bone mets survivors

Hi,

I'm a bone mets survivor.  I was originally dx with breast cancer in 1991.  I had a mastectomy and chemo.  I was cancer free for 12 years.  In Dec. 2003 I was dx with mets to bone.  Since then I have been on Zometa (still on Zometa)  Arimidex, Aromasin and Faslodex.  In Jan. 2007 I started Doxil with Zometa.  My tumor markers are 290.  The Doxil has not brought them down but I feel great.  Recent scans show progression of cancer in the bone.  My onc wants to wait a little bit to see if the markers will come down.

Annie

Hi Riverrine,

I was also diagnosed with bone mets at the same time as the bc itself over 14 months ago.  I did 7 months of chemo and have been stable on tamoxifen ever since.  I feel great and have no symptoms, though the emotional side of things is more of a roller coaster, as you can imagine.

There are lots of options available for all of us with stage 4 now which give so much more hope for the future.  There is a post on these boards from a woman called Kathy who has been living with bone mets for 14 years!  There are lots of other success stories, too.

Hang on in there!

Katie xx

Hi Riverinne,

 I was dx in 1998 with Stage II breast cancer with no node involvement.  At that time they said I was ER-. Had a mastectory and chemo.   Last summer I was dx with bone mets to my spine.  Since then I have been on Arimidex, Aromasin and now on Faslodex, Lupron and Zometa.  My mets were taken care of last fall by radiation, but now there are some new ones in a different area of my spine.  By the way I am now ER+!  My tumor markers are now up to 252 (CA15-3) and 193 (CA27-29).  The onc now wants to start me on Avastin.  I am in a terrible state at the moment, because I haven't had any good news since my PET scan in June which didn't show any problems.  I am also totally confused by all these tests and differing conclusions.  Somebody please help!!!

Joanalice 

I was dx with bc in 12/98.  Was dx with mets to the bone in 7/06.  I am ER/PR+ & Her2+++.  I started out tx with Arimidex & Zometa, had to stop arimidex due to bad side effects.  Switched to Aromasin and that did not work.  Am currently on Herceptin/Zometa/Faslodex.  I am having an excellent response and hope to stay on this tx for a long time.

LuAnn

Hi,

I was dx'd with bone mets 7/05.  Have been on Arimidex, Aromasin and am now on Taxol.  Have had Zometa monthly from the get go. 

Good luck!

Kari

Hi River.  I, too, have bone mets.  Mine were diagnosed in Oct 05.  I'm on monthly Zometa in addition to the chemo I take for my liver mets.  When the tech saw the status of my bone mets, she could not believe that I had NO symptoms.  She swore that was impossible.  I swore otherwise....... had NO clue!  Thank God, we've got them well under control right now.

Hugs to you,

Debbie

River,



The vaccine trial is a new Phase I trial out of Memorial Sloan Kettering. I can't explain it now but here's the link to the brief. It basically hopes to teach your body to produce cancer fighting cells.





http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/2270.cfm?IRBNO=06-156



To be elidgible you need to have either stable or NED. It looks like I'm going to do it. This trial just opened and I'll be the first participant. I just got new scans that came back stable and figure why not add one more weapon to the arsenal.

Hi River,



Yes, I have bone mets. This is not for Her2, they have a different one for Her2. I'll keep you posted.



Amy

Hi River,

 Ive had Bone Mets (and lymph node involvement) for 2 yrs now and have been on Herceptin weekly, Aromasin daily, Lupron shot Quarterly and had to stop Zometa in April after 18 mos of Zometa due to a rare complication called ONJ-osteonecrosis of the jaw (basically exposed jawbone). I had 2 mos of hyperbaric oxygen treatment daily for 2hrs/day which did not seem to help the gum tissue grow back but it did stop it from getting worse. I was first diagnosed in 1995 ast Stage III IDC BC with positive nodes and then again in 2005 with Bone Mets and more lymph nodes. I am currently doing well. Best of Luck to you!!! Pat

Hi!  I am so incouraged to read such positive notes.  I had bc in 2001 and on 5 yr mark found bone mets in ribs, pelvic, and spine.  had rad to spine and that helped pain. Was on Taxol and zomeda for 6mon.  Now on herceptin, xeloda, and zometa.  Have hand and foot syndrome but thats tolerable.  Tumor markers around 90 and feel pretty darn good.

Everyone hang in there and be strong!