Topic: Faslodex Girls

Jul 21, 2012 03:08 AM Tina2 wrote:

Okay, what's with the renewed surge of hot flashes? They had essentially stopped for at least half a year since I began Faslodex treatments, but in the past day or so they've returned, flushing my skin and tonight waking me in the middle of the night. I don't recall eating anything weird or doing anything out of the ordinary. The other odd aspect of this is that it's less than a week before my next injections, and when I had hot flashes before, they occured less than two weeks after the injections.

I know this is not a big deal in the scheme of things, but I'm curious as to your experiences/theories.

Tina (who should not be on the laptop at this hour)

Jul 21, 2012 12:20 PM SyrMom wrote:

Looks like I will be joining this group next week, following approx. 18 mo on femara/zometa.  The CTC & TM did a jump, so now I'm on to new territory.  All of your inputs have been most helpful .... I've read everyone of them!  Thank you.

Jul 22, 2012 03:32 AM ductal wrote:

Robin and syrmom, good for you, starting a treatment that could very well give you many years with your families.  Be very hopeful, but honest, can't wait to hear good news from you.  I have to be hopeful, I am doing this for a reason.  Take good ccare.

Jul 22, 2012 08:09 AM SyrMom wrote:

Jul 22, 2012 12:36 PM susan_02143 wrote:

Faslodex costs me nothing. It is treatment and therefore fully covered. I met my deductible on Jan 14th.

*susan* 

Jul 24, 2012 06:48 PM RobinNY wrote:

Glad your first dose was pretty easy for you too. My second is on Thursday , I will let you know how that goes!

Hugs!
Robin

Jul 25, 2012 09:14 AM DJ64 wrote:

Is there anyone here who has done Faslodex twice?

In 2008/09 I was on Faslodex 250 mg.

When I progressed went to Femara and had 24 months - progression and stopped drugs using my own estrogen instead of using the drug estradiol.  I had 7 months before progression and went back on Femara.  The next scan showed more progression.  I stop Femara and requested to return to Faslodex now that it was 500 mg.

My next ct scan showed stable.   My oncologist doesn't believe that it will last long.

If you have tried Faslodex when 250 mg and then went back on at 500 mg.  How long did it last?

Thank you.

DJ 

Jul 25, 2012 05:23 PM susan_02143 wrote:

Tomorrow is Month 28 for me. The few side effects are getting more intense, but my oncologist has been working hard to help me find non-drug methods to keep them at a minimum. Have to admit I always dislike having to go to the hospital. No way to pretend that cancer and I are not in a battle to the death.

Lots of water tonight so they can get some blood.

*susan*

p.s. I never had loading doses. 

Jul 26, 2012 12:55 AM Mazy1959 wrote:

DJ..I know all oncs are different but my onc said we can repeat an AI. I got 5 yrs out of Aromasin and have recently started Faslodex. Hugs, Mazy

Jul 27, 2012 11:04 PM susan_02143 wrote:

Month 28: Tumor markers are back and I am sitting at Stable with No Evidence of Disease. Faslodex has been my miracle drug.

Nurse Lauren, my oncologist's PA who has been on a maternity leave, did come back to see me. She had a simple question-- Are you loosing weight because you want to or is it just happening? On purpose I responded and off she went after showing me some baby pictures.

Feeling mighty lucky right about now.

*susan* 

Jul 28, 2012 10:09 AM SyrMom wrote:

Jul 28, 2012 05:52 PM Denny123 wrote:

I started Faslodex in March for a recurrence with mets in the lymph nodes behind my sternum.

Had Aromasin, but mets kept growing.  Will have another scan in Sept.  No loading dose and I get 500mg.  I have butt pains for about 4 hours afterwards.

Now, when I check in, I tell the nurse to note on my chart that I will gladly hold the vials in my pits to warm them while the nurses do their other stuff.  Speeds things up that way.

I find the injection to be ouchy, and on Thursday, for the first time, I could feel the pain running down my buttock and down the upper thigh.  This happened on both sides. No big deal, but something new.

Otherwise, this is a heck of lot better than "hard" chemo.

Jul 29, 2012 10:42 AM DJ64 wrote:

For Mazy1959,

I am hoping to repeat all the hormonal therapies.  I had 8 years on Arimidex being NED after my 2nd recurrence (lesions in 2 ribs) showed up.  I don't believe Tamoxifen ever worked.  I am willing to give it another try when Faslodex fails.

Aromasin is to close a relative to Femara and Arimidex for the time being for me.  There is another hormonal which was used many, many years ago.  Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone), it is a male hormone similar to testosterone.  I read on another mets site that this woman had 17 months with it.  My sister's late mother-in-law used the drug back in the 1970's and had 18 months with it.  I am willing to try that but the side effect is facial hair.  That one will need a real plan on what to do:)  

My cancer is slow growing and I don't believe chemo will work for me.  I don't mind retrying all the hormonal therapies.  

Best wishes to you,

DJ 

Jul 29, 2012 01:25 PM Anne45 wrote:

Congrats Susan 02413 to your excellent run with faslodex!!!   Wishing you many more years with faslodex! 

Jul 30, 2012 10:57 AM EvaPerone wrote:

Oh and forgot to mention that after a few months of Faslodex, I have slept through the night for the last 10 days! First time since chemo put me into medical menopause in Jan 09. Plus my concentration is improving and I'm reading more. I was an avid reader pre-BC, but that slowed to a trickle in last 3 years. So I am loving Faslodex - long may she work. I did have one positive CT in June.