Hi Ladies
Had bloods done yesterday and my CA153 marker has dropped from 783 to 472...this is now my third month of faslodex injections and I’m feeling a bit more optimistic ( but wary of doing so!) but for the first time in almost a year there’s been a drop twice in the markers
Scan next month will tell me more ...got that to panic about now...ugh
Barb xx
Looking good!!! Keep positive xx
Great news Barb😄. My wish for you is that the downward trend continues. With your twice drop in tumor markers, I hope you will be less anxious about your upcoming scan.
Barb,
This is fantastic news! I’m sure your scans will be further evidence that faslodex is working! Hope you’re in less pain. Sending ❤️!
xo Jade
Wow, Barb, that's great news, so encouraging!
And, like you, I read a lot more significance into at two month change vs. one month, which might be just a blip...
I know how difficult it can be to anticipate scans, but I would try to enjoy your well-founded optimism!
Wishing you the best!
Lynn
Over 300 points....now that's a DROP! Let that glimmer of optimism burn a little more brightly and enjoy the summer. So happy for you!
That's great! Also, I'm glad to know there is someone else with super high tumor marker numbers. My appointment is Monday so we will see...
Oh good luck Monday...hope you get good news
Barb xx
not good - my numbers doubled - trying to get a pet scan because the doc is baffled
Oh dear it’s awful when that happens...mine doubled in a month when I was on Afinitor and exemastane...went up to 1200...however don’t forget they can always do the opposite as well
Please don’t despair although it’s so hard when this happens...I went into a mild depression which wasn’t surprising ...hopefully you won’t have to wait long for your pet scan...waiting is the worst as you know
Please let me know what the scan says
All the best
Barb xx
That’s great news Barb! 😃
Thanks Sandra...I’m sort of wary which sounds mad...but I’ve had such disappointments lately that it seems too good to be true
Barb xx
That’s fantastic news Barb and I’m so pleased for you.
It’s particularly good news for me to hear, because if I don’t get put on Elacestrant, on the Emerald clinical study, I have been advised that I will be put on faslodex injections. I have MRI and CT scans tomorrow.
Mumma and 4 week old chicks, Bubble and Squeak are all doing very well.
I hope you are feeling better and that your pain is under control.
Jo xx
Hi Jo
Good luck with scans tomorrow...so stressful
Glad little chicks are doing well...Vanessas chickens have been sunbathing with her in a blanket...they’ve also dug a hole in the lawn for dust baths...little tinkers!!
She’s having a bbq on Saturday for the horsey girls so we’ll see how they behave with that noisy lot
Still struggling with pain...felt peculiar in a walk this afternoon as I’d mixed my drugs (naughty!) and thought I was going to pass out...got home and my blood pressure was 101/62... think morphine doesn’t suit me...oncologist is writing to my GP to suggest Longtec which is oxycodone....I’ve read it up and it’s good for bone mets pain so will maybe try that
All the best
Barb xx
Glad to hear things are looking up. Regarding the pain meds, I am on Oxycodone. I was surprised to find out from my pharmacist that it is actually Oxycocet (1mg.plus tylenol.) I didn't know it was mixed like that. Having said that, it works very well for me with controlling pain. Hope it does for you as well.
Cheers, June S.
Oh Barb! That's fantastic news! I am so happy for you!! Sending hugs!
Hi Barb,
I don't have any personal experience with tumour markers, so I don't know how they work. But if a drop means treatment is working then that is great news! I wish you all the best with your upcoming scans.
By the way, I sent you an email earlier.
Take care,
Sophie x
Have ALL the confidence! That’s wonderful news, and I would continue to look forward to your next one. The Faslodex is obviously working!
Great news. At last something positive for you.
Keep it up
Clare x
That’s a great start ! Hope you soon have your pain meds under control and the faslodex gives you some good news with the scans too . Keep busy and stay positive 🌈
Barb,
I hope those numbers stay down and are shrinking those buggers. It would be lovely to have something without a lot of side effects that works. Lots of hugs. Blessings Hannah
Fantastic! Mine are still going up so I am having scans next month too. I hope your markers keep going down. You need some good news!
Elaine
Excellent news! Let’s hope they continue to drop and that scans will reflect similar success. I know they’re always scaring so thinking good thought and sending big hugs. Kathleen
Great news 💕 xx
I’m so happy they are going down, I hope they continue for you ❤️
That’s brilliant news!
Barb, SO pleased things are looking up for you. Open a bottle or whatever tickles your fancy. Fayx
Wonderful news! So happy for you!
That's really great news, Barb! I've gotten so gun shy, I won't even look at markers anymore. You've had a year of solid bad news. Here's hoping the scan shows regression!
Keep positive with your great news!!
May they keep dropping.
So happy and relieved to hear your good news. Praying your scan next month will bring more good news.
Love and hugs,
Marianne
Woo hoo. That’s great news. Faslodex seems to be an oldie but goodie. My oncologist is saving it for down the road.
I am so thrilled this seems to be working! Just in time to enjoy your summer. Xo
Yay - great news! Let us know how the scan goes, but it's looking very optimistic.
