I'm a newb

[jaertl]

Was diagnosed in December with metastatic breast cancer of the hip iliac bone. My treatment consist of Xgeva, Faslodex, & Ibrance. I had 14 radiation treatments in January and I just got new scans. The bone appears to be healing but slowly. Can anyone tell me how long it took to heal their bone lesions with the use of xgeva. I'm a little concerned about the long term use of xgeva.

[joann86]

Hi jaertl , welcome to the site! Below is some information I found about xgeva from chemocare.com. Hope it helps!

"What Xgeva Is Used For:

Prevention of skeletal-related events (need for radiation, fracture due to cancer in the bone, surgery to the bone, or compression of the spinal cord) in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.

Treatment of giant cell tumor of the bone.

Important limitation of use: Xgeva is not indicated for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma.

Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians sometimes elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it might be helpful.

How Xgeva Is Given:

As a subcutaneous injection in the upper arm, upper thigh, or abdomen. A subcutaneous injection is a shot into the layer of skin directly below the outer skin layer.

There is no pill form of Xgeva.

The amount of Xgeva you will receive depends on many factors, including your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer or condition you have. Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule.

Side Effects:

Important things to remember about the side effects of Xgeva:

Most people will not experience all of the Xgeva side effects listed.

Xgeva side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset, duration and severity.

Xgeva side effects will likely improve after therapy is complete.

Xgeva side effects may be quite manageable. There are many options to minimize of prevent the side effects of Xgeva.

The following are common (occurring in greater than 30%) side effects for patients taking Xgeva:

Fatigue

Muscle weakness

Decreased levels of phosphorus in your blood (hypophosphatemia)

Nausea

These are less common side effects (occurring in 10-29% ) for patients receiving Xgeva:

Diarrhea

Shortness of breath

Low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia).

Cough

Joint pain

Headache

Limb pain

Back pain

Eczema (a skin condition that may include any of rthe following: redness,skin swelling, itching and dryness, crusting, blistering or bleeding).

Rash

Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported rarely in patients with cancer receiving treatment regimens that include bone modifying agents. Many of the reported cases were associated with dental procedures, such as removal of a tooth. A dental examination with appropriate preventative dentistry should be considered prior to treatment with denosumab, particularly in patients with additional risk factors (ie cancer, chemotherapy, corticoseroids, poor oral hygeine). Invasive dental procedures should be avoided during treatment.

Not all side effects are listed above, some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here. However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

When to contact your doctor or health care provider:

Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience the following:

Difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Swelling of the face/throat

Confusion

The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours after noticing any of the following:

Muscle stiffness, twitching, spasms, or cramps (signs of low blood calcium)

Pain, numbness, swelling of or drainage from the jaw, mouth or teeth.

Any signs or symptoms of infection, especially involving the skin (redness, drainage, pain)

Fever of 100.4° F (38° C)

Fatigue and extreme tiredness (unable to perform self care activities)

Nausea that interferes with eating and is not relieved by medications prescribed by your doctor.

Vomiting (more than 4-5 episodes within a 24-hour period).

Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Precautions:

Do not use both Xgeva and Prolia at the same time. If you are receiving one, you should not be receiving the other, too.

Before starting Xgeva treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal remedies). Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin unless your doctor permits this.

Xgeva may enhance the negative effects of immuno-suppressants. Specifically, the risk for serious infections may be increased. Notify your doctor of any immuno-suppressive medication you are taking.

Do not receive any kind of vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking Xgeva.

Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category C (use in pregnancy only if benefit to mother outweighs risk to fetus).

For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking Xgeva. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended.

It is not known whether Xgeva is excreted into human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Xgeva, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Self-Care Tips:

Take a calcium and vitamin D supplement as necessary to treat and/or prevent low blood calcium levels. Go for blood tests as ordered by your provider.

Perform proper, thorough oral hygeiene and routine dental care. Inform your dentist that you are being treated with denosumab.

Avoid invasive dental procedures.

Inform your physician or dentist if you experience persistent pain and/or slow healing of the mouth or jaw following invasive dental procedures.

Drink at least 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you are instructed otherwise, as it is important to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Acetaminophen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and generalized aches and pains, however talk with your provider prior to taking it.

To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.

Eat foods that may help reduce diarrhea (see managing side effects - diarrhea) and if necessary, follow the regimen of anti-diarrhea medication as prescribed by your health care professional.

Use mild, unscented soaps, laundry detergents, and lotions to avoid irritating your skin. Use lotion liberally to keep skin moisturized and prevent cracking. (see managing side effects - dry skin)

Get plenty of rest.

Maintain good nutrition.

If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems."