Faslodex Girls

My Aredia infusions take about 2.5 hours, then at least a half hour of fluid.  I didn't realize Zometa doesn't take as long.  Interesting.

Does anybody have seriously dry sloughing off dry, hurting dry skin with this? Im trying to pin down the culprit. 

Livingit,

No dry skin se's for me. Actually, I had no se's whatsoever. But then again, it didn't work for me either. Hoping to find out next week what the new plan is.

Go for Zometa and Faslodex tomorrrow. I feel the same as you Naniam, I have an hour long drive home after too and I hate those late appointments.  Scheduled for the blood work at 3 then treatment half an hour later, but never get in there on time and that just makes the day later. I've been on both the Zometa and Faslodex for over a year and haven't noticed any dry skin because of it.  But then again, I'm soaking in the tub everynight with every bath product I can find! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my port works tomorrow.. I've had two times in the last 5 months when it didn't want to work and that just made the day even longer while they got it to co-operate. Good to hear of everyone else's experiences.  Hope everyone has a great day!

Well, here I am.  I haven't joined the Stage IV gals because I just wasn't ready.  I was dxd a little over two years ago with mets by sheer accident.  I was complaining AGAIN to my onc about my LE arm and armpit.  She decided to do the scans since I had node involvement.  What we found was one little met to the spine.  I decided to have a biopsy to make sure. 

I was on Arimidex.  She then changed me to Aromasin.  After a few months of that I had more lesions.  Then on to Tamoxifen for about 6 months.  Three months into Tamoxifen I had a CT scan which did not show any new lesions.  Three months later I had a CT and bone scan and it showed progression to some of the original lesions and more to other bones.  Now I'm on Faslodex.  I had Faslodex injections every two weeks for the first three injections and then on to once a month.  I will be adding Xgeva to the regimen on Dec. 27.  I had to finish my dental work before I got the Xgeva.

I'm a little worried about the Xgeva.  Does it have the same SEs of Zometa.  I haven't had Zometa but have heard about the SEs.  I hate feeling sick!  I'm such a wimp.

Naniam, I'm hoping that your Zometa infusion went well.  I know how you feel about the drive home.  We have a two hour (and sometimes a little more) drive and it's usually late when we get home.  I go to Duke so on the days I have blood work, scans, see the doctor for the results of blood work and scans and then onto the treatment room I'm exhausted!  It's an entire day starting at 9:30 and getting out of there, hopefully, by 6 PM.  We will be in Charlotte over the Christmas holidays and then leave from there for Duke.  At least I don't have to see the doctor this time!

I too am hoping this will work.  However, when I had scans last time there were three lesions on my skull.  She said it could have been there but didn't show up.  I'm happy to read that some of you are saying it could take 6 months for the Faslodex works.

If I had not had the initial CT and Bone Scan two years ago I still wouldn't know I had mets.  Knocking on wood as I say this...where's the wood!?.....I'm in no pain.  I may feel a twinge, but I'm not sure if it's mets pain or just a twinge. 

I'm glad I found this thread.  It was under "active thread" so here I am.

I'll check back in to see how everyone is doing.

Surprise today.  First Zometa and also got another Faslodex.  My potassium was very low so had to have IV potassium before I left - can mess up your heart rhythm.  White and red blood cell count was a bit low but not enough I had to have treatment for that.  Not sure why that has dropped more on Faslodex. 

Shirley, I can't believe I am here posting either.Mine was found quite by accident too.   Like many women, I knew it could happen but I never thought mets WOULD happen to me.  I had no node involvment.  I've been amazed at the women here in their profiles that had no node involvement.  This is my first treatment and will be May before I have my first scan to see if it is working. 

Having my usual post Faslodex headache - I've pushed fluids as much as I can so hope my first Zometa is kind to me. 

Just stopping by this thread to let Brenda know I'm thinking of her.  I talked to her earlier today and she's having a rough go of it.

Shirley ... I hope all is well with you and the Faslodex is working.

hugs,

Bren

Had my Faslodex injections today.  I took my kids with me because they're out of school for winter break.  My chemo nurses were concerned about them seeing me get the injections so one of them took them to watch t.v. and eat cookies.  I got to have cookies after my shots which was a nice treat.  Now, my butt is killing me.  Sigh.  Wondering if I should use a heating pad or ice?  I guess I'll start with some ibuprofen.  The nurse said she warmed the medicine between her bosom.  lol  How sweet!  We held them a few minutes longer in our hands, but I don't think it made any difference.

