Faslodex Girls

Tina2

Good luck to you, Tish!

Susan, that is wonderfully ambitious for a treatment day. I usually roll out of my onc appointment to the curb outside his building, then heft my sorry sore butt into my partner's waiting car. Today she is felled by the ubiquitous flu, so I am on my own.

Tina

P.S. But what about your evening ritual of consuming Chinese food?

Denny123

Tish,

Check out the boards for a Xeloda thread.  Many of my pals have been on it and it is very easy and also very effective.

Good luck!

Denise

Tish_13

Thanks Denise, I will. I was concerned it may be harder side effect wise but more people are assuring me it could be as easy as Faslodex with out the lumpy butt!



Take care

Denny123

Typically, peeling hands and feet are the only problem.  Keep plenty of lotion on them.

Lotion and socks at night.

Tish_13

Thank you for the lotion info. I have been using Aquaphor since my mastectomy back in 08. My fancy friends tried to talk me into

to using Le Mer for scaring...You are right just keeping the skin hydrated and protected (socks) is the key. Although it is hard to find nice gloves in So Cali!

Denny123

I like cotton gloves.  I use them in the winter when I get the finger cracks.  They do get kind of yucky looking, but who cares!

RangerMom

Faslodex Girls, got a question? I had my shots on Thursday, up high on the hips and today, my lower back all across the back is aching so bad. I hadn't had this before with previous faslodex shots. This was my 4th set I believe. Anyone else had anything like that. My two injection site area are very tender too. Any suggestions, let me know. I'm thinking maybe a heating pack

stellaratovsky

Rangermom, I had that happen to me what helps me is a nice hot bath with Epsom salt. I lay there for like a half an hour I come out like a new person..

susan_02143

Tina and I have both had lower back pain. My PT was able to help me, while Tina just lives with the pain. I have just finished month 35, and most months have not been painful. I don't do heat, cold, baths, anything. More likely to take a nap.

*susan*

RangerMom

thanks all. I just took a hot bath and its still there. I'm going to take a pain pill and go to bed. How long did the pain last, do you remember. I'm guessing it should go away in a day or two. I see my onc on Thurs so if its still there I'll mention it.

Tish_13

Hope you are feeling better RangerMom

stellaratovsky

I started faslodex a little over a month ago. I was only on femera and zometa and I progressed a bit so they added faslodex which I hope it works. I so far had 3 injections within one month and know I will have it once a month. The pain is still there and at times it is really bad. How long before it gets a bit better with faslodex.

Linda-n3

Has anyone who is very thin requested to have the injection in the thigh rather than gluteus muscle? I know that is the site that is used for children IM injections. I also appreciated the comment about talking with the nurse about just getting the needle into the muscle and not plunging it in up to the needle hub. My previous MO really wanted me to try faslodex, but I just can't get past the IM thing.



I have a new MO, don't know what she wants to do, but I am trying to keep an open mind, trying to trust her (I already trust her more than the previous MO). This is my 3rd recurrence in 2 years, and the new MO basically has indicated I will need to be on treatment similar to Stage IV, treating it like a chronic disease, even though she still considers it "possibly curable" if I go through chemo, rads, surgery, and hormonal all over again. Even then, she says Er+ "hides" and it might look like it is gone, but it comes back out once that treatment is done, with timing being short or long. So it sounds to me like ANY Er+ is kind of a life-time treatment plan.



Hoping for a clean PET/CT scan this week, but dreading treatment options regardless.

EvaPerone

Linda: Many women with ER+ cancer do get cured. I admit I actually read your option with envy. Yes, treatment for a cure sucks, as it is by nature more aggressive. But it can be cured. That kept me going through the worst. And I was cured for two years. Hang in.

Tree3

Eva, it's my understanding that once diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer there is no cure. Remission, yes. Cure, no.



On another subject I had both a bone and cat scan yesterday, called my onc this morning for results, and as yet have not heard from her. I'm trying to tell myself that this a good sign as if things were bad she'd have called earlier. Right????

Tina2

Tree, I don't know how your treatment team is set up, but I get my scans at a facility separate from my doctor's office-clinic and it takes a while for them to read the scan and report. Perhaps your onc simply does not yet have the report/scan or has not had time to focus on it. Give her a bit more time and try not to worry.

I know, I know, easy for me to say...but at least I speak from experience!

Tina

Tree3

Tina, I'm trying to be patient, but I'm pretty sure she received it this morning. Here's how I'm trying to look at it. She deals with different levels of cancer all day, some much more serious than others. And because my scans were good, it's easier for her to wait until the end of the day to let me know. The time now is 4:55 and I'm thru worrying for the day. Thanks for your response, though, and I hope I'm right.

Teresa

stellaratovsky

I just started faslodex in December to be exact it is the 4th of December. I had 3 treatments I will have my 4th at the end of month. The first 3 were like every two weeks. I know I just started it but I still have lots of pain. When will faslodex kick in???

Tree3

Tina,my onc called a little after five and told me very good news. The nodes in my lungs have shrunk considerably and the nodes on my bones have shrunk as well. She is astounded at how well I've done since August. Aromasin and faslodex, the two miracle workers. I am thrilled!!!!

Tina2

Tree, fantastic! GREAT news! Now breathe and have some fun!



Tina

Tree3

Going to have fun tomorrow. Too emotionally drained today. But thanks.

Tina2

Stellaratovsky, as far as pain goes, the injections affect everyone differently. Go back through this thread and see what people advise. As far as effectiveness, Faslodex can take a while to work, but it can wind up working very well. Hang in!



