Faslodex Girls Thread
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Pam,
I would think that timing regular scans relative to injection days makes no difference if the overall effect of Faslodex is ongoing and cumulative. Just look at how long the drug takes to get established in the body.
My hot flashes may not have anything to do with my rather Pixar-ish vision of estrogen surging and diminishing within the 28-day cycle, but they are a recognized SE of Faslodex, so something hormonal is definitely going on--or off, as the case may be.
Tina
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Pam,
I would think that timing regular scans relative to injection days makes no difference if the overall effect of Faslodex is ongoing and cumulative. Just look at how long the drug takes to get established in the body.
My hot flashes may not have anything to do with my rather Pixar-ish vision of estrogen surging and diminishing on schedule within the 28-day cycle. However they are a recognized SE of Faslodex. And something hormonal is definitely going on--or off, as the case may be.
Tina
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The chemo nurses have always told me that chemo or Faslodex will last only so long-3 weeks or a month, then starts to wear off.
So we need to have another TX. It is made to be that way.
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Denny, yes. Hence my theory about the timing of the flashes. However, I do believe that some of its SEs are cumulative.
Tina
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I have had hot flashes every 45 minutes or so for 16 years...never to be ending. I dress in layers, always.
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Denny, every 45 minutes?? That's an ouch.
Well today I had round 32 (I think). I also switched to Xgeva, and had my blood draw yesterday in a different hospital.
As a result my trip to the cancer center was a record two hours!! (In case you think that's a long time, last month it was 5+ hours)
Nurse was just fine. I have a sore arm but my rear is sitting pretty.
Woooo Hoooo!!
I told my onc that I'm doing it this way from here on out. Or at least until I have to switch to a treatment which requires an i.v.
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I keep asking why they don't just put the serum into an IV form. Not happening so far.....darn.
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The first year was easy, but now I am having issues with nausea. It comes and goes quickly without any warning. Also headache, backache, and trouble sleeping.
Tina, I think you are right that it is cumulative.
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Got my shots this afternoon. The girl at checkin desk saw me approaching and printed the ID band without waiting for me to sign in. I have been a "frequent flyer" for 5 years at this cancer center!
Today's shot nurse is a new one. Had to remind her Faslodex needs to be warmed up, leaving in the room temperature by pharmacy is not enough. Glad she accepted and learned quickly. Her shots were very gentle and slow, and it takes me an hour to get Fas and Xegeva done this time.
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Cling, it's always both good and bad when you're a "regular" and they know you.
I always ask for the Fas, and put it under the waistband of my pants to warm up. I've decided I don't care if the nurses think I'm crazy. Usually they don't care one way or the other (though they may think I'm crazy)
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LOL, I put the vials in my armpits. But lately, my nurses have been putting them into blanket warmers.
I have been getting chemo for over 13 years....they all should know my birthdate by heart.
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I am curious to know how long your injections usually take. I find that the nurse here usually only takes one to two minutes a side. Also what do you do to warm your faslodex? I have to collect it on px from my local pharmacist. I used to bring it in in an insulated bag but beyong bringing it in in an ordinary paper bag I don't do anything to warm it.
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It depends on the nurse. The label says one minute per injection. I find mine take somewhere between 30 and 45 seconds. I like it better when it's closer to 45 seconds.
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Faslodex needs to be refrigerated during storage. My cancer center onsite pharmacy will not fill it until we check in and with onc's approval for injection. When it is released to injection nurse, usually it is still cold. I have always asked to "hold my baby", warm up under armpit or palm for at least 15 minutes before it is injected. Until l met my favorite nurse Mike, he taught me to use warming pad (the one warms up upon contacting with air which treatment room always has ), and he usually warms up for patient then calls patient in to the shot room. Whenever I get a different nurse, I always remind the new one that Mike warms up the shot first for injection. Not every nurse knows about the trick, the one hardest to "teach" is the shot room supervisor!
As to the length of shot, I usually count over a minute but less than two minutes. I do demand to be "slow" if I feel any pressure or pain during injection. I haven't had any problem with injection.0 -
Aoibbeann, I've only been doing Faslodex since August, but I figured out very quickly that one of the lab techs was much more conscientious about really warming the vials (she tucks them in her underarms for several minutes, and asks me if I think they're warm enough), as well as injecting slowly, so I always ask for her, and I've let it be known why.
