Metastasis after 14 yrs

kellyma33

After 14 years I am having my 2nd metastatic recurrence. The recurrence is  in 2 lymphnodes in my chest. Last time it recurred in fluid in plural lining. Now I am 55 yrs old and not interested in my quality of life, once again, being reduced to fatigue and chronic pain... which I hear Arimidex does. I have been on Arimide for 2 weeks and so far so good. But my understanding is theside effects will begin after about 2 months or so. My longevity from the last recurrence was due to Mega Chemo as well as shutting done ovaries at age 39. Our 4 kids are grown. Is there anyone out there that has had success treating their recurrent, metastatic breast cancer with alternative medicines rather than arimidex, femara, etc. Thanks!

Erica3681

I would recommend giving the Arimidex a chance. Although some women experience side effects from that medication, many have few if any problems with it and take it for many years. I took it and had mild side effects, nothing that interfered with my quality of life. It can keep metastatic cancer under control for years in some cases.

Good luck,

Barbara

KerryMac

All I can say is I have been on Arimidex for a couple of months. I am not finding it difficult at all. I can feel it in my joints, I feel a bit creaky, but nothing that would make me want to stop taking it. My Onc also said the SE's tend to diminish with time, your body gets used to it. She also tells me the hormonals are one of the strongest weapons we have in our arsenal.

Hope you do well on it. 

wendyk13

PLEAS,,,,try the Arimidex!  My joints too are extremely creaky when I first get out of bed...for a whole 5 minutes!  And then ....  nothing!  I take 500mg of magnesium with my calcium and D3 gel caps and I feel fine.  Even get to the gym most days.  It's been 2 years now and still doing fine on the arimidex....even my bones are doing fine.  This is an important weapon for you....please give it a few months at least....

mthomp2020

I'd definitely give the Arimidex a try.  If it starts to bother you, you can always stop it and switch to another AI.  The side effects from Arimidex go away when you stop it, from what everyone is saying.  I wish it were an option for me. 

From what you're saying, you were diagnosed Stage IV 14 years ago, and this is your first progression since the initial diagnosis?  That is truly amazing!  Who knows, maybe you can kick the beast to the curb again and get another long run like that! 

LuAnnH

Kelly, don't assume you will succumb to terrible side effects from arimidex.  Hormonal therapy for mets is not that bad.  I have been doing it for over 3 years now and am doing ok.  Not everybody gets the worst side effects, you just hear about them because people only complain when theres a problem.  So think about it there are tons of people successfully on the drug with little to no problems.  I honestly don't know anyone that successfully did an alternative route.  I've known people who have tried them and most of them have since passed on.  I wish there were a good alternative form of tx that had any validity to it because I would be willing to look at it if it were there.  There is a forum on these boards about alternative tx, you might want to check there to see if anyone is stage IV and doing alternative tx

Anonymous

     Give the hormonal route a chance.  That is how I was treated when my BC recurred after 8 years and those treatments kept me stable for 9 years.I was on arimidex, but only a short time before my ocnco switched me to aromasin.....not because I had problems with the arimidex but because he said studies showed more dramatic results with the aromasin.  Aromasin was what did the most for me and I have just recently gone back on it after deciding chemo was too rough on me.  I had a consult with an onco at MD Anderson just two weeks ago and he has me back on the aromasin...won't know if it is working again for a few more months, but hope so since I did not have many SEs at all with AIs.   

zeeka71

Hi kellyma33, I am on Arimidex for stage four mestastisized cancer I have had no side affects and I feel great, maybe it is not the Arimidex? I cannot take other medications but that one has been great.Please bear with it it might turn out good for you .Hugs to you Zeeka

kellyma33

Thanks so much to all of you for your support and helpful, encouraging, informative comments. Actually my initial BC was in 1988 at age 33!  It was a tumor in my left breast with 9 out of 18 lymphnodes involved. Hormone recepetors postive, which is a blessing. 4 yrs later it recurred (2 yrs after giving birth to our 4th child...think the pregnancy kicked the hormones into high gear). That metastatic recurrence was a plural effusion consisitent with the primary BC. For that treatment went to Arlington Treatment Center in Arlington, Texas (we live in VA). Had Mega doses of what we affectionally refer to as "Killer Chemo" as well as monthly shots of Leupron to shut down my ovaries. It worked!  14 years later I have 2 lymphnodes in my chest  with what we think is BC. Can't get to with needle biopsy so we are trying Arimidex to see if it shrinks. If so Onyc says likley it is recurrent metastatic BC, if they don't shrink then we'll do surgical biopsy. In the meantime I am actually doing good on the arimidex. It has been only one month. BTW..while scanning my body for other tumors docs found kidney stones and a swollen kidney. So that was a blessing. Thanks so much for your all support. It was a very good feeling to come to this website this morning and find women had replied to my post. I will continue with Arimidex.

~Kelly

hrf

Kelly, stay strong and positive. I've been on Arimidex for 2 months now and doing well with it. The se's are minimal and very manageable so far. Best wishes

kellyma33

Thanks Helena...I almost feel whiny compared to what you are dealing with. Will say 14years ago I had a very bleak diagnosis with my metastatic recurrence...and made it for 14 years!

You too stay strong and positive.

~Kelly 

Erica3681

Glad you're doing well so far, Kelly. Please keep us posted on your continued progress.

fabulousmisty4

My Mom was diagnosed with Mets of the bone.  She had and has been breast cancer free for 15 years.  She has had radiation, Femare, Zometa and lots of pain meds.  What can I expect to see over the next few months?

hollyann

Sorry you have to take Arimidedx....I am on it and have been for almost a year...My QOL is so not what I would like......I am only 45 yrs young and feel 100 yrs old some days....And the pain in my feet is jsut about more than I can stand.....I have one girl at work who laughs at my pain!...She thinks it's funny that I am always having some sort of pain.....Give me time...I am a passive aggressive....I will let it go for so long then I will let her have bothe barrels of my frustration with her!.....

Moissy

Kelly,

Glad to hear that you are giving Arimidex a try. I have been on it for 5 years next month. It has been worth it. Side effects for me were not terrible. I did have some painful joint pain during the first two months, but walking and exercise did help it, and it diminished greatly after that. Other side effects were occasionally annoying, but definitely doable for me. I agree that you do tend to read more of the negative that positive, so stick with it for a while. Good luck!

Moissy