Faslodex Girls

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited May 2013

    Tina,

    For me, it is asking too much of the doctor. They have NO idea how long your body will be strong and healthy, and asking them to project feels a tad unfair. Of course, they have experience and have seen far more patients than we could ever survey, but there just isn't a straight line that each of us follows. Please understand that I too would love to know if I will be able to travel in non-ADA countries in two years [or insert number of years here.] Am I stupid to wait? Should I pull some of my retirement money now so I can do these trips that I have dreamed of? But I fear that this is a question that can't be answered with any accuracy.

    So ask! Tell your doctor that you want to know if you can be planning more adventures. I can't wait to hear the answer.

    Did I equivocate enough?  :-)

    *susan*

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2013

    So, I don't think your doc will know the answer.

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    Susan, in a word, yes. But thanks.

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    Okay, I concede. There's no point in my asking if he consensus is he won't have an answer. It will only frustrate us both.

    Guess it's time to go back to the Magic 8 Ball.

    Tina

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2013

    Tina, I suppose you could preface the question with, I suppose you don't have a definitive answer but........and then ask.. You have nothing to lose.

    Good luck.

    Teresa

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    Tree, I would always preface a question like that in just that way. Otherwise it would appear that I think the onc is omniscient and of course I don't. I just thought he might have an educated guess based on science and experience. He's recently told me I'm "doing well" and "You could have a lifetime," but I'm not sure what the latter means. Guess I have to be content with that. But I'm a greedy gal. I want more everything--including information.

    Thanks for your input. It really helps.

    Tina

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2013

    Tina, your onc might. So it won't hurt to ask. I personally no longer care to know. As I said, I'm just going to keep on going. It's a dice shot. All of life is, really. Or it is in my opinion. Life is for the living and we are alive.

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013
  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    Tree, I deleted the above post because I wanted to revise how I expressed something. Anyway, I agree that life is for the the living. Like you, I'm going to put one foot in front of the other and keep going until I can't.

    As for tomorrow, we'll see how I feel. To question or not to question, that is the question!

    Tina

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2013

    That is the question my dear. That really is the question . Good luck with the ask.

  • LittleGrasshopper
    LittleGrasshopper Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2013

    Hi Ladies

    I'm new to this site and am elated to find they have a forum specifically for faslodex. For those of u ladies that are new to the faslodex world, there is HOPE. I have been on the RX for almost 6 years and I just read about a lady that had been on a low dose 125 mg and is on her 9th year!!



    Sending healing hugs for every1!







  • Tina72
    Tina72 Member Posts: 484
    edited May 2013

    Littlegrass,

    So you have been on faslodex for 6 years with stage 4, wow that is great!

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    LittleGrass,

    First, welcome to the Faslodex thread, a special-interest group that has been variously dubbed the Bottoms-Up Bunch, Bottoms-Up Team, and--my new suggestion for today: The Fanny Pack.

    Next, I echo my namesake's (Tina72) appreciative "Wow" re: your six years on Faslodex. Please tell us everything!

    Tina

  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited May 2013

    Fanny Pack is too funny. I plan to unleash it today at the Onc's. I will give appropriate credit.

    Happily sailing off to the Onc's to go bottoms up,

    Jennifer

  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited May 2013

    Jennifer, you're on the same schedule as Susan and I!!! 

    Tina

  • Florence2006
    Florence2006 Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2013

    Welcome to Faslodex forum.  I recently passed my first year anniversary of starting on Faslodex.  My nurse is great.  She says, "Assume the position."  After the first shot, I say, "Thank you sir, may I have another?"  She also heats up the syringe and advises me to take the weight off the leg in which she is injecting.  Just got my tumor marker report today.  27!  Yeah, Faslodex.

  • Tish_13
    Tish_13 Member Posts: 67
    edited May 2013

    Today is my one year anniversary of living in the stage lV land. Cancer Land is kind of how Disney land is layed out, Fantasy Land, Tomorrow Land, Frontier Land ...and Adventure Land. This sure has been an adventure, an "E" ticket to be sure! My husband is Peter Pan (Fantasyland) and thought we would be forever young and healthy. I would kick the BC that was diagnosed in 08 and live happy ever after...with Frontierland's help, that would be the two clinical trials I participated in.. Time was on our side, we could wait, after all we were going to live forever! Then this...so it is not how long, but what will you do while you can. So no more waiting. we went to Italy for 2 great weeks with  3 days in Paris on the way home. I am very grateful we were able to do this together and hopefully there will be more trips and adventures for us to share together.

