Faslodex Girls Thread
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I've flown from Washington, DC to Europe as well as across the country a day or two after treatment with no ill effects. However, I made sure to snag an aisle seat so I could get up and move every so often, not to mention access the facilities required by my intake of large quantities of water.
Tina
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Some ladies report that heat to the "fanny" helps.. You might want to take along some of those heat pads that warm up when opened. Just a thought. Have a great trip.
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I had my Faslodex and Xegeva today at 4 pm, the evening before thanksgiving. Thought it would delay their closing of the treatment room, because it usually takes me 20 minutes to warm up the babies, and another 20 minutes to get the nurse attention back to me. The male nurse cheerfully led me in another treatment room, and told me, from now on all shots will be given in this treatment room. He efficiently got my vitals, brought out the two cold syringes for me to hug. When I joked I need a heater, he brought out one heating pad and taught me to use separate hands to hold cold and warm syringes, and exchange. It only took a total 5 minutes to warm up both, and I was out of the treatment in 15 minutes, the record time! He also gave me a new heating pad, just in case my drive home may need it. I have a lot to say thanks today!
If you don't bring your own heating pad,ask for one!
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morning ladies, I am glad I found this page to add to my favorites!! I have been on Faslodex for 5 months, I hate it. It makes me tired starting about 48 hours after shot and it lasts about a week then I am good. I also am on Aromasin so I have a double whammy for joint pain but I am thankful to be here to tell you about it!! Lol. Gobble gobble!!!!
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second set of shots today plus xgeva and blood work. Total pin cushion syndrome but so far so good. Walking around a lot without cane.....keeping my fingers crossed big time! Leave for a bday cruise in a week, can't wait....
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a vacation! how wonderful.... enjoy every moment.
*susan*
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Hello everyone, My name is Aurora and I've been around BCO for a year now in the bone mets and arimidex threads but today I had my three-month visit with my onc and she said that my tumor markers have been rising continuously in the past three tests (they run every three months) and is now thinking to switch me to another AI (Aromasin) but she knows aromasin is expensive and my Medicaid might not want to pay for it so she suggested Faslodex as an alternative, so I'm here to gather info on it. I had already read elsewhere the suggestion to have the nurse warm up the syringe and to inject slowly. I also plan (if onc decides to go with it) to ask to be given a private room with an examining table so I can lay down because other wise I don't think I can relax completely. As I understand the usual dosage entails two injections at a time one on each cheek? If that's the case I definitely would need to lay down since my right leg is unstable and unbalance due to the fact that it hasn't healed completely from a femur fracture I had last year due to cancer.
I read the initial post on se's and I'll be adding this thread to my favorites. If any of you have any other suggestions let me know please.
Aurora
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used this technique this time. Worked great!
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thanks so much
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Denny123,
Thanks for your kind response and for telling me about your experience. I appreciate your ideas so much. It helps to hear from someone who "gets it".
Tumor markers went up again but less this time. Hoping that Faslodex will still kick in! Scan will be in Dec. or Jan, I think so we can see what is truly going on.
Thank you,
Julie
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No problem Julie! We are here to help each other. Please keep us posted.
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I have had a major setback. I had a bone scan and a CT scan 2weeks ago. Before my doctor appointment I got pneumonia and I am now in the hospital. While he was making his rounds this morning he told me that he found new spots on my liver and lungs, so the faslodex is no longer working for me:-( None of these spots showed in July. So, he wants to get the pneumonia cleared up and then start chemo again:-( At least I get to spend Christmas with my family before starting chemo again. Last time I was very sick with the chemo, but it worked well for me, so I am ok with doing it again. I'm just now getting my hair back. Losing it doesn't bother me that much because I bought some beautiful wigs last time. I just feel so bad for my husband and kids. I know they are scared. So, goodbye to faslodex. It worked great for me for about a year. My sweetest blessing this year.was.the birth of my first granddaughter. There is no medicine like being a grandma:-)
Blessings to you!
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Birdlady, I'm so sorry. About the pneumonia, too. Here's hoping the chemo kicks butt. Not yours but the cancer's.
Congratulations on being a grandma and feel better soon!
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This morning I head to the hospital for my 59th Faslodex shot. Such a gift that the drug has worked this long; but each month that passes I find that my buttocks are taking longer to "get over it." My "regular" nurse, Nurse Sharon is on vacation so I have another person today. Since I am not crazy about Nurse Sharon, I am a bit hopeful that I will like this other person a bit better. I have been scheduled to see her for the next two months, so a transfer could be made. But based on my lack of sleep last night, and odd dreams when I did sleep, I am a bit anxious about "training" yet another nurse. I should probably learn her name before I head over to meet her.
