Faslodex Versus Zeloda?

[jersey-jazz]

The Letrozol was not successful for me. I had progression and it caused all sorts of side effects which I am still dealing with . My oncologist wants me to start on Faslodex. She notes that I have a skinny bum. Because of the knowledge I have gained from you all on this forum, I, of course, know about the trials for liquid Faslodex. That slowed her down and she is looking into it. This gives me more time to heal and to go without any cancer "therapy". I took notes a while back about Zeloda. They are somewhere. I will be asking the doctor about Zeloda but would like to know from anybody here if they could please compare the two.. Thank you!

It is Saturday evening and here I am writing about the all consuming subject of MBC. What is our world coming to ?

[Iwasborntodothis]

I tried Faslodex before Xeloda but it didn’t work and progression continued- it really wasn’t that bad so I wish I’d been able to stay on it. Tons of good posts on here about both so you can be well informed.

[jersey-jazz in reply to Iwasborntodothis]

Dear IwasborntodothisIt is interesting how some women get results from Zeloda and not from Faslodex and some are the other way around. after reading more on this forum, I am going that the Faslodex will work for me. Thank you so much for responding to me.

[jersey-jazz in reply to jersey-jazz]

I did not proof read. I hope you can interpret "going" as "hoping".

[Hidden]

I did Faslodex but got progression. Switched to Xeloda and pleural effusion, lymph nodes and lesions are reducing thankfully after three cycles on it.

[jersey-jazz in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for responding, SpiffyCJ. Thant is so great that you got such a resounding response. As they say, "Whatever floats your boat!". I am hoping that the Faslodex will work for me and won't hurt too much on my skinny rear end.

[Suzierox in reply to jersey-jazz]

I have a skinny bum too and the Faslodex shots have not bothered me so far, though I've only had three rounds. Letrozole failed me as well, so I am hoping this new Faslodex and Ibrance combo is going to work. Scans will be in May. Good luck to you!

[Andibo in reply to jersey-jazz]

Make sure it gets really warmed up and they push it in slowly. Makes a big difference.

[jersey-jazz]

Thank you! The fast paced progression of the liver tumor has been resolved by the microwave ablation. I had an MRI four days ago and it showed that the ablation was completely successful. What's left. is the internal trembling, heavy duty neuropathy and other side effects probably from the Letrozole. Now that I read your post about the side effects of Xoloda, I will go along with the oncologist's recommendation of Faslodex. Thanks again, Sandra. You are such a boon to the rest of us.

[AvidBooklover]

Skinny butt here too! I recommend having them hit the muscle as far left and right as they can. For me, sore for 2-3 days and chemical smelling urine are the only issues. Been on it for two years. My doctor at Sloan does not see oral pill for anti-estrogen on the horizon any time soon. You can do this!

[jersey-jazz in reply to AvidBooklover]

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of dealing with the cancer therapy once a month rather than every day. I have other health issues to deal with and, besides, I have a life to live. Which MSKCC do you go to?

[AvidBooklover in reply to jersey-jazz]

I am at the Basking Ridge hospital.

[jersey-jazz in reply to AvidBooklover]

Sorry for the very delayed response to you. I began at the Sleepy Hollow location, then moved to Basking Ridge with scan sometimes down at Middletown. Now, it is up in the new facility in Montvale. I live about the same distance from Montvale and Basking Ridge but find the drive to Montvale to be easier for me. I come from near that neck of the woods and know some of the back roads. They are so much nicer than 284. I love living in NJ.. It is close enough to Broadway and yet still in a rural setting. Thank you, again, AvidBookLover and member of the Skinny Butt Society for your info and advice. The more info we have the better we are.

[Andibo in reply to AvidBooklover]

So the lightblulb just went off on the smelly urine thing. Thanks!! I always wondered why my urine now seems to smell a tad!

[AvidBooklover in reply to Andibo]

Crazy right?

[SeattleMom]

Hello, Jersey!I’m on Faslodex, and nurse injects into muscle closer to hips. No after effects whatsoever. Injecting into “Maximus gluteas “ runs risk of hitting sciatic nerve. God bless you!

Linda 🙏🏻🙏🏻💗💗

[jersey-jazz in reply to SeattleMom]

Thank you so much for the advice about the sciatica nerve. The question of interference with the sciatica nerve has crossed my mind more than once. Thank you, also, for your blessings. I believe that prayers, good vibes and blessings work to heal.

[cpidacks]

I have been on Faslodex, as my first line of treatment, since March of 2019. I have difficulty swallowing pills so I am only on Faslodex. So far I am stable with no progression of my liver tumor. The only side effects I have from the shots are sometimes bruising, soreness and itching for a few days. Good luck to you and good luck to all of us on this journey we are on.

[jersey-jazz in reply to cpidacks]

Yes, good luck to all of us. We need it. Thank you for your information. It is very close to home about the liver. That is where the MBC reared it's ugly head.

[Andibo]

I got zero results from Xeloda but am doing great with Fulvestrant (generic form of faslodex)/Ibrance/Xgevia protocol. No big side effects except some annoying weight gain and hair thinning. Wishing you good luck....

[jersey-jazz in reply to Andibo]

I am glad you are doing so well on Faslodex. Thank you for letting me know about the side effects. The weight gain would be okay if it was dumped on my rear end, not so good all over.

[Red71]

Skinny butt too! I’ve always wanted to slide my extra tummy fat around to the back, but it hasn’t worked so far! I found as long as the Faslodex was injected by the normal standards that I had no problems. When nurses said they had a “better” alternative, it seemed like I had problems so I would request that they not use their alternative method or get me another nurse. I became quite adamant about it!

Elaine

[jersey-jazz in reply to Red71]

Thank you for responding. It seems as if there are a lot of us on the No Bum Team. I am so curious to learn about the "better" alternative. What is that about? I need to know as much as possible because I am really nervous about the prospect of pain and of something going wrong.

[Red71]

There were two “better” alternatives that nurses suggested. I went along with both but after that refused anything that was not the usual of putting it in your largest muscle slowly. One nurse injected about 1/3 of the dose, then stopped and massaged around the area, then another 1/3, massage, and the last 1/3, then massage. It felt weird to have her massaging my butt and I had pain in that area for two months. The other nurse had a different muscle that she used. After that one I had a sciatica type pain that went down my leg for a couple of months. I mentioned that one to my oncologist and he said he would pass it on that she should be using the method that the drug company recommended...warm the fluid, inject slowly, and into the correct large muscle and only that one. All the ones that were done that way were perfect with no pain afterwards, not even a little soreness the next day.

[Red71]

Additional information....all of my nurses had me lean against a counter, putting all my weight on the leg that was not getting the injection and the counter, so that the leg that was getting the injection was completely relaxed. Then when they give the second shot, you switch legs. If they do everything right, you really shouldn’t have any problems even with a skinny butt!

[jersey-jazz in reply to Red71]

Dear Red71-----Thank you so very much. That is the kind of very specific information that is so useful. The more I know about it, the easier it will be. I understood, though, that sometimes two nurses give the shots at the same time.

[Red71]

I’ve never had two nurses and I would ask for one ata time so you will be able to relax the leg getting the injection. Otherwise with two I would think you would have to lay on a table so that both legs could relax. I stood and just pulled my pants down a slow as I needed. It was over in 10 minutes.