Metastasis breast cancer

[Bikeriding]

I jave neen daignosed with Metastasis breast cancer stage 4. I am on capecitabine 500 mg 2 tabs and capecitabine 150 mg tablet 2 tabs . Two weeks tablets and one week off . Now my onc wants to change to faslodex .but I dont know how many sesions. Please tell me if it is pain ful

[Nocillo]

Faslodex was not painful for me. I had it for almost 6 years. The shots aren’t wonderful, but you get used to it. I would suggest massaging the area during treatment because sometimes lumps can occur under the skin and while not painful per se, they can become irritating. Hopefully you’ll get a good run on it. Good luck 🍀

[Elle713]

Honestly, the first time I got the shots, tears rolled down my eyes. They did hurt. I was not aware it was intramuscular. It’s a thick serum so it’s injected slowly. Some nurses are better than others in administering.

BUT I got used to them and it helps if they warm them up first. And massage the muscle afterwards. After the first few times, it didn’t phase me at all. Faslodex is a good treatment.

[fancydog]

I have been on Faslodex injections for over 9 yrs so my body is very accustomed to the slowly warmed and administered shots. These are given every 28 days until they no longer work.

[TammyCross]

Faslodex (fulvestrant) was great for me. The injections once a month were not intrusive, just a couple of minutes per buttock. If you search, there are lots of tips on how to make them less painful (warm them, make sure injection is closer to hip than butt, and given slowly -- I used to time the nurse).

[genealogy74]

I've had minimal side effects from faslodex in two years. Very happy with it.

[Yikes123]

It hurts, but I feel better the next day. I find a heating pad on my butt helps afterward.

I see you are a bike rider, as am I. I don't ride the day of the shot. I otherwise manage ok with it. I don't like it, but I manage.

As a matter of fact, I am going for a ride after I send this message. Good luck.

[irisF]

Iris f,Je crois que mon message n'est pas passé donc je recommence. J'ai eu faslodex pendant un an pour un cancer du sein avec rechute osseuse (multiples métastases). En février j'ai refait un scanner et une scintigraphie les lésions qu'on avait vues un an plus tôt étaient en net régression pas de métastases ailleurs par contre le ca15.3 était à 4200 donc ma nouvelle oncologue estime qu'il n'est pas suffisant donc elle a changé mon traitement pour afinitor et exemestane. Pour les injections de faslodex, il faut mettre les piqûres à température ambiante car le liquide est épais et elles doivent être injectées doucement. La dernière injection m'a laissé un mauvais souvenir je l'ai faite il y a près denn deux mois et elle m'a provoquée une cruralgie. C'est très douloureux, l'infirmière a peut être touché le nerf ou le produit a enflammé la zone ça partira mais quand ? Donc il faut choisir une bonne infirmière. Courage à tous car les effets secondaires de tous ces traitements sont difficiles même si nous pouvons combattre la maladie grâce à eux.🙂

[TammyCross]

If you need IrisF's response translated, I can do that. Basically, she has multiple mets and was on Faslodex for a year. A new oncologist thought it was not sufficient because her CA15-3 was so high (4,200), so she was switched to Afinitor and exemestane.

She recommends having the injections of Faslodex warmed because it is so thick, and injected slowly.

Her last injection must have hit a nerve or caused inflammation because she has lasting pain, so she warns to be careful about where you gt the injection. [Ed note: the main risk with fulvestrant is that it is often administered in the buttocks, too close to the sciatic nerve. Ouch if that happens! It really should be administered away from the sciatic nerve, more in the back of the hip.]

Courage, because the side effects of all treatments are difficult, but we can combat the cancer thanks to them.

If anyone can fill in or do a better job of translating, please do!