Tina

Tish_13

Tree,

Great to hear your good news...have a blast!

c-k-j

It is good to catch up on this board, hello to new members.  I will be getting my injection next week and I still have "sensitivity" from last month's.  I was going over the tips and I'm not sure why I can still feel it.  I think it is a combintation of the nurse  being a ittle quicker this time or that my muscles just don't rebound as quickly as they used to.  I will try the benedryl - the one tip I haven't used - to see if that helps.  I, too, am so thankful for this treatment and it's benefit and will live with the lumpy butt if I have too! I wish the very best to all on this medication.  Blessings,

bourscheid

Faslodex newbie here...coming from a different perspective.  I had been classified as Triple Negative due to my breast tumor.  Have been on chemo since Oct. 2008 with only one break from this Aug. until this past Tuesday.  Had a liver biopsy Jan. 7 which showed that my liver tumor is ER+.  I was already scheduled to begin Doxil and the onc has now added Faslodex to my arsenal.  It is such a relief to know that I have more options at my disposal!  Praying this works for all of us!  

Tish_13

Bourscheid,

Welcome to the group. I hope the Faslodex works for you, it has been an easy drug as in no real side effects for me, but you have been through the treatment gauntlet! I maybe moving on to Xeloda next month as my bone scans have shown more progression than improvement. I have faith that some drug or combination of drugs out there will work for me.

All the best to you.

ButterflyLady

I am new to this thread.  I will be having my 3rd faslodex set of shots the 28th of the this month.  The shots hurt worse than they did the first time, plus I have had more soreness in my hips.  Other than that, I have felt okay.  Arimidex and tamoxifen quit working for me and I had liver mets.  I had RFA done on the mets and he started me on faslodex.  I will be having a PET scan done in Feb. and I am hoping that nothing new lights up.

Tina2

Welcome, newbie Faslodex Femmes. I have no advice about soreness and painful back and joint problems, as I haven't been able to figure out how to effectively address those myself. The soreness I can live with easily, but the back problem is an ongoing QOL issue. I do find that wet heat feels great on my lower back, but have been warned by my nurse not to use heat for several days after the injections because it causes the body to absorb the Faslodex too quickly. So I am compliant and obey.

Honestly, I sometimes don't know what to believe, but I am trying to trust these folks because they're all I've got. I keep suspecting I have bone mets in addition to my proven arthritis, but there is no evidence. I can't help but think of my wheelchair-bound mother who had crippling arthritis for many years and then was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer that progressed to Stage IV within several years without any of her doctors noticing because of her arthritis. By the time she was finally scanned it had metastisized almost everywhere and she died within weeks.

(Sorry if this side story depresses any of you; I have never discussed my mom on this forum and just felt like doing so now. I was supporting her financially, but counted on other family members to get her to the doctor. They did, but somehow her doctor--whom she adored--missed the fact that she had raging metastatic cancer. I still seethe at the thought---and feel sad and guilty. )

Tina

RangerMom

Hi all, My back pain got worse. had xrays of the lumbar spine and there's something showing nonspecific they say on my L4. Bone scan next Wed.  I'm thinking its more mets but hoping that its not, maybe just something old from epidurals or something else I can't remember. I'll keep you posted. I saw someone asking about bone pain and will the Faslodex kick in for that. I've only had 5 injections so I hadn't been on long before I got new bone pain in my back. I had bone pain while on the Faslodex and while undergoing radiation to the spine, but that did calm down. I would check with your onc with that question, its a really good question, if the Fasldex will help with the bone pain. it seems to me, that any pain is not a good sign. Anyway, God Bless you all and I've got a tough week ahead waiting on more results to see if there is spread.  I wonder what happens if its spread?

Aerial

RangerMom, I'm so sorry you are having pain and must go through the torture of waiting for scan results.  (Sometimes, I feel like I live from scan to scan...it's a crappy situation).  I hope there's been no spread.  But if that is the case, I'm sure there are other drug options.  It seems there are a lot of them "out there" in the land of science.

Welcome ButterflyLady, Linda and bourscheid!  I hope your experience with Faslodex will be effective, side effect free and long lasting!

Tree3--so happy to hear you've had improvement!

Let's see...I had my16th Faslodex injection on Tuesday and that means my injection sites hurt worst on the third day after.  I have a little bruise on the left side and a little lump on the right.  Massaging the lumpy area helps it go away faster.  The overall pain is slight.

stellaratovsky--Welcome to the thread!  In my experience, Faslodex has not helped bone pain.  In fact it has stirred up the arthritis pain in my knees and ankles.  My mid to lower spine has the cancer lesions and they have given me little to no pain despite compression fractures.  IF I did have cancer-caused bone pain my oncologist said she would use radiation to lessen it.

I admit I'm still confused about Stage IV and possible cures.  As far as I understand, there can be remission, stability, no progression and even--No Evidence of Disease but, not a cure.  The cancer cells will be hiding somewhere and make themselves known eventually.

Tina--I'm sad and angry to hear about your Mom's tragic death.  It's my opinion, that effective scans should be used much more quickly than they are!  How else can a doctor get a good view of what is happening in a person's body, especially if cancer has been confirmed in any other part of the body??  I partly blame the money grubbing health insurance companies.  I think anyone with cancer should get ALL the help possible without needing to "fight" for a treatment with an insurance company!  The radiologists who read my scans can tell arthritis from bone cancer so, I seethe right along with you.  I don't know if your Mom's age was a factor in her mis-dagnosis but, when my Dad was in his 80's and suffering from several health problems I felt many of his complaints were ingnored or just "blown off" 'cause he was old.  A very sad state of medical care for our elderly is a travesty.  (I step down from my soap-box).

Hugs love and prayers to all of you my faslodex sisters.