Does Zoladex work on its own?

mazie73

Hi all,

After getting through Stage 2a breast cancer in 2013-14, I was diagnosed w/ Stage 4 on Dec. 21. It's in my lungs and more bones than I want to list (though mostly tiny spots). I was having pain in my lower left side and shortness of breath and a CT scan confirmed a small pleural effusion. I'm pre-menopausal, so my doctor had me start Zoladex on Jan. 4 (Tamoxifen obviously didn't work). After weeks of being unable to take a deep breath without pain, in the last three days, all of that has vanished. It's pretty amazing. Could Zoladex have cleared up the pleural effusion? I have a CT scan scheduled for next Tuesday, so I guess that'll answer the question, but thought I'd check with y'all. I'm starting a clinical trial on Feb. 1 (Faslodex + Abemaciclib + an Eli Lilly Pi3 kinase inhibitor), so you'll probably be hearing from me on how that goes. My doctor's adding Zometa to the mix, too.

Heidihill

Awesome! Some cells might have been starved off. Sounds very promising for your response to Faslodex & Co. in any case!

zarovka

Mazie - Zoladex is going to lower your estrogen levels and hormone suppression kills cancer. Not usually within weeks, but you are breathing better so it is likely working. Yay!

I would really appreciate it if you would start a new thread on the abemaciclib trial and post updates. I for one will be following it. There are quite a few CDK 4/6 inhibitor nerds on this forum who will as well. Hopefully you will lure a few other people on the drug out of shadows.

Do you know the logic for putting you on faslodex rather than letrozol is that tamoxifen and letrozol are too similar? Letrozol is the usual first line treatment, but perhaps you are not first line since you have had tamoxifen.

You obviously have a great doctor to find that trial abemaciclib for you. Very promising drug. Combined with a PI3K inhibitor you are getting a very advanced treatment. Where do you get treatment?

It's painful to have anyone join us. We are all too young to have cancer, but you are way way to young. We'd like to see you do well. Let us know how we can help.

>Z<