I know that tumor markers are just one piece of the puzzle but it always makes me feel better when they go down. Enjoy this bit of good news. 🙂
Wow, I think that is good news Barb - so keep doing the things you are doing. And stay optimistic I think it helps. Do you ever watch Dr. Greger's videos. He has a good one out about how wonderful and nutritious avocados are. They seem to boost the absorption of other foods. Just finished listening to his video so it is on my mind. My guru Jan McLellan also suggests taking lots of cold pressed olive oil with meals. I suspect it works the same way. We all should think in terms of eating nutritious foods as I think it likely helps us fight by boosting our immune system. All the best to you and try not to dread the scans. Try to think of the scans as rays of love and healing permeating your body. That gratitude might make it easier and less scarier. I try to do that. Of course, not easy but worth trying. Hugs Marlene
Glad to hear that your cancer markers dropped! Something positive happened, good. I know what you mean about being wary of being real optimistic, many of us probably feel that way too. But it is something to celebrate, about your cancer markers! Keep us posted 
Awesome! And that’s a significant drop too! 😀💕
I enjoy reading your posts and am happy for your good news. As my oncologist always says, when one thing stops working there is always something else. I wish you a happy summer as well as all the other brave and wonderful ladies on this site. Madlyn
it makes the heart happy to hear this wonderFULL news! hope you celebrate the news and you. scanxiety sucks. keeping you in my thoughts.
Wonderful news Barb! May the downward trend continue! Very happy for you! ❤️🙏❤️
Bon courage - Such sincerity!
Woohoo! Great news, Barb! So glad that Faslodex is working for you. Makes those twin sticks in the bum once a month much more tolerable when you know they're doing some good. Onward and upward!
I got over 9 years on Faslodex and the women in the local mbc support group that was going strong then also got longer on Faslodex than they had on their initial AI. I'd say you are off to a great start with it. When I started Faslodex, the standard dose was half what it is now. I forget just when the larger, two shot, dose became the norm, but even on the one shot dose I did well. One of the things I really liked about it was not having to take a daily pill that reminded me of the cancer, lol! I hope you'll do well for many years, too!
Thank you for your kind wishes...did you notice any increase in pain levels on Faslodex?... I always have pain but it’s getting much worse and it seems to be since I started the injections...could be a coincidence I suppose
B xx
Actually the opposite! Less generalized bone pain. Between Letrozole and Zometa I had the most pain of that type since I've been on this crazy cancer journey. I have had other pain, but from causes not cancer related. My lower back is a mess! I hope you find a way to be more comfortable.
That’s interesting...just shows how different we all are
My GP is prescribing me oxycodone instead of morphine so I hope it will be a better pain med for me...morphine just made me feel ill and wasn’t terribly effective for the pain
Thanks for your input...all the best to you
Barb xx
Now you are on the same pain med as myself. Here it is called Percocet. You have no idea how very very hard it is for anyone who does not have advanced cancer to get oxycodone. Seriously, it is near impossible. So I was shocked when my onco finally sent me to pain specialist and I'm thinking how am I going to tell her I need something stronger than 800 mg. of ibuprofen. She said how about we start you with 90 percocets 10 mg. (3 per day). That worked for several months (about five) and I mentioned that I was having to take 3.5 a day so she immediately upped me to 120 (now 4 per day, one every six hours). I was so shocked bc in NY you could break both your arms and they will say Aleve should be enough.
Warning (I learned the hard way). Make sure to take stool softeners and laxatives and keep an eye on that. I was put on it during pandemic and was not paying attention when I started feeling very sick and I could not go (sorry). I then realized it was almost 7 days. I got so sick....I could not sit or walk and was sweating so much. I could not get to any urgent care or hospital because the pandemic was in full swing in NY. I wanted to die. I was scared. I drank olive oil, was taking handfuls of laxatives. It took another two days and then three days to release all. It was scary and unbelievably painful. I was impacted.
I now make sure I take them (natural stool softeners and laxatives every day) and make sure I have a bowel movement or I stop.
In US you have to have advanced cancer. Unfortunately, the body gets used to it (at least for me) and I dont think they give more than 120. but when I first started them (right before pandemic) I felt wonderful. I could walk and I took the bus and the train and I was not in pain and I thought Great...and then like three weeks later the pandemic hit NY and I was back in my apt. again. Just make sure to take it BEFORE the pain starts. Good luck with it and let me know if you feel it works better for you.
Hi there
I’ve been started on the lowest dose of oxycodone slow release plus some extra quick release for breakthrough pain...they’re not strong enough!!.. I’ll need to increase the dose...need to function
However it’s early days and I’ll get there
Glad you’re feeling less pain as it’s the worst thing
I’ll definitely take a laxative...omg I don’t want to experience compaction sounds horrendous...you poor thing!
All the best
Love
Barb xx
Great news Barb. All on the right track.
Cheryl
Terrific news about the TM plunge! And there's every reason to expect more good news to come!!!!!
Barb
Sorry late to post- glad for your good news especially after what you been through. I hope the scans show good correlation and are the best could be hoped for♥️
I don't post much, but I do follow you Barbteeth, and I am beyond thrilled at your good news. Many good wishes from Austin,Texas, for continued success with your treatment.
Keep up with the optimism. It works better
Cancer markers.
Markers
