I have a friend who was dx'd in March 2003 with a 6 cm tumor/no lymph nodes.
She had mast + chemo and is currently taking tamoxifin (which she hates b/c
of the side effects). Her Dr. has suggested Lupron + another aromatase
inhibitor instead of tamoxifin. Has anyone ever heard of this treatment
regime?
Thanks,
Mark
A. P. Thorsen - 16 Feb 2005 01:45 GMT
> I have a friend who was dx'd in March 2003 with a 6 cm tumor/no lymph nodes.
> She had mast + chemo and is currently taking tamoxifin (which she hates b/c
> of the side effects). Her Dr. has suggested Lupron + another aromatase
> inhibitor instead of tamoxifin. Has anyone ever heard of this treatment
> regime?
Yes, but no first-hand info. A woman who used to attend my RL support
group was on Lupron + aromatase inhibitor. My understanding is that the
Lupron shuts down the ovaries (basically drug-induced menopause), and
the aromatase inhibitor does its usual thing stopping production of
non-ovarian estrogen. Based on a sample of one person (and that
second-hand), one can't really draw conclusions . . . but the woman in
question reported very severe hot flashes. Otherwise OK, to the best of
my knowledge.
BTW, just to mention a different (and positive) single-person sample
size thing: Another friend had a 7cm tumor, with positive nodes, and
after surgery/chemo is NED 6 years post-treatment now. I mention this
because I know the larger tumors can be especially frightening . . . .
Ann T.
Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email
C. Falise - 21 Feb 2005 20:46 GMT
> I have a friend who was dx'd in March 2003 with a 6 cm tumor/no lymph nodes.
> She had mast + chemo and is currently taking tamoxifin (which she hates b/c
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Mark
hi mark-
i am stage 4 diagnosed in oct '03 and have been on lupron plus femara
(aromitase inhibitor) and most recently zoladex and femara. zoladex is
simply a longer- acting form of lupron - i only get it every 3 months
instead of every month. these drugs are used to put a pre-menopausal woman
into menopause and secondly to disrupt the body's ability to make esrogen
which feeds our kinds of cancer. they are quite effective, and considering
the alternatives, fairly easy to tolerate.
so far so good. there are side effects however. hot flashes, night sweats
and increased pain are most notable. i don't know what to suggest for your
friend. it is likely that the side effects from all these drugs are
similar. for what it's worth though, you do get used to it. if she has
been through chemo already, then she has probably learned how to get around
the side effects that these treatments can bring.
i wish her the best of luck... it sounds like she's well on the road to
recovery.
-christina