I'm glad I don't have my Aredia infusion at the same time because both give me side effects that are worse the first couple of weeks after I get the meds.  It is a pain, though, to have to make another trip there. 

Shirley - Sorry you're joining us.  I hope the meds treat you well!  Lots and lots of water before the Xgeva will help along with the meds I mentioned to Naniam below. 

Aerial - Haven't had any abdominal pains.  I hope you find some answers. 

Naniam - I hope your first Zometa was kind to you, too.  I take ibuprofen and claritin and benedryl before the infusion, then every 4 hrs after that first day.  It really seems to help because when I don't do that, I feel worse.  Good luck!

HI ALL!  Wish we didn't have to meet here....

Bren,thanks updating us about Brenda.  I'm so sorry she's having a hard time.  Do you think it's from the Zometa or both?  I hear that that Zometa gets easier.  Please tell her we're thinking about her.

Aerial, so far I haven't had any pelvic pain from Faslodex.  That doesn't mean you don't.  I could do my treatments here, but I choose Duke.  It's very tempting to change doctors instead of traveling.  My onc at Duke said I could go here and see her every so often.  I'm just not ready to give her up. I've seen the chemo rooms in the oncologists' offices.  They have something that compares to those at Duke.  They'll bring you a drink and a snack if you want one. 

Cynthia, thank you for the welcome (I think LOL).  I try to drink plenty of fluids before any needle enters my vein.  I know the old veins are not too good, so I try to plump them up.  I had a port years ago when I had chemo.  I'd do it again and the nurses loved it.  I'm dreading the unknown, Xgeva. 

Mary Ann, my first onc put me on Xeloda (full strength for six months) after I had neo-adjuvant chemo, mastectomy, and rads.  After Xeloda he put me on Arimidex.  So, I guess the Xeloda didn't do exactly what he wanted.  I'm assuming he wanted to kill ALL cancer cells so they wouldn't come back.  My onc has only done tumor markers once and that's when I was diagnosed with mets.  However, it wasn't high but at that time I had that one little lesion. 

I hope everyone does well and has a Merry Christmas.  We'll be leaving tomorrow for Charlotte and onto Duke the 27th for my injections then home.  I will be pooped!  I'll try to check back in over the holidays.  Or sooner.

Love to you all!

That's it naniam, your side effects from zometa left with the chills. Sounds like you're not going to get the aches.

Naniam- You might ask the nurse if you could hold the vials of Faslodex next time you go in. I hold one in each hand while I'm getting my Xgeva, and by the time we get into the room for the Faslodex injections, they are pretty warm.

Shirley, not sure why my calcium levels are at the low end of normal. In fact, with bone mets it was my understanding that calcium levels rise and that is one of the signs in blood work.  That didn't happen with me.  I feel like I have a pharmacy already and I hate to take any form of meds or vitamins.  I haven't been told to make sure I take any special supplements, etc.

Have a safe trip and a wonderful Cristmas with the family.

Naniam, I can understand that you do not want to take any more PILLS!  However, please talk to your nurse or onc about calcium and Vitamin D.  It is really important.

My calcium was slightly elevated right before I had scans and was dxd with BC.  So I do know that can happen.  She check my parathyroid to make sure it wasn't that.  But the next time my calcium was normal and has stayed that way.  All of my other blood work, just like you, was normal.  And so far as remained that way.

We're hear in Huntersville.  The grandkids are excited.  My other daughter (their aunt) took my 6 year old grandson to the mall.  They had a live Nativity scene.  He loved it!  He really loved the camel.  He asked a Wiseman where did he get the camel.  He replied that he bought it in Bethlehem.  My GS said...this is no Bethlehem...there's a race track over there.  The Wiseman replied that there was a Bethlehem race track.  Kids are so darn cute!

Alright Ladies how do you keep the medicine from hurting the injection site for so many days.  This was my second injection and it almost brought tears to my eyes.  Are there any secrets you can give me.  The nurse did warm up the medicine but it still hurt like crazy going in.  Hope you all have a great holiday.

Janice, I find that the higher the nurse injects Faslodex in the permitted quadrant of my buttocks, the better in terms of keeping injection site pain/bruising under control. However, some women on this board have experienced just the opposite! 

Since we hope you will be on this particular treatment for a good long time, why don't you experiment the next time and ask the nurse to give it higher?  If that still hurts so much, try lower the next time. And make sure she injects it slowly.

Good luck!

Tina