After afinitor and aromasin fail...

yangtan

I have been on this combo for a year now, I suspect it is ineffective. I am meeting my oncologist in a few days time. What do you ladies do after this combo fail. Will other hormonal therapies work or do you go onto chemo. I really drag going back to chemo

keetmom

I am doing Xeloda after 3 months of AA not working

pajim

Xeloda is the usual thing. I'm on A/A now [in a trial]. Xeloda was offered as an alternative, but is being held in reserve.

Xeloda is a chemo, but it's an oral drug. It's not like going in for infusions.

yangtan

unfortunately I have failed that. I was offered chemo first, xeloda navelbine and halaven. Done that, failed that. Wonder what else can I do? I am still quite young 54 but I don't want aggressive chemo to rob me of my quality of life.

pajim

Yangtan, YOU did not fail these drugs, they failed you. Please don't consider yourself at fault in any way.

I'm guessing you are only weakly ER+ as they haven't given you several other of the hormonal therapies? Else there's Faslodex and Ibrance.

There are several other chemos -- Taxol for one. I know you took some back in 2009, but for Stage IV ladies they give a much smaller dose. A friend just started it and says it isn't bad at all.

As for your quality of life, it is always your right to take a drug or not take a drug. And if you agree to start one, you don't have to agree to continue it if it's causing problems for you.

You could take a look at the page on the main BCO site which lists all the available drugs for breast cancer. Take a list and discuss with your doctors?

The only other thoughts I have are (a) a clinical trial or (b) a second opinion. Sometimes a second opinion opens up some possibilities. Trials of investigational drugs open up all sorts of possibilities.

yangtan

thanks Pajim, I am just getting emo, like each time when the drug failed me. But thank God I react very fast to each drug combo. Within two weeks I can see results. Oh my tumor is on my supraclavier so I can feel it

hilltop49

I was on Afinitor/Femara (clinical trial) for 2 years but it has stopped working. I just started this week on Ibrance/Faslodex. After 2 days I've had no side effects, but I realize it's early and cumulative effects may come later. Ibrance is oral - 3 weeks on and 1 week off, and Faslodex is 2 injections in rear every 28 days. I also get Xgeva shots for my bone mets. There is a great Ibrance forum here. Check it out.

yangtan

thank God. Not everything is about cancer. Just because it feels bigger and is painful, it does not mean it's cancer growing. Oncologist thinks what I have is inflammation. $3.20 over the counter medicine should solve the problem. He will check again in two weeks and I will also do a pet scan. Whew

pajim

That's outstanding news.

mmbNaplesFL

Dear Hilltop49- - I started FemarA mid-Oct 2017 and Afinitor one month later. I am not understanding your statement that they 'stopped working.' What does that mean. How did you know they stopped working?

Michele

EvaGor

When tests show the cancer is progressing it means that the drug stopped working and it's time for a different drug.