What question do you have for metasta... - SHARE Metastatic ...

SHARE Metastatic Breast Cancer

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What question do you have for metastatic expert Dr. Nancy Lin "Ask Me Anything"?

On Feb 15th at 1:00 pm ET, Dr. Lin will be answering your questions. Dr. Nancy Lin is a metastatic breast cancer expert. She is currently the Clinical Director of the Breast Oncology Center at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers, at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Ask your questions below and we will make sure they get answered. Be sure to also post your questions on the live thread on Feb 15th where Dr. Lin will answer them directly.

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Joan377 years ago

Do you suggest using a prophylactic heart medication for congestive heart failure as well as a high blood pressure medication for borderline high, blood pressure, for a patient who has been on Herceptin for 10 years? An LVEF that was normally around 60-64 is now 55. Patient feels out of breath on the slightest provocation of climbing 12 or more steps and walking uphill. Thank you.

SeattleMom7 years ago

Are there any herbal supplements or vitamins that MBC patients should absolutely avoid if their treatment protocol is Ibrance and Letrozole?

blms• in reply toSeattleMom7 years ago

Look on the sloan kettering site under supplements/vitamins in search bar and then put in the vitamin you want info on. Lots of great info on just about everything.

SeattleMom• in reply toblms7 years ago

Thanks, blms! I have actually checked out the Sloan Kettering site. It's great. I found, unfortunately, that it didn't break out specific protocols to suggest supplements and/or vitamins that should be avoided. Or did I miss that? Let me know.

blms• in reply toSeattleMom7 years ago

type in Ibrance and herbs and it will list some herbs they have SUSPICION of causing disruption of the drug. I don't agree with some as some are not proven but one person seemed to think it caused a problem. So, my question is if it is the drug companies that are saying---oh NO! and not the true science. But, it gives you more things to look up.

I looked up each supplement I was taking and some could cause possible blood thinning which could cause a problem with this drug and blood thinning from it, so I am avoiding those, for sure!

PJBinMI7 years ago

When I was first diagnosed with denovo mbc, invasive lobular, E+ P+ her2neu -, some women who had a good response to hormonal treatments were using low dose estrogen after several different hormonals worked and then failed. Is that still advisable for some of us? I got almost five years from Femara and now have been on Faslodex for over 9 years. I have bone mets only and have never had symptoms from those. I'm currently off Xgeva as my bones had become similar to those with osteoporosis. My other question has to do with finding another oncologist when my original oncologist retires sometime within the next few years. She's cut her hours in half and at about 70, I don't expect her to work many more years. I am about 100 miles from the nearest CCC, U of MI and Northwestern in Chicago, and am treated at Western Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. Thank you!

dandrewsPartner• in reply toPJBinMI7 years ago

Hi, I believe that the SHARE Helpline would be better equipped for helping you find a new oncologist the number (844) 275-7427

PJBinMI• in reply todandrews7 years ago

I'm a Share Helpline volunteer and trained bc patient advocate. I'm not asking for a specific recommendation but ideas about good questions for any patient to ask local oncologists, not bc specialist oncs, to find somebody who keeps up with research and communicates well with patients and sees themselves as partnering with patients, not controlling everything. Does that sound like a reasonable question to ask Dr. Lin?

dandrewsPartner• in reply toPJBinMI7 years ago

Yes this question is reasonable

TruthisGreat7 years ago

Hello Nancy Lin,

Thank you for making yourself available!

There have been a plethora of studies, especially in the past year, that confirm chemotherapy spreads cancer throughout the body. The cancer either comes back quickly and aggressively, or sets up 'nests' in the body so when it is rediscovered years later, a person is riddled with tumors. One oncologist I see says the people who do more of the complementary holistic therapies do not have as much metastatic spread. Is there any growing caution on the part of oncologists to adjust their recommendations for this therapy, or to go toward metronomic, or IPT chemotherapy treatments?

Thank you!

blms• in reply toTruthisGreat7 years ago

Basically NO. Oncologists, unless naturopathic oncologist, will not entertain other than traditional treatment--which is a darn shame. There are other alternatives one can do combined with traditional medicine but the docs don't want to hear about it. So, do the work on your own and see what feels best for you. I do both, but that is me, at least for now. One day at a time and decisions can easily change!! It is your body-not theirs!!

Petreep7 years ago

WhAt are the latest and best drugs available to us Mbc patients with bone mets. I’m on arimidex and xgeva shots. Do we need to wait until the drug we’re on quits working to take one of the latest drugs? I know tumor markers aren’t reliable but what should happen when you get to the not stable area and it is doubling?

Rhwright127 years ago

Hi Dr. Lin!

Had a question about Chemo/radiation vs. surgery...if my doctor tells me he wants the reoccurant tumor on my right side gone and wants chemo and radiation done and claims if u do surgery it will come back is that true? It won’t come back with chemo/radiation but will with surgery? Doesn’t sound logical but I’ll trust your opinion...as a metastic patient I have to concern myself with upper limits of radiation and being on chemo to much as well....

Thanks for your time!

-Heather

KaerligMor7 years ago

Hi Dr. Lin! Thank you for your time and expertise. I have spinal mets, and one in my right leg that was treated by removing the cancerous end of my femur and replacing it with some type of apparatus. My question is about severe back pain. I've had a vertebroplasty etc. on T11 and lumbar radiation. The cancer is also in my coccyx. I'm on twice a day morphine plus liquid for breakthrough pain. I can't bear to sit or stand or walk for more than a few minutes at a time. I'm wondering if my big belly could be exacerbating things but my oncologist doesn't want me to lose weight. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! PS I've been Stable on Ibrance and letrozole for two years.

blms7 years ago

I am interested in the new treatment drugs coming out this month and in late spring for ER+, HER2-. Can you give more details as to what was found in trials. My understanding is that a patient must first be on Ibrance/Femera before taking these. More details please

SeattleMom7 years ago

Would you comment on NED status? Do patients continue treatment for life if this is their continuing status?

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