Faslodex Girls Thread 2014

Thank you, Steel Rose

Susan, I was recently told by my onco that there are a couple of new treatments being released early this year for hormone positive mets. I'm truly hoping that they are released before you have to go the chemo route.

Don't lose hope, we still have reason to keep hope alive!

Susan- So sorry to hear of your progression. We all know it will happen at some point, but that doesn't make it any easier, really, when it actually happens. {{{hugs}}}

Curious if Faslodex thins the hair? I am on the thin side and find the shots painful for about a week. Any suggestions to decrease the pain.

Hindsfeet, I haven't heard that it thins the hair. The trick with the Faslodex is to get it warmed up as much as possible before they inject. I have heated seats in my car and turn the seats on for the ride home and then sit against a heating pad when I get home. I also take motrin 1 hour before the shots and again before I go to bed. I'm usually sore for 1 or 2 days after treatment if they warm it good, will be sore for a week if it isn't warmed up enough.

Tina 2, I don't know if I am reading your post correctly.....are your lung mets stable on Faslodex since 2011? That is so encouraging if true! I was dx with lung mets and have been on Faslodex since a yr ago.....and also Herceptin. The pleura has thickened but no new nodules or further pleural effusion. I hope that we both continue to do well on the Faslodex. All the best. Peggy

Peggy,

Yes, it's true.

I was diagnosed with Stage I in 1985, then 1995, and had modified radical mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in both instances. Since I was node negative, no other treatment was thought necessary. (The accepted protocol has changed since.) A series of lung issues (see my profile bio for details) led to my Stage IV diagnosis in 2011. I returned to the oncologist I'd seen in the past and he put me on Faslodex. The first scan three months into treatment showed no growth of my lung mets, the next scans indicated diminishing growth and activity. Subsequent scans at three months, then every six months showed more of the same good results. My most recent PET-CT scans show no metabolic activity.

I am a lucky and grateful gal.

Tina

Tina 2....Thanks for your reply. Since. I had a pleural effusion at diagnosis, a VATS procedure with Talc pleurodesis was done. That was in Dec 2013....essentially now feeling really good over all. Here's to another successful year for us! Hoping TMs continue to show some decline.. Still in the 50s. Maybe that is stable for mePeggy

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Ah, now Iunderstand, Valerie, sorry for restating the obvious!

Personally, I wouldn't go to him as my "Hail Mary" because I feel like the travel, cost, and pain and suffering that it would entail with a benefit that's iffy at best wouldn't be worth it. If/when it comes to that, I'd rather be in my familiar places with my family, leaving them in the best possible position to go on, and with access to my familiar and compassionate docs and good pain meds.

For me, if there was a phase I trial or other longshot that might help (however unlikely),, I'd probably do that, but not something like Dr. Bryzinski.

But that's just me. I can totally understand other people looking at it completely differently and going a different direction, and goodness knows, I don't come close to having all the answers.

I go in for month 60 tomorrow, but with a bit less enthusiasm than previous months.

Sandi, wonderful to hear that you are still stable.

*susan*

sandilee: My first shot was on 11/7/2014. That was also my last chemo infusion. Already I hurt when I sneeze or cough. This is not a good sign. I'm glad that in your case your pain did not mean progression! My next scan is mid-February. Maybe it won't be so bad?

susan: Maybe you can try the palbo/faslo combo? Is there such a combo?

Brenda

That was funny.! Autocorrect said Pablo instead of Palbo. Huh! Anyway, there is one

My onc who is running the study up in Boston said it would have been just fine but , I think it's Pfizer, said no because they thought there might be cardiac complications. He pushed as did my NP but did not work. I'm having good results so I didn't sweat it but if I could have avoided this rads business I would have been happy. I had rads six years ago to my breast with no problem but my whole spine is a different story. Hiccups, nausea, sciatica....ugh. I will get through it though as everyone I've read so far is happy about the end result. Anyway, once it's no longer a trial, I can take it when and if it becomes necessary. 😊 (Palbo)