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Faslodex...how long should I give it???

cimamom
0 Recommendations

Hi everyone - I started faslodex at the beginning of April and was wondering how long some of you have waited til it started to take effect?? I have been told a "few" months. I am getting a bit anxious. My tumor markers are steadily climbing. It that normal and then all of a sudden they just start dropping??? That's what I'm hoping for. I was really praying this would work so I could stay off chemo till after our Hawaii trip in July and after doing the 3-day breast cancer walk in November...what you do you guys think? sheri

Explore topics in this discussion:

Anxiety Cancer Pain Hormone therapy Breast cancer

21 replies

cindyrae19

Hi Cimamom,

I was put on Faslodex the end of January after the Tamoxifen (1 year) and Arimidex (1 year) quit working. My oncologist said it usually takes 3 to 4 months to start working. I was like you and nervous because my markers kept going up. I had my 4th shot the end of April and they were still up and I just didn't feel well, so just this past Tuesday I started Taxol/Avastin. I know how you feel. I was so looking forward to this working at least for the summer. I live in Germany and my daughter is coming for the summer and really wanted to live it up....hopefully we can do some of that.

We are all different though. I know there are many women on here that have long runs on Faslodex and are doing great. What does your onc say? Has he done any scans?

Well I will be praying for you that it works and that you have a wonderful trip in Hawaii this summer.

Hugs,
Cindy

cimamom

Cindy, thanks so much for your reply. I have heard it may take 3 months or so to kick in...didn't know if there were some people out there that their numbers continued to escalate for those 3 or 4 months & then they started dropping with Faslodex alone. I am only on the faslodex, nothing else at the moment. My last scans were run at the end of March so my onc. said we will re-run scans probably at the end of June. At the moment, I feel great. I don't have any pain which is why I was really hesitant to start of chemo.

I just read your other post on your first round of chemo. What an inspiration you are to all of us. Your attitude is amazing. My prayers are with you for some immediate positive results & minimal side effects.

Blessings to you,
Sheri

maxnan

Sheri -- the only certain way to tell is with the scans and they won't pick up changes within a month or even 2, so I believe that's why they have you wait 3+ months. When I started on it, my Onc gave me a "booster" of it - I think I had to go every week for a few weeks. Did you Onc mention anything along those lines?

cancerkicker

Sheri,

I am in the same boat you are. I started Faslodex at the beginning of April. I had what they called the "loading dose" - meaning I had the first shot, 2 weeks later the second shot, and then 2 weeks later another one - and now monthly. So in total I have only had 3 shots so far.

My tumor markers SKYROCKECTED. They went from the 600's to almost 1000 in one month. My xray also showed progression. I did chose to go for one more month and will go back at the end of May to see where everything is at and then decide between Faslodex and Chemo.

My local doctor is ready to switch me to chemo. My MD Anderson doctor had originally told me it would take 3-4 months to work. So I am not sure what to do as well. I think you have to way how fast it is growing against the time it takes to work.

I will be interested in seeing what others say. I too am wondering if people have had their numbers go up and then go back down. My local oncologist said it was possible but not probably.

Wishing you the best.

Jessica

cimamom

Hi Maxnan...how are you doing?? How is treatment going for you...and the wedding plans?? Yes, I did have a "booster"...I had 3 shots 2 weeks apart & now I am on monthly. What has me concerned is that my markers keep rising and they have been very accurate everytime things continue to progress. So, for now...I wait and am thankful that I feel good & am able to get to the gym or out for a walk everyday! Hope your doing well!

rose1325

HI,

My markers kept rising on Falsodex and the doctor wanted to start chemo. I asked her to wait at least for three months. She called me Monday to tell me there was a significant drop. I would give it three months to be sure it may take a few months to kick in.

Rose1325

cimamom

Wow, Jessica, we really are on a very identical treatment schedule at the moment. I am sorry to know you are dealing with the same anxiety, wait, and wonder and I am...although I have to say it is so nice to have people out there that can relate to exactly what we are going through.

You mentioned you started at the beginning of April but at the end of May you are going to reaccess things...that is only 2 months. How are you feeling?? do you have pain? feel as though things are progressing?? I am hoping how a person feels will play a little into what is going on.

Please keep us posted on what happens. I am sorry you are having to deal with all of this...you are so young....but...we will fight on & outlive all the statistics!

Sending good wishes your way!
Sheri

cimamom

Rose thank you so much for our reply! You have totally lifted my spirits & given me so much encouragement. I realize everyone is different, but I will hold on to the hope it WILL work!!!

Jessica, it's going to happen for both of us!

ihopeyousing

Hey Sheri,
I had 6 months of Faslodex before moving on to chemo. It was this very change that I felt enlightened to say that, no perhaps the drug was not working, but I am moving forward and stepping up to greater challenges, because my medical team believes in me.

