Scott wrote: << Two days ago,
she stopped taking the Vioxx, and the finger/hand pain seems to be
subsiding. >><BR><BR>

Each of us can react differently to different medications, so it is hard to
know.  However, if the symptoms for which the medication was intended increased
rather than went away, it doesn't seem as if the medication were helping or
that it was being worsened.  Another med, similar to ViOXX that has been found
to be helpful is Celebrex which also has anti-tumor properties at certain does,
is also being used.  You can check out the research doing  a google or other
search engine--typing in the words: celebrex and "breast cancer"
Hope that your wife finds something that she can tolerate.  Take care and all
the best!

Then it sounds like what is 'going on' in your wife's finger joints is not
what her onc thinks it is.  Maybe anti-inflammatories aren't the answer, or
maybe she reacts badly to this particular one.  There are lots of other
NSAIDs that could be used, from aspirin on up.  For example does Ibuprofen
work to reduce the pain? (Over-the-counter, but shouldn't be taken at the
same time as Vioxx unless prescribed.)

If so, then it's a matter of hunting around for the most effective NSAID
with the least side effects: as Kaye says, Celebrex would be worth looking
at.

If none of these drugs seem to have much effect on the pain, then perhaps it
is time to take completely different tack, maybe to switch to a different
aromatase inhibitor.

Or of course maybe left alone the pain will abate all by itself.

Tim Jackson

Hi Scott,
At one time I used celebrex (instead of Vioxx) combined with my
chemo,Xeloda,(they seem to work hand in hand), helped me with the pain
at that time,.but since my pain has worsened I am currently on
Oxycontin.
*Hugs*, Sunny