HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - When & why did your onc prescribe Zometa?

StephN · 11-02-2006, 10:52 PM

Good questions.

I have been getting Zometa since July of 2002. I was on 3-weekly when I would get my Herceptin, then after about 18 months we cut it back to every 6 weeks. Then about a year after that, we cut to every 3 months. This is where I am currently, but will be re-evaluated with a bone scan in a couple of weeks. With that information we may either stay with Zometa, change or go off a bone strengthener altogether.

Why was I put on Zometa? I had just conquered an aggressive invasion of liver mets and also had some signs of bone mets. There were no longer any signs of mets at all, but this was a new drug that my onc was high on and wanted me on to build my bones back up after all the chemo I had. This was also deemed protective. It seems to have worked as I have had NO NEW METS other than 2 that showed in my brain in 2005.

11-02-2006, 10:52 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Good questions. I have been getting Zometa since July of 2002. I was on 3-weekly when I would get my Herceptin, then after about 18 months we cut it back to every 6 weeks. Then about a year after that, we cut to every 3 months. This is where I am currently, but will be re-evaluated with a bone scan in a couple of weeks. With that information we may either stay with Zometa, change or go off a bone strengthener altogether. Why was I put on Zometa? I had just conquered an aggressive invasion of liver mets and also had some signs of bone mets. There were no longer any signs of mets at all, but this was a new drug that my onc was high on and wanted me on to build my bones back up after all the chemo I had. This was also deemed protective. It seems to have worked as I have had NO NEW METS other than 2 that showed in my brain in 2005. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.