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What to do? What to do?

Annadm profile image
22 Replies

Hello breasties,

Hope you’re all well. So Ibrance with Letrozole didn’t work for me. Now He wants to put me on Faslodex with chemo by IV. Or maybe one of the 2. Which one do you girls think wold be a better option? I don’t know what to do.

Thank you and God bless 💕🙏

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Annadm profile image
Annadm
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22 Replies
MacroMom profile image
MacroMom

I'm sorry, it's always tough when a treatment doesn't work. I would ask a lot of questions...which chemo? Is it often paired with Faslodex? What are the rates of effectiveness together or alone? When I started IV chemo I stopped aromatase inhibitors/Faslodex.

I think it also depends upon the extent and location of your metastases. If it is just bone or bone and a few smaller areas, consider starting with Faslodex and monitoring closely. I could be wrong but it seems that once you take the jump to IV chemo (which can work very well), most oncologists don't go back to targeted therapies.

Hope you get more wisdom here!

Patty

Annadm profile image
Annadm in reply toMacroMom

Thank you Patty

Annadm - I'm so sorry about your news...so disappointing.

I agree with what Patty wrote re: favoring Faslodex unless IV chemo is warranted.

If you do end up going with the IV, I'll mention that I have a renewed enthusiasm for this after seeing how effective it can be for some of us...

Best wishes to you...Please do let us know what you decide...

Lynn

Topood profile image
Topood in reply to

I also had a lot of success with IV chemo.

Bestbird profile image
Bestbird

I'm sorry to hear that a treatment change is being considered, and have never heard of giving Faslodex with chemo to someone if they are Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 negative. There are other Faslodex combinations that are approved. Also, you should consider having a liquid biopsy to see whether there are actionable mutations for which there are treatments.

Finally, please consider obtaining a professional second opinion about your next treatment. What your doctor has recommended makes me uneasy.

If you would like to receive a list of approved treatments by subtype, please let me know.

With kind regards.

Annadm profile image
Annadm in reply toBestbird

Thank you. Finally we’ve decided to go just with the chemo

Buffwright profile image
Buffwright in reply toAnnadm

Making a decision is hard. I hope you’re at peace with it. I likely would have asked for a second opinion. (Mine confirmed my onc’s choice). I went from Ibrance and Letrozole (after 3.5 years) to Afinitor and exemestane in March. I feel like it isn't working or has brought lung issues with it. (I have had lung nodules and seem to have pleural effusions now). PET scan Thursday will tell the tale.

Lisa-n-AZ profile image
Lisa-n-AZ in reply toBuffwright

Wow, my story is very similar, iv chemo, 3 yrs ibrance, 2 months afinitor, scans on Monday. I made it to NED while in ibrance, but tumors back in liver, largest is 4cm. Please keep in touch, stay strong!

Have-faith profile image
Have-faith in reply toBuffwright

Interesting I developed nodules on my lungs while on afinitor. I am now on xeloda. Do you think your nodules are a result of being on afinitor?

queeneee profile image
queeneee

Sorry to hear that. Same happened to me recently. I was offered faslodex only. My onc. is trying to avoid chemo because of covid and lowered immunity. First couple of weeks I had a few symptoms from faslodex, but it levelled out by the 3rd week. Obviously my situation not the same as yours .. but in case it helps.

Selmac profile image
Selmac

Hi, I'm not telling you what to do, just what happened to me. I was immediately put on Ibrance and Faslodex both. After 6 months scan showed progression. Both together didn't work for me. My first Oncologist did a lot of research. He did a gene study on me and said I needed to be on Afinitor and Aromasin. I got 2 1/2 years on it. Now we're going through some difficult things trying to get me on something new. But I will say Afinitor and Aromasin was very easy for me. I was fairly active and traveled some. Never nauseated. Again, not telling you to do this, just my story.

WordNerdSharron profile image
WordNerdSharron in reply toSelmac

Selmac, are you ER+, HER2 negative? Just curious as I get ready to meet with my doctor Friday to discuss a new treatment option.

Selmac profile image
Selmac in reply toWordNerdSharron

I'm only ER+.

Have-faith profile image
Have-faith in reply toSelmac

After afinitor I was put on xeloda which I am on now. Is your onc considering this? What other options has he shared with you?

Faith

Selmac profile image
Selmac in reply toHave-faith

Yes, I was on Afinitor and Aromasin. Got 2 and 1/2 years. Xeloda is what I was on and immediately got the hand and foot syndrome. They've taken me off for 3 weeks to try to get my hands to heal then lowering dose.

Have-faith profile image
Have-faith in reply toSelmac

Well good luck to you! You had a long run with the afinitor! This is good! It lasted about 9 months for me. Just had a scan today so will see how xeloda is working for me soon....have a nice weekend. Faith

Selmac profile image
Selmac in reply toHave-faith

Thank you.

Topood profile image
Topood

I’m on Faslodex (which has been really really easy for me) and Afinitor....and I did have IV chemo as my second treatment and then went back to hormonal for my third....so you can sometimes get another kind of treatment after the IV chemo—I don’t know what the parameters are, though. I don’t feel equipped to give you advice, but I hope whatever you decide works well! Thinking of you!

PLASEM profile image
PLASEM

I am sorry, I was on Ibrance and Letrozole and I took it for 18 months and I was switch to Faslodex and Ibrance but it did not work I tried Kisqali and Verzenio meditation similar to Ibrance but They did not work, then I tried Xeloda another Chemo pill, every body is different

I see that some chemo medication works for years on some people, all depends on the type of cancer on the pathology of your tumor

When there is progression sometimes it is recommended to have another biopsy to see it there is a change in the pathology of your cancer

Maybe your oncologist recommend chemotherapy because it is stronger and works on different type of cancer, it depends how was the progression

I am on chemotherapy because the cancer I have is very aggressive and the pathology changed from hormones driven to triple negative.

I wish you the best God Bless you

WordNerdSharron profile image
WordNerdSharron

Curious why both at once? How will your onc know whether the systemic chemo or Faslodex is making the difference? Just saw further down the thread that you've decided on systemic chemo alone. That sounds wise. Plus, if it starts to calm things down, they always have the option to stop it before it stops working so that you can have that option in the future. At least that's what my onc has said. Blessings to you!

I am on the same treatment so can’t really advise, but, I just want to say whatever you choose I’m sure will be right.

Annadm profile image
Annadm

Well breasties, my oncologist wants to go with a more intensive treatment right away as 4 lesions are growing at a very rapid rate. So this Friday, it’s back in the chair for me. Then depending on the results, we’ll go on a more mild treatment to maintain them at a “normal” size.

Got my hair cut short yesterday, 14” off. Getting ready for my new bobble head lol.

Hope you’re all doing well. God bless you all 🙏💕

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