Also, don't forget the other hints talked about earlier on this thread -- weight totally off the side that's being injected, and turn your toes in on that side.
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Pajim, Cling and Deanna, thank you all for the info about injecting faslodex. I'll pop the injection under my arm next time and I'll hopefully rem to assume the position for the actual injection! Last time the nurse asked me if I'd like a bandaid on afterwards. I gazed at her in amazement - did she think I just wanted the site to bleed into my clothes?! Hugs x
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My nurses always caution me to remove the bandaids once I get home and not leave them on overnight. A couple of ladies kept them on, and the med came back out and burned their skin. ugh.
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Oh Denny, how awful. I didn't know that. I'll make sure I remove them in future, I've left them on overnight before.
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Yikes Denny - I left them on overnight the first time and I had irritation the next day and that was the one and only time - good thing you posted - won't be tempted to leave them on again.
Now I am going in for shots tomorrow and it'll be the 10th month I've been on Faslodex - suddenly this last week I have had edema - ankles, wrists, fingers, abdomen is swollen too and I know I've gained 2 lbs. in two weeks - had a cardio appointment two weeks ago - she pronounced me "good for another year" and now this - I know it is se's from Faslodex (because I finally read the literature) anyone else have se's this late? And oh yes, just about every evening I get hives but because I've always had allergies of some sort or another I don't really pay any attention and they're gone by morning - today I am a mess - I can hardly walk and haven't slept well for the last three nights but in true "me" fashion I am doing laundry and baking an apple pie (it is Thanksgiving up here in Canada today) and went for a long walk with the dog this morning - keeping busy keeps me from springing out of my skin!
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Sandy-I would suspect that something else is wrong-please let your onc know about the swelling.
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Just had my first Faslodex injections yesterday. How long does the injection site pain last? Any suggestions to help with the pain that I'm having? Thanks!!
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Hi OhMy,
The pain during and after injection depends a lot on who gives them. When I have my usual nurse I am sore for 3-4 days. For me it just feels like sore butt muscles, similar to what you would get from exercise you aren't used to.
What kind of pain are you having? Depending on what you're experiencing, maybe a heating pad or pain med. Have you noticed any se's besides the pain? I had some nausea after the first few shots but it went away after the loading doses.
Welcome to the thread and hope Fas turns out to be an easy and effective tx for you.
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Thanks, jobur! It's sore butt muscles...like I did a ton of squats (which I've never done 😊). So far I haven't had any SE's!! Here's to Faslodex kicking that one stubborn bone met to the curb!
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I have gotten used to the sore butt, after about 4 years on Faslodex. For pains after the injection, it helped me to just walk around or use my treadmill for a bit....to work the serum through.
Never use ice on the sites though, since that will localize the serum.
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Denny, same here - I walk right away after the shots and run errands to keep me mobile until later in the day - I have only a "bruised" feeling the second day in and only when rolling over in bed - Tylenol takes care of that. Must say though that there is one nurse that I try to avoid for pain during the shots....
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I was given the injection while they were waiting for my infusion meds to be delivered from the pharmacy. Next time I'll be sure to take a stroll while I wait!!
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I also found that in the winter, I can put on my car seat heaters. I swear that one time when it was around 0 out, that the pain was much worse and I could feel a lump on each buttock.
I had left the chemo center and stopped at a grocery store. So I really cranked up the seat heat on the way home.
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Ladies, I'm a grandmother [again]! A girl born yesterday. She's 3,000 miles away but we'll go out in December to meet her and see our grandson.
I'm so excited! Her name is probably going to be Andalucía, called Lucy. (My daughter-in-law is Romanian)
Zippidee doo dah!!!
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Pam congratulations! Before December visit, you can visit Lucy by FaceTime or Skype. If I were to have a girl , she would have the name Lucy, but I got a boy.
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Congrats Pam! Andalucía is such a lovely name. I'm sorry she is so far away, surely you will be counting the days until your December trip. Hope you will post a picture when you get one. So happy for you!
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