hair loss; chemo given with it often is.
📄 The official FDA label for Avastin, including its patient information section, is on DailyMed.
Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write