SoCalGal
09-09-2011, 11:07 AM
Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve updated - It's amazing that after this many years, I still do the magic thinking at scan time - "maybe it will all be gone".
Good news first – I feel fabulous (not counting the usual side effects of age, tykerb & herceptin).
Not such good news: progression in bones and other places. 5mm spot in lung now 9mm – that is over the past 8 months. (Lung could be inflammatory smog stuff. Not conclusive but still, another thing to watch).
In reviewing my scans/history, it seems to me that for (3) years on Zometa, I’ve had no progression in bones, just (just!) persistent activity in the manubrium.
Being on Xgeva for the past 6 months, I have a new mildly active L1 thingy, transverse, so probably a met and not old chick stuff, and also another active spot on my sternum (!gollygoshdarn!). They also noted other areas of special interest in the spine region.
To me, (in my not so humble opinion) it seems that Zometa did a better job of controlling MY bone mets.
WATCH OUT~Curve ball----
Manubrium is improved (stable) since last scan, so perhaps Xgeva is good for the manubrium and Zometa is good for the rest of my bones. I asked my onc if anyone has used both since they work differently – every other month or similar – she said it would be an experiment.
AND there is a spot on my b to the r to the a to the i to the n. Everyone (everyone) thinks it is necrosis since it’s in exactly the same spot as the spot was in – ha. So it’s another watch area on my growing list. Did I mention that I feel fabulous and don’t look too bad either? Just to stay focused on the irony of this stupid disease. And also to stay focused on the GOOD NEWS of feeling good.
For now, since things are slow growing in general (probably why traditional chemo never works for me) I am going to go back on AVASTIN, stay on Herceptin & Tykerb and switch to Zometa. Will also go back on my million wobenzymes plus vitamin/supplements a day plan. And for those who follow along, still a dairy and gluten free me!
If you have any ideas I’ve overlooked, or any input on using Zometa verses Xgeva, please feel free to TELL ME. I also got the pipeline speech from my doc, apparently that pipeline is just packed with goodies for us survivors! ;-)
Hugs to All!
Flori
Good news first – I feel fabulous (not counting the usual side effects of age, tykerb & herceptin).
Not such good news: progression in bones and other places. 5mm spot in lung now 9mm – that is over the past 8 months. (Lung could be inflammatory smog stuff. Not conclusive but still, another thing to watch).
In reviewing my scans/history, it seems to me that for (3) years on Zometa, I’ve had no progression in bones, just (just!) persistent activity in the manubrium.
Being on Xgeva for the past 6 months, I have a new mildly active L1 thingy, transverse, so probably a met and not old chick stuff, and also another active spot on my sternum (!gollygoshdarn!). They also noted other areas of special interest in the spine region.
To me, (in my not so humble opinion) it seems that Zometa did a better job of controlling MY bone mets.
WATCH OUT~Curve ball----
Manubrium is improved (stable) since last scan, so perhaps Xgeva is good for the manubrium and Zometa is good for the rest of my bones. I asked my onc if anyone has used both since they work differently – every other month or similar – she said it would be an experiment.
AND there is a spot on my b to the r to the a to the i to the n. Everyone (everyone) thinks it is necrosis since it’s in exactly the same spot as the spot was in – ha. So it’s another watch area on my growing list. Did I mention that I feel fabulous and don’t look too bad either? Just to stay focused on the irony of this stupid disease. And also to stay focused on the GOOD NEWS of feeling good.
For now, since things are slow growing in general (probably why traditional chemo never works for me) I am going to go back on AVASTIN, stay on Herceptin & Tykerb and switch to Zometa. Will also go back on my million wobenzymes plus vitamin/supplements a day plan. And for those who follow along, still a dairy and gluten free me!
If you have any ideas I’ve overlooked, or any input on using Zometa verses Xgeva, please feel free to TELL ME. I also got the pipeline speech from my doc, apparently that pipeline is just packed with goodies for us survivors! ;-)
Hugs to All!
Flori