Hello ladies - I've been on Ibrance and letrozole since September 2018. I am treated at Mass General in the Boston area. I am stable for now.
During my appointment with my oncologist yesterday, I asked about next steps when the time comes. I told her how I know several people on this site who do not find fulvestrant needles easy to manage. She told me that they expect approval for oral form in 2022. I want to share this positive news for my fellow warriors who are on this treatment.
Wonderful to know. Thank you. Why is everything so bitter sweet though? I think of our sisters who have not been so lucky. 😟But still very thankful.🙏🏼
I hear you. I’ve been thinking of our dear sister warriors who we’ve lost this year.
May their memories be a blessing. They are missed.
To be honest, I don't find the injections a problem at all, although I know others do. What is a pain though is having to go to the hospital every month to get them. So the oral version would certainly help there.
Yay!
I hear the oral version is more effective too. I am trying to get on a trial for one of them myself.
Ah! This info is so helpful! I just responded to original post that my doc had mentioned switching me to oral Faslodex...This was part of a discussion re: my stop-start mild progression (bone mets) and what to do next. I couldn't make sense of her suggestion, i.e. if Faslo injections are probably "failing" me, why switch to the pill? But if she believes the pills are more effective, she's probably just thinking that we should amp up the Faslo a bit to see if I can get more time on it...
I see her in a few weeks, will ask her, and will tell her that I will gladly take her up on her offer of the pills! 
Maybe it's more effective because you take it every day and have a steady dose, vs. that "curve" with larger, less frequent dose? I'll see what I can find out!
Thanks, Pbsoup! Your responses are often so helpful to me!
Lynn
You may have to join a trial to take it. Not sure it’s available yet. But then you will be well monitored!
I like that your oncologist isn’t in a rush to change everything up.
Thanks! My doc said that I won't qualify for a study because of my treatment history but she thinks she can get me some anyway, not sure how, but not asking questions!
Thanks for sharing the news that oral fulvestrant may be available in 2022 it'd be a great relief from injections
I have heard there are almost 6 different versions of an oral fulvestrant in trial. And reports that some do not work for very long. Let's hope there are some that are very effective!
Great news! Hope it comes to fruition! Have been asking my Onc team if there are any updates and had just heard 2022 as well when I was there last week. For me this will be huge as long as it is working for me. My Onc will agree to only traveling to Duke (6 hr RT) for quarterly scans and having my bloodwork monitored by my primary (2 miles from my house) monthly once I don’t have to receive in shot form as long as I’m stable. Not only that but the wear and tear on the posterior….oh my! All good things! Can’t wait!
Hi Marthasvinyard!
This older post popped up in my feed so wanted to add some info for you and other readers...
I've been teetering on the brink of changing treatment from Faslo + Ibrance for...two years! Discussions (negotiations?) with my doc are getting more serious...and she recently mentioned the new oral Faslodex...
What strikes me...now that I think about it...is that she mentioned it as next treatment for me. i.e if/when we decide that the injections have "failed". She said that I wouldn't qualify for the studies because my treatment history is a bit off normal course, but she thinks she can get me some anyway.... (Score! )
Literally two months after convo the synapse just fired (third shot of espresso this morning?) ...Wouldn't that simply be like continuing on Faslodex injections (minus the "ouch")?
I'll ask her when I see her next month but I'm wondering if maybe she thinks the pills might operate in a slightly different way from the injections and therefore can be additive? Sort of the way Verzenio was originally thought to be an either-or vs. Ibrance but is now considered additive?
Maybe the change to oral Faslo would make sense only because my "progression" has always been very mild (a few new bone mets here and there), i.e. if more serious progression, need to make a more significant change?
If this happens to be the case, this would be good news for all of us....but this mostly doesn't make sense to me? I'll see if another espresso helps me figure it out!
If I learn anything when I see doc next month, I'll def share...
Lynn
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