Advise needed regarding treatment delay

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited July 2019 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello all my bone Mets we're found during a mid May planning scan for radiation. Since then I did all the follow up scans and bone metastasis was confirmed at MO appointment first week in June. Then I had to wait for bone biopsy appointment, then had to wait a week to see her for results end of June. My MO wants to put me on Ibrance and Aromasin. In the meantime I've been on lupron ovarian suppression. My MO wanted me to start Ibrance and Aromasin once it's been confirmed my ovaries have shut down. First check of my hormones after second lupron showed not yet menopausal. I was supposed to start everything a couple days ago. Check again after I got 3 month dose lupron shot shows mixed, that I may be menopausal now and wants me to see an endocrinologist to check if I'm menopausal in their opinion as well as obgyn to talk about possible ovary removal should the result still be too mixed. Both those appts are back to back, 30th and 31st. I'm sitting here with 2 bottles of pills I'm being told not to take yet......is the delay so I don't become resistant to these drugs if my ovaries won't shutdown properly rendering them useless?

I'm just trying to understand the delay in taking them, plus it seems that outside of lupron shots all I'm doing is tests,scans and waiting and I'm concerned the delays are providing opportunity for things to advance. Did anyone else go through this. I'm so sick of waiting. I did voice these concerns to MO.

Edited to add: I have felt like I’m going alittle nuts with the waiting/info gathering stuff. I’ve been using everything in my coping arsenal and I feel like and look like a used tissue

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  • 42young
    42young Member Posts: 162
    edited July 2019

    it took me about 1.5 months from diagnosis to begin treatment. However, my MO gave me Lupron, & anastrozole on the same day & ibrance a week later ( waiting for insurance to approve). He never tested to see if i was menopausal. My scan 4 months later showed improvement, so i think the drugs work for me.

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  • Anotherone
    Anotherone Member Posts: 633
    edited July 2019

    hey. I am sure more knowledgeable folk will be here soon , just did not want to read and run.

    My understanding us that bone metastasis are slow so a couple of months should make no difference.

    I have told about extensive lung and mediastinum metastasis 26 days ago and since then I was awfully busy researching; I still have not seen oncologist but I almost would like to delay seeing them so that I have all my ducks in a row by the time I do... I even get hopeful(delusional may be )- well , most likely just curious to see whether how will it change with lifestyle and mindset changes and supplements alone .

    I am sorry you are stressed about it - has your research not given you an insight in why is it so important to shut the ovaries first?

    Can you ask your doctor /nurse ?


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  • Piggy99
    Piggy99 Member Posts: 229
    edited July 2019

    RadagastRabbit, the Aromasin will block one way your body makes estrogen (by blocking the aromatase enzyme). If you still have working ovaries, your body can sense that its estrogen levels are being lowered and can push your ovaries to make more estrogen. That's probably why your MO wants to make sure the Lupron is working before starting you on aromasin.

    I was pre-menopausal at diagnosis as well, and my MO put me on Tamoxifen and Ibrance for a few months until my estradiol tests came back nice and low, then switched me to Letrozole (a cousin of Aromasin). I had my ovaries removed pretty shortly thereafter to eliminate that extra worry of Lupron not being able to keep me in menopause (very small risk).

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  • Momchichi
    Momchichi Member Posts: 133
    edited July 2019

    I’m in a similar situation - bone biopsy last month and I’m still not on any treatment. I start zometa next week. My oncologist wanted repeat biopsy to make absolutely sure it’s triple negative and I’ve met with a surgeon and radiation oncologist but nothing decided yet. I’m really anxious to have a plan in motion and I’m trying to tell myself my treatment team wants to get all the needed info make the right decision but this waiting is just awful. I feel so helpless. So while I don’t have advice for you, just wanted to let you know we’re in the same boat - I also have appointments on the 30th and 31st and will be thinking of you!

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