After afinitor and aromasin fail...

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yangtan
yangtan Member Posts: 75
edited March 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

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

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  • keetmom
    keetmom Member Posts: 432
    edited March 2017

    I am doing Xeloda after 3 months of AA not working

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2017

    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.

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  • yangtan
    yangtan Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2017

    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.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2017

    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.

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  • yangtan
    yangtan Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2017

    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

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  • hilltop49
    hilltop49 Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2017

    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.

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  • yangtan
    yangtan Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2017

    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

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2017

    That's outstanding news.

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  • mmbNaplesFL
    mmbNaplesFL Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2018

    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

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  • EvaGor
    EvaGor Member Posts: 41
    edited March 2018

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

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