Does Fulvestrant Helps my moms MBC?

[Nelsonyong]

Hi. My mom (71 years old) was down with BC 4 years ago. It was ER+ and HER2-ve. She was on tamoxifen for 3 years and unfortunately local recurrence happend last year. She has gone through 15 cycles of RT and managed to finished just 2 cycles of chemo. Onco stop the chemo due to some serious rare side effects. Since then she continue her tamoxifen. Her last blood test still show some abnormality in neutrophil count (2.2 x 10^9) but CEA level are normal (3.3 ng/ml). Unfortunately, recent CT Scan shows has just spread to her lungs. Her onco reluctant to challenge her again with chemo and suggested fulvestrant mono therapy. Can anyone advise if fulvestrant help to control the spread? Any of you experience serious side effects? Many thanks!. Regards, Nelson

[Clair19]

I’m sorry to hear about your Mom. I take only Faslodex due to Ibrance killed my Neutrophils. I’m going into my third month so I have not had any scans with Faslodex. I went 17 years before I found out last summer it was in spine and rt lung. I took six months of Doxil in the beginning, and it shrunk my mets in lung and liver shows Ned. I just turned 63 so I’m hoping Faslodex does on its own work. I hope your Mom does well on it. Keep us posted.

[Clair19]

Sorry meant to say hardly any side effects. Tired some days, but expected with cancer. Hair is not falling out, getting thick. I know that’s not a big deal, but was for me for some reason. I have noticed wt gain from 124-129 but probably because I have more of an appetite than when on Chemo.

[Nelsonyong in reply to Clair19]

Hi Claire, really appreciate your kind sharing and encouraging news about the side effects. Do hope faslodex works for all. Thanks again and take good care!

[barbarac76]

Hi Nelson. I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. I have the same diagnosis as your mother. I have been on fulvestrant (aka faslodex) with ibrance since January 2017. The combination has kept my cancer (mine is in bones and lungs) from progressing. My major side effect has been low WBC and low ABS NEU.

Does your mother's oncologist not want to include ibrance because of her side effects to chemo?

[Nelsonyong in reply to barbarac76]

Hi Barbara, appreciate your kind sharing. My mom got very serious side effects with chemo last year and hence managed to handle only 2 cycles. She was on tamoxifen since then. Her neutrophils still below normal. So her onco said fulvestrant is the safest option for my mom. Take care. Thanks

[SeattleMom]

Hello, Nelson,

So sorry that your mom had so much trouble with previous therapy. Ibrance (fulvestrant) is often coupled with letrozole, another cancer med, to blast the cancer. You may want to ask your mom's onc about this. He/she may want to see that she can tolerate the ibrance before introducing the letrozole.

For most, this combo is manageable, with most common side effects lowered white blood cell count, some joint aches periodically, and sometimes episodes of feeling very tired. Your mom is lucky to be ER positive and HER2 negative; there are lots of options for these patients, and I pray that the docs are able to find one she can tolerate.

God bless you for finding this great support group for your mom. Be sure to stay in touch; most often, there is another patient on here with same experience as your mom who can offer encouragement and information. And God bless your mom on this journey we all share!

Linda in Seattle

[SeattleMom]

Nelson, sorry I got the names confused in my previous reply. Fulvestrant is also known as faslodex, not ibrance. I take the ibrance/letrozole combo with the side effects I described above. I apologize for my mistake. Have good day, Nelson; you are a wonderful son to your mom!

Linda

[Nelsonyong in reply to SeattleMom]

Hi Linda, appreciate your kind sharing. We stay strong together. Take good care!

[1998withStage4]

I’m on fulvestrant since January but know of others who continue to receive benefit from this drug for years and years. Hope your mom has similar results.

[Nelsonyong in reply to 1998withStage4]

Hi. Great to hear another success news with fulvestrant. Thanks for your kind sharing and hope it continues work on you. Take good care. Thanks

[PJBinMI]

I am now 72 and have been living with mbc for 14 years. I was on fulvestrant for over 9 years! It worked well for me and was easy to be on. I have bone mets so I was also on a bone met drug. I hope it will work well for your mother. We older women to tend to have less aggressive cancer cells than younger women do. And that is always hopeful for us. (But lousy rotten and unfair for the younger women!)

[Nelsonyong in reply to PJBinMI]

Hi, appreciate your kind sharing. Yup, really hope this fulvestrant works for my mom. You are a great fighter! Take care and thanks!

[Klamato]

I feel that Fulvestrant is a better option. I too failed the tomoxfan, and my 2nd opinion at Dana Faber felt strong for me to use Ibrance and FULVESTRANT Injections would prove to be a better option going forward. God bless your Mom and good luck with these treatments. We are all in this together! Stay strong!

[Nelsonyong]

Thanks for your kind sharing. Take care

[Nelsonyong in reply to Nelsonyong]

Dear all caring sisters, my mom has received the first jab this morning. She said very minimal pain during 💉. So far we'll tolerated. Thanks sis all for your kind sharing and support. Really appreciate it. Thanks