Xgeva vs Zometa?

Hi Jen,

I think you're fortunate, though, that the Aredia hasn't affected your kidneys.  I was starting to show signs that mine were affected a little, and it hadn't improved in 4 months.  I don't think he would have switched me otherwise.  A month before we changed, he was saying "no" to the idea. He thinks, as your onc does, that it's best not to change something if it's working.  But, It's nice that we have options if we need them.  

Lane

Just got my first shot on the 15th so I haven't seen the charges yet - should be interesting. 

Judie,

We can all just be so glad when something's working with minimal or zero SEs.    Hope it continues that way for you!  Interesting about Amgen being so close by.  Very convenient!

Lane

Hello !

My name is Martine . I am French and I am going to start on xgeva next Wednesday !

In France , this med is new and not accepted yet ...

That is thé reason why I am asking you what you think about xgeva..

I had zometa for 3 years but infortunately my met bones are growing up ... So My oncologist would like me to start on xgeva and navelbine( chemo)

Have you ever experienced this medecine ?

I look forward to hearing from you !

Martine

Ps: my Breast cancer was diagnosed in nov 2000! ( and met bones in 2009)

I was on aredia, followed by zometa, and now am on Xgeva.  My veins were shot and it was getting harder and harder to administer the first two.  I'm sure the nurses groaned when they saw me coming.  Here in Canada (and maybe in the US as well)  if a nurse fails twice to get the vein, another nurse has to step in to try.

I had a lot of muscle aches on the first two, but so far no SEs with Xgeva. And the injection, while there's a bit of a sting, is so much easier than a trip to the hospital and a half hour infusion.

All in all, I'm much happier on this drug.

Hi SyrMom, hard to say what causes anything for me. I feel tired all the time. My hips and legs feel weak. I continue to walk everyday but I feel it. I've been on Xgeva and Flasodex for 15 months now. Recent Bone Scan showed some increase yes in the hips. I was in remission for 15 years and it showed up 15 months ago lots of mets in the bones. Hopeing for a good outcome, but I'm feeling this may be the last battle for me.

I had to stop the Xgeva (no side effects) because it caused dental necrosis in my lower jaw. Anyone on any bone strengthener, especially a monthly dose, please discuss this with your onc and your dentist. it is an increasingly common result of having too much of these drugs absorbed in your bones and it is miserable.

dbla - I worry about the necrosis side effect ... did you have any symptoms or did your dentist just happen to find it?  How long had you been on xgeva before that happened?

I know this thread is older but if those of you who had problems with zometa or Aredia could elaborate I would appreciate it. My mom has had a terrible time with both and the onc seems to have a hard time believing that the Aredia and zometa could be responsible for her pain. She also had a partially collapsed vertebrae show up suddenly even though no progression was noted on scans and no cancer was ever detected in that vertebra. Chickadee's mention of her vertebrae fractures from zometa makes me wonder if my mom's issues are indeed related to the zometa. Any insight would be much appreciated.

I don't remember that Zometa caused fractures just that it didn't prevent anything. I should also qualify that this was my first year of treatment and its likely I was already in trouble with the mets in my spine. During that time I took apart a deck, restrained, and reinstalled it.  So I wasn't doing myself any favors. 

However I wouldn't go back to Zometa if for nothing else the convenience of Xgeva, and the fact it seems to have kept my bones stable for these last 4 years. 

Some patients seem to have great pain with bone mets, others not. I don't know why. Since my back I've had no significant pain and figure that's just me. 

Yes  they injected a stabilizing cement of some sort. My back sometimes let's me know I not as strong as I once was so I leave a lot of lifting to family.