Herceptine and bone mets

[Debs]

Hello ladies

Wondered if you can help me on this one. I have been on herceptine, arimidex, zoledex since Jan this year for liver mets - it has worked really well and liver is nearly normal (wow considering 80% covered in tumors in Jan). Thing is having a bone scan as bones really aching especially left thigh and shoulder - but wondered if herceptine is working so well on my liver and therefore reducing tumors would it be possible for mets to appear in bones as hecerptine I thought would be repressing cancer throughout body - daft should have asked onc.

Thanks for you time

Debs

[Kathy]

Hi Debs,
Good that you're having the bone scan. Anything is possible. I have had progression and regresssion on a similar regime. I have a question for you. I asked my onc about combining the estrogen blcokers as you are doing--the Arimidex and Zoladex and he replied that it is still experimental Are you in a trial for this? Let us know how your scan goes. Good luck!
Kathy

[Debs]

Hi ya

Thanks for the reply. I am having treatment at the Royal Marsden (England) and I am not on a trial. I know quite a few people on the same regime as me - again not trial basis. Combination seems to be working well (well so it seems on my liver). Hope you are keeping OK.

Love Debs

[Karen H]

Deb,

I am on Herceptin, arimidex, and zometta. I had mets to the bone and skin. The zometta is a bone stregthener. The arimidex can cause bone loss, and a place for cancer to seed. By strenghtening the bone, the cancer cannot set in the bone.

[joy]

Hi Kathy, I did zolodex and aromatase inhibitors for quite awhile (year or two) and the impression i got from both of my oncs (in separate cities) was that that is what you do for pre-menopausal gals with ovaries. I'm 90% sure that this is not experimental. Just to let you know.

In Health, joy

[*_kirsten in NY_*]

I was on Arimidex, Zolodex and Zometa from Jan 1, 2005 up til last week. The hormone therapy failed for me and the disease progressed, so we switched to chemo (xeloda and herceptin). This was not experimental and I was not involved in a trial.

[kk1]

Hi Debs;

I am on the same combo (herceptin,ai,zoladex) and I often have very achy bones it is a comon side effect of the AI's to have arthritis like pain. When I first wake up or have been sitting for awhile My hips and hands are often painful to the point that sometimes I even limp alittle. Once I do light streches it usually goes away. Exercising and streching really makes a difference. It is however wise to get a bone scan to check it out. You should also have a bone density check annually as the AI's can cause about a 3% bone loss in some women.

kk1