Remember, as you said, we are all different. We all have differing reactions. Even though our cancer appears the same, our bodies are very different. Focus on your strength, the power of your medical team, and your faith in the future. Love,
Beth

cancerkicker

Sheri -

We definitely need to stay connected! I actually feel great - which I am thankful for. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I am "sick" since I feel so normal. I just want to keep ahead of the cancer - I don't want it to take over the lead. You know what I mean?

When do you go back to the doctor? I go back next week.

cimamom

Hi Jessica -
Yes, we do need to stay connected! I feel great too & many people don't believe that I have "progressing" cancer. I keep telling my doctor that they are looking at the wrong person's scans & such when she tells me things are progressing. I too am very THANKFUL that I feel good & pray it stays that way for a long time for all of us!

I go back to the doctor June 3rd, a week after you. Please let me know how your appointment goes.

Praying for you!
Sheri

shiloh7

My mom has been on Faslodex only 3 months but now doctors are suggesing chemo and radiation. Not clear yet if that means Faslodex ends, ditto the Zometa injections she's been having. Any comments?

mog

Hi Sheri,

I read this post with interest as I am facing the same dilemma as you. I start faslodex next week after having progressed on tamoxifen and femara. Unfortunately I never really gave the Tamox. or femara a chance. After 3 months on tamox and a month on femara my breast tumor grew so big that my onc decided to try chemo. The chemo shrank the breast tumor but didn't halt the bone mets and now I really regret not waiting it out a bit longer on hormones. On faslodex this time I don't really have a choice as chemo is not an option for at least six months while my immune system recovers. So I'll let you know what happens at four or five months with me.

Best,

Meg

cancerkicker

Sheri -

I had my appointment yesterday! My cancer is STABLE!!!!! My tumor markers did go up 100 points but my xray showed improvement so he considered it stable and I am continuing on this for another month and will re-evaluate it then!

I wish you the best of luck next week. Keep me posted!

Jessica

cimamom

Wow Jessica that is awesome news!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Although I will meet with my onc. next week, I don't think we will really know anymore yet until she runs scans which will likely be at the end of the month. But...I will be sharing your news with her! I will keep you posted!
have a great day!
Sheri

LeMarais

Glad to read this thread. I'm in a similar boat on FAS. Started in late December. In April my CA-15 started to go up for the first time ever. My tumor markers have never moved - ever- in the 10 years since my 1st Stage 2 dx. They didn't move when I had my mets recurrence 3 yrs ago either.

It is noted in several studies that FAS can generate a rise in tumor markers, and in many cases, this is an indicator that FAS is working. Many docs misread this as progression, and stop the drug faster than perhaps necessary.

My onc believes that my 'spike' should have happened in March, rather than April/May - and that the spike should already have started going down by now - instead of continuing to rise.

I just had a bunch of scans that were all stable, but they want me to re-scan in 3 weeks because they are suspicious of progression.

I'm hanging onto the late bloomer theory for as long as I can.

G-dspeed,
R.

cancerkicker

Sheri - let me know what happens today! Best of luck!

jo823

So happy to discover this group. I have been taking Zometa since my breast cancer moved to my bone about 2 years ago. (Bone is stable now and seems to be doing very well)...I continue with that but due to small cancer spots on my liver that are slowly growing my onc. discontinued the Aromasan that I was taking.

She started me on Faslodex (plus the Zometa every 3 months). just had my first injection (the first injection was actually 2 shots) almost two weeks ago so I will have my next injection this Friday and then again in 2 weeks and again every 28 days.

Am anxious about how this will go. She said my marker was 1 on the blood test (on a scale of 1-5). Looking for help, support, and information as I start this journey

cimamom

Hi jo823 - welcome to the group! There are tons of amazing people on line here...all of which are so loving, supportive & able to offer insight into their own experience. It is so nice to know you are NOT alone out there in the stage 4 world.

That is awesome you have been doing so well on hormone therapy & zometa for the last couple of years. I am sorry to hear they found some small spots on your liver...but...just know you can and will beat it!

I have moved on from the faslodex because it did not seem to work for me. My tumor markers continued to rise while on it & they found a few spots in my lungs & liver. So, I moved onto weekly navelbine which seems to be working great, and I am tolerating really well...PRAISE THE LORD!! I have been on it since the beginning of Aug. I am getting scanned next week and very hopeful things will show a big improvement!

I pray the faslodex will kick in & do what it needs to for you.
Your friend in the fight!
Sheri

EHM

Hi.. I've been on faslodex for almost 6 years now. Markers don't work for me.. so I had to wait for 4 months to be scanned and there was significant improvement... and my scans have been "mostly" stable since.. so I am still on faslodex.
Hang in...

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