Anastrozole for one month but seeing progression

[HbbM]

how long do I wait to see if Anastrozole is going to help? I started exactly one month ago and the first couple weeks there was a lot less swelling but the last week I have a lot more pain around my shoulder near the tumor and my scapula area. The whole area is really tight and I now hav3 even less range of motion. And then last night I noticed a new little …. I don’t know what to call it, spot above the tumor, under the skin. Similar to other spots around the tumor. Does this mean Anastrozole isn’t going to work? Or do I give it more time?

I was so hopeful the first two weeks because the swelling went down a lot and the tumor even seemed slightly smaller but now it’s pushed out again and causing problems in the surrounding area. I don’t want to wait too long to go to the next option but I only got my last scans April 6th .

[Kerryd22]

I don’t know the specific answer but when I was diagnosed stage four de novo I was put on Letrazole. I was going into the clinic monthly but it was early in my treatment so I was also going in for radiology and scans etc and one time when I was about to leave the oncologist asked if there was anything else and I hesitated before I answered. So he said if you don’t tell me I can’t know so I told him I still had a few very small numb spots on my face. He didn’t say anything but later I got a letter telling me I was booked for an MRI. The MRI showed that Letrazole was doing absolutely nothing and my bone Mets were now in my skull colonising it rapidly. I’d had a brain scan in May and there were no Mets in my skull and a few weeks later they had destroyed one sinus cavity and were working on the other cavity. The numbness was caused by the Mets which were surrounding the clivus which is the spot at the base of your skull where the nerves from the spine traverse from there to your head. That’s a very non technical description!

Doctors were confident that as my ER response is 100% that Letrazole would do the trick. It didn’t though and I was told I’d need IV chemotherapy immediately. The chemicals were ordered that day and I started the following week.

That was in 2015 and so far I’m still on the right side of the grass.

I don’t think it matters how recent your scan was. If it was me, knowing what I know now, and remembering that the oncologist isn’t by your side 24/7 I’d ring the clinic and ask for an early appointment. If you can’t get that then ask to speak to the breast care nurse.

The best policy is to be alert but not alarmed! (That was the government slogan after 9/11 btw) This early in your treatment it’s hard to know when or if you should worry but I’m not suggesting you should be worried. Simply that if you let your doctor know what you’re experiencing they’ll know whether they should do something immediately or if you should wait a while. The one positive thing about having breast cancer is that it’s not a rare disease. Doctors have seen it all before and they are best placed to guide your treatment. And don’t worry about bringing your symptoms to their attention sooner rather than later. They’re paid to look after you. I never hesitate to bring up something that is concerning me or puzzling me.

This first year is the hardest or that’s what I found. Everything is new and you don’t know if the treatment will work and there’s so many visits and tests and radiology that it seems like there’s no end but once you find the perfect treatment for your cancer it will settle down. I’ve been stable since 6/2016 on Exemestane. Even though one hormone blocker didn’t work after IV Chemotherapy the second one has. I’m currently only going in every six months for scans and a review appointment.

Stay strong! You’re only at the start of a long journey.

All the best

Kerry

You’ve got this!

[HbbM in reply to Kerryd22]

thank you so much! I always find your comments so helpful and encouraging. 💕

[NPmary]

Your doc probably won't call this progression until he or she sees it on the scan.Suggest you let the doc know about your change in symptoms. Goodluck. Let us know how you are doing.

[HbbM in reply to NPmary]

I sent him a message today. We’ll see what he says. Thank you!

[NPmary]

You are welcome. 🌺

[CTGirl1962]

They saw progression on my first scan after taking Anastrozole and Ibrance. They next one showed no progression and stable. That was in September. So far all of my scans have shown no progression, so for me, it took a good three months for my cancer to stabilize. I pray this is the same for you!! Stay strong!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💗💗💗

[HbbM in reply to CTGirl1962]

that’s great! Have you seen any shrinkage?

[CTGirl1962 in reply to HbbM]

My scans look the same. All of my mets are in my bones. No tumors, just density changes from the mets. So no progression, just stable. My oncologist says the scans will never look “better”, but if they stay the same, I’m happy!!! 🙏🏻♥️

[PJBinMI]

I'm a long timer with mbc and one of the decision I made early on was that if I ever even thought about calling the onc, any other doc or going to the ER, I'd do it. I think you should call your onc and report this. With MBC, we just don't have wiggle room. That said, I suspectthat feeling better for those two weeks bodes well for you. Sending hugs and best wishes...