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Old 11-17-2014, 03:09 PM   #7
Kim in CA
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: California's Gold Country
Posts: 404
Re: Hey Steph and any others on Zometa

Hi Steph,

Thanks so much for your input. Wow, I didn't realize you had been on and off Zometa for so long.

A few years back I was borderline osteopenic, but after kicking up my Vit D and calcium intake, was able to see an improvement on future bone density tests.

Unfortunately I think the Femara I've been on since 2001 is starting take it's toll on my bones, and my doc thinks it's time to start the Zometa.

Incidentally, I've always been troubled with poor dental health. I've got more root canals and crowns than I care to mention, and even one implant.

So, I was really worried about the osteonecrosis of the jaw that I've read about. Hence, my doc wanting me to get dental clearance before starting Zometa.

Were you ever osteopenic, or was the Zometa mainly a preventative for any future bone mets?

Thanks,
Kim
__________________
Diag. Feb 1997 4.5cm IDC <10%ER+, PR-. 5 out of 36 nodes +. Mastectomy followed by 3 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxin.


5/1997 Hi Dose Chemo w/ Stem cell rescue. Spent 4 weeks in isolation ward. Then 6 weeks radiation.

9/2001 widespread mets to liver. 8 mos Taxotere/Herceptin brought me almost to NED. Stop Taxotere & add Femara .

11/2002 liver resection to remove spot that turned out to be necrosis. Officially NED!

7/2003 Tumor markers rising add Xeloda Disastrous reaction, 8 days hospital, but tumor markers came back to normal!

June -Dec 2004 UW Vaccine Trial.

7/2005 MRI single 11mm brain met
8/2005 Gamma Knife.

Brain MRI @3 months NED!

2006-2011 brain/body still NED

8/04/11 Taking Herceptin break, will monitor with tumor markers.

6/20/12 Tumor markers begin to rise. CA15-3 is 31.3 and Her2 Serum is at 17.1 Decide to repeat in one month.

7/23/12 CA15-3 now 49.3
Her2 Serum 26.8

8/6/12 Back on Herceptin
CA15-3 now 76
Her2 Serum now 49

11/7/12 Add weekly Taxotere for 4 cycles

2/2013 Stopped Taxotere added Perjeta. MRI shows approx. 50% reduction liver mets. CA15-3 still elevated @ 55. Will continue on just Herceptin & Perjeta.

November 2014 Continuing on Herceptin, Perjeta, and
Femara indefinitely. Guess I'm NED again, but watching those tumor markers carefully!

Dec. 2015 PET scan reveals mass in perirectal area of abdomen.biopsy confirms. Still Her2+, but no longer ER+. Bye bye Femara

Jan 2016 Begin Kadcyla

March 2016 PET scan shows tumor now barely visible, still NED everywhere else.
2016/2017 continue Kadcyla

November 2017 brain MRI reveals small focus of T2 hyperintensity with possible 4mm enhancing nodule. Short term follow up MRI suggested. Stay tuned...
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