Managed to get an endo appointment on the same day so that does reduce my number of trips to the hospital by one. Take what you can get!
Hope everyone else is doing well.
*susan*
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Best of luck with the newbie, Susan. With luck, she won't need much training. Most times I've had substitutes, they were more careful and took it more slowly than my "regular" nurse.
Aches and stiffness continue to plague me. I believe with every passing day that Faslodex and arthritis egg each other on.
Ah, well. Here's to a good appointment for you. Mine was to be Christmas Day, so the doc's office moved it to the 29th.
Bottoms up, hon.
Tina
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Susan, I hope the newbie turned out well. It's actually nice that you see the same nurse every time. I see a different one each time. I guess once I find one I like I should make a specific request.
Monday is the three hour tour for me -- blood draw, onc visit, Zometa, shots.
Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, or Happy whatever holiday you are celebrating. The light starts returning next week.
Pam
P.S. The one thing about where my Mom lives in North Carolina -- they all say "Merry Christmas". I'm always taken aback. You wouldn't dare do that in Boston.
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Does the shot always have to be on the buttocks? What if you actually run out of spots? I don't have the good luck to have this kind of problem yet (like Susan). Just curious.
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It's really funny. (I laughed out loud reading it. . .) The official FDA drug label says "FASLODEX 500 mg should be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL injections, one in each buttock, on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter."
So it's not just tradition. Of course, there's a long tradition of using drugs off-label. :-)
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My new nurse, or my temporary nurse, Nurse Patricia came into the room full of brightness. Stuck out her hand and introduced herself. I did a fairly passive "May I let you know how this works for me." And her response was very positive. "I do best if this injection is done over a minute." Not the full statement of course, and she looked devastated. "I don't know if I can do this shot that quickly. It really hurts my hands." Aha! No no Nurse Patricia, not faster than a minute!
She used the area towards the outer edge, an area that hasn't been used much. The injections were not painful at all. I didn't yelp when I sat in the car. I had no surges of pain down my legs as the drug worked its way into my body. I am feeling the drugs hit my system, but there is no localized pain. Came home and promptly fell asleep for two hours.
I may have found a keeper! I have her again next month. If it goes this well again, I am requesting a permanent transfer. Yahoooo!
*susan*
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Two thumbs up! (or two cheeks up?) I'm thrilled for you.
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Thanks you two... I have enough bottom for quite the salute these days!
*susan*
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Does foslodex put you at risk for strokes and or blood clots?0 -
You mean, like Tamoxifen? No. Have you heard otherwise?
*susan*
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I'm sure I've asked you this before. How ER+ are you? I am 45% ER+ and PR-.
I have a friend who was 1% ER+. Her MO wanted her on Arimidex. I told her that was ridiculous. Was I wrong in saying that? She stopped taking it upon my suggestion.
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Hello..first time posting.,I have been on Faslodex since sept/oct..I think
...ugh my memory..before that I was on Exemastene..horrible side effects for 10 days so I asked my onco to switch me..I was on Lupron since the summer..I have always been a light sleeper with sleep problems..but I have alot of trouble sleeping? Anyone else have trouble sleeping..I did try taking Ativan but it makes me depressed and weepy..I did sleep a little tonite on my own..after taking sleepy time tea..oatmeal..I almost called the oncologist office to ask for Lunesta..but I am so scared of taking more pills.. I can deal with the sore butt..night sweats..and I am prone to depression and anxiety..I pray and pray for guidance..Thursday night I did take 2 Ativan but I felt so depressed the next day..the night before I took 2 and woke up ok..yes I get sleep but tend to feel worse on the Ativan..I don't wish this on anyone but hoping someone can relate..I am 45 and in menopause from these lovely treatments..I have been stage 4 for over a year..originally stage 2b in nov 2012..
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Adnerb, My tumor was less than 4% ER+. Anything over nothing is positive, according to my doctor. And my results indicate that she is right.
Susann, I had hot flashes, etc on aromasin, but not on the Faslodex. Same with insomnia. The first 18 months on the aromasin were the worse. By the time I got to Faslodex there wasn't an ounce of estrogen in my system, is my theory. Your body will do some adjusting over time, maybe.
*susan*
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I use Ambien. I also take 20mg of celexa once in the morning and once at night. Seems to keep me even and I sleep well. Find what works for you. I tried a different sleeping med once. I was horrible for me. It wired my brain and kept me awake. So don't be afraid to ask.0 -
Happy holidays to fanny pack ladies! It is a beautiful cool sunny day outside. I started drinking early in the morning in anticipation of receiving my Christmas gift at noon - Faslodex shots!
Bottoms up to all to have a better 2015.
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You too. I hope the trip goes smoothly. . .
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