    Susan, Tree and Tina I wish there was a "like" button like FaceBook!  After all there are many questions, but sometimes there are no solid answers. We should be comfortable enough with our DRs to ask the tough questions

    I do hope for a Tomorrow Land were there is no stage lV

  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited May 2013

    Tish, I love your post!!

  • M360
    M360 Member Posts: 356
    edited May 2013

    Ladies,  I'm glad that your Oncologist have said that it's okay to travel.  I asked to do such and was given an absolute no, along with no riding a bike, no working out anymore on exercise ball, no horseback riding and no air travel in the next year.  My BC has mets in lungs, spine, hip and femur along with ribs.  I was told that a fracture could happen with air turbulence or possible lung collapse with flying.  I'm wondering if anyone else has been told that they couldn't travel or given instructions on what they can or cannot do because of BC and where it has metastasized to?  I'd love to go to Paris this fall or visit family in Europe.  But I don't want to complicate life by not listening to my doctors.

  • Tish_13
    Tish_13 Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2013

    M360,

    I understand how frustrating this would be. At first I was told don't hike, jump, run, lift, push, climb or shove...or else. I have only bone mets, both hips, a few vertebrae and assorted ribs and upon a second review I was told don't climb and do any thing stupid. I do display work in a department store, stupid would be tiring to lift anything over 50 pounds. My DR put a 20 pound moratorium on me knowing that 20 is the new 30 in my head at least.

    So the big question is how do you feel? And a second opinion on travel may be in order. I have a friend with bone mets (7 years) that does cruises as there is medical suport on board. She works hard, stashes money, then travels with a group of BC Ladies. I know this may not be a reality for a lot of stage 4 Ladies, but Marlin wanted to travel and she found a way.

    I hope you can find a way to travel, or have family come to you. My heart is with you, Take care,

    Tish

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    Tish, I think drs have to say that to cover themselves if nothing else. In the beginning my onc said no travel because faslodex may cause blood clots. No bending because of cancer in my spine. I travel, I bend. That's what I do and I feel comfortable doing it. My question is how long is my quality of life and right now it's terrific So ill take it for as long as I can.

    But.....I'm 73..... And hope to make it to 90 in great spirits. Haha.

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    But, honestly if I get tomorrow in good spirits And happy ill take it. What else do I have?

  • Tish_13
    Tish_13 Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2013

    Tree3

    73 is great! I hope I have a 73erd birthday...and then a 90th! I am 55 and have no real symptoms. For that I am truly thankful and grateful. So I will work, travel and be active as long as my body will allow me and I will push the limits as "no" is just another way to say "try harder". Just as there are stages of cancer, there are stages within cancer stages... especially in our world. Attitude does make a difference and I love yours.

    I will dance at your 90th Birthday party!

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    I'll be sure to let you know, Tish. I want everybody dancing.

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    This is a question for all my faslodex friends. Has anyone postponed their shots by one week? Would there be a problem with that? I'm at my summer home, loving it and hate to return to the city so soon. The question is, would one week make a difference?

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited June 2013

    Tree,

    I have no idea if a week makes a difference. To be honest, I plan everything around my "hospital days" so it just hasn't come up. Probably a question for your oncologist. Good time to be at a second home, assuming it is somewhere with mountains or water. Hot as blazes here in the city today.

    *susan*

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    Susan, I'm in P'town and on the water and I feel it's what the Dr. Ordered. It took me forever to pack and get here and I just dont want to turn around and go back. I'll look into it Monday. Perhaps I could get the shots here. Let me see, test my blood, check. Next. Xgeva shot, check faslodex shot. Check. Why not here somewhere. I will let you know what I find out Monday.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited June 2013

    Nice. I will be that way in two weeks or so. Usually, I am there now, but this year life got in the way. Not my home though; close friends who have retired down there. Consider sitting, looking out on the ocean, gin & tonic in hand, with a twist of lime, and toasting your bottom-friends.  :-)

    *susan*

  • Tree3
    Tree3 Member Posts: 159
    edited June 2013

    Susan I think I can do that. Gin and tonic, check. Look at water, check. Think of all of you and send best wishes. Check.........leave here? Wah,wah. I don't want to. But a gal has to do what a gal has to do.

  • Tish_13
    Tish_13 Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2013

    I skipped a treatment for our Italy trip. We tried to schedule around it but were unable to do so. I thought we were going to delay by a week, however instead of changing the current 4 week set appointments the consensus was to keep the current schedule and just cancel one appointment. This may not be the choice for some, but when there is a drink in hand and a nice view...bottoms up and I don't mean our butts!

    Cheers to all!

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