Bone mets - please join in

[bonariensis]

Hi PMOL Fantastic! So glad your scans were clear, Not so good that you're in hospital but hope they sort out your sickness and you can get home soon. Bon xx

[funnyface]

PMOL, Hoping they get you squared away! You must be over the moon that the scan of your head was clear. What wonderful news! FF

[jazmia]

pmol

so sorry you have found yourself in hospital and hope they let you out tomorrow  but you are in the best place to get to the bottom of your problem and sure everyone on hear is rooting for you.

great news that your scan was clear,maybe stress brought the sickness on.

all the best

renee 

[PMOL]

Hi girls! So ct of head was clear! 😃😃😃
However I am now lying in the bed of our local hospital as was still being sick! They admitted me yesterday, had another CT for thorax and it was same which means the stomach is vlear and this could be some irritation of stomach.
So now on my 3 drip of fluids 😫 And praying they'll let me go in the morning (ine can just hope, right??) xxxxx

[Carolyn52]

The doc also gave me amytripilin for bone and nerve pain ..took them for a few nights ..wow I felt spaced out to lunchtime everyday and they didn't really seem to do much so they went in the bin but they are supposed to be good and well used by lots of ladies here.
Everything has side effects ..even a rennie tablet so I suppose it's better not to read all the paperwork!
Damn ..I've got a mozzy flying around my lounge and they love me ..fly swat and spray in hand now and I'm not afraid to use them Mr mozzy! !
Hugs xxxx

[jazmia]

hi jellytot,

you have taught me something new tonight i take gabapentin and also amytripytline but was given them for nerve pain when i had my leg amputated,and can honestly say i have no side effects from them at all,but i did not realise they were given for other complaints

take care .

renee 

[jellytot83]

Still here - Yes I've been told tthe same. No grapefruit, pomelo, pomegranate, star fruit, Seville oranges, marmalade, I think that's it. Also I have to check every single med I want to take with my trial team.

PMOL - Good luck with scan xxx

I have a chillow that arrived yesterday, used overnight, it was a bit weird to be honest and warmed up pretty quickly! Not too keen but will give it more of a chance.

I've switched letrozole brands as I was on one that gave me no hot flushes (Dr Reddy's), then I had to switch to another for my trial (Manx healthcare), I asked if I could change back and they said yes. So Saturday I took the first Dr Reddy's again, hoping it helps!

I've been offered venlafaxine/gabapentin or amitriptiline for the hot flushes but I don't want to take yet another pill, plus the side effects of all of those don't look very fun. Am hoping I'm allowed to take evening primrose oil and sage tablets as have heard good things about those. I meet with my trial team again on Friday so should find out then. They will also take my bloods then and see how they are faring, I've heard most people on palbociclib drop down a dose, so I wonder if it will be the same with me in my ribociclib.

hugs to all who need them,

Jelly xxx

[funnyface]

Carolyn, Yes, everyone should always know to read the literature and check with their doctors before taking anything. When we post suggestions we are never saying It's for all!! All things should be checked out before you try it. There are lots of natural supplements that can't be taken. Look how even with a lot if m eds you can't have grapefruit! I never did like grape fruit, so not whining on that one! FF

[Carolyn52]

all the best for your scan pmol. Xxxx

[crissy]

Pmol,  

Wishing you all the luck in the world for the results of the scan to be negative. 

Love and hugs,

Crissy

[jazmia]

hi pmol,

good luck with the scan ,and do hope it is negative for you ,such a worry is it not for all of us having scans.

love renee

[PMOL]

Carolyn 😂😂😂😂😂

i haven't tried it so don't know but  thought it might help some one 😉

Off to head CT as haven't stopped being sick for over a week now... hope the blighters haven't taken up residence in my lone two cells!! 😰😰

[Carolyn52]

Ff.
Glad u had good results with it but we need to read the side effects from claritin first. That posting was on "going through treatment" ..hormone therapy if anyone wants to read the full post.
Oh ff ..I haven't slept well either for 4 nights ..I feel really grumpy afternoons if I don't get my 8 hours shut eye at night! Trying to resist a power nap now as well !!
Hugs xx

[funnyface]

Carolyn, When I had to get neulast a injections I was told by the onc to take claritin the day before and several days after. It worked amazingly well. I didn't know this on my first time with neulast a and I was miserable for days. I don't exactly remember everything but what a difference the claritin made. I tried taking it when I was on letrozole and it did nothing! If I was in pain from a drug, I would give it a try again. It is worth it to see if it helps! I had forgot about it. I did see her posting. Thanks for the reminder. I'm probably going to try it for the little bit of knee pain I'm having. It might also help with my post nasal drip and itchy skin. Worth a try. DR

PS If only it would make me sleep!

[Carolyn52]

Hello pmol
Yes Chillow pillows are available online e bay and Amazon have them.
Personally I hated mine ..felt like sleeping on a lilo at night !! The dog did me a favour and ate it!!
Xxx

[PMOL]

Thank you guys!!! ❤️❤️❤️ My husband came with me - the worse part was coming out of radiotherapy and seeing him soooo upset.  He told me then and said that my onc was coming to talk to us more.  I think the worse part was seeing him soooo upset... 😢

CHILLOW! Thats the name of the ice pack and apparently it was in Wilko (UK).  I'll have a look on amazon and see if I find anything whilst my family is running around the house playing nerf wars!!! 😁

Big hugs xxxx

[Carolyn52]

Hello ladies
On another thread a lady has posted that she finds claritin hayfever tablets have helped with her bone pain ...maybe worth a try rather than constant pain killers and the side effects ...
I might try as I always have hayfever tablets here as all my menfolk sneeze and wheeze during summer and expect me to produce the tablets from my handbag !! It's like my Mary poppins bag ....I can usually provide most things from it in an emergency.
Hugs xx

[jazmia]

hi funnyface,

amazon do lots of different ice packs but dont know about refillable ,but worth atry as what they dont do is not worth doing,

thinking about it you have more than likely surfed the net,so this may be a bit of useless information to you.

take good care 

renee

[funnyface]

PMOL, What a train wreck of a ride your appts have been! That added stress alone is enough to make you explode with feathers flying everywhere. Geez, I hope you had some one supportive with you when the Dr called you in. You have a lot to deal with. I would get that emergency CT straight away. I would want those answers. Just remember those liver mets can make you vomit too! Hang in there the best you can. Holding your hand from across the pond. Hugs! FF

PS I like your ice pack idea! I suffer with night sweats too. I'm often trying to find a cool spot on the sheets to help. I heat the bed up so much. I flip my pillow over too frying to cool off. I think I'm going to look for one of the refillable ice packs like my mom had. I wonder if they even make them?!?!

[Carolyn52]

Hello pmol
Phew ..no wander you have been too busy to post here ..it's bad enough going hospital but the waiting is worst ..even for my simple bone juice jab ..I can be there an hour but I people watch to help it go quicker !!
Holding our hands that everything goes to plan and things get started ...
Hugs xxxx

[bonariensis]

Dear PMOL
What a week. What can i say? I'm so sorry that your liver is now affected. You've got more than enough to cope with without all the chaos, confusion and waiting that you have to put up with, For people who have to spend a lot of time in hospital anyway, dwindling NHS resources and consequent delays only lead to much more misery. Sounds like thankfully you have a supportive family. Hope CT scan is OK
Big hugs Bon xx

[PMOL]

Hi girls! Sorry I haven't been much in. Tried catching up with some posts before I wrote this but my memory's gone! Guess it being 6:30 and having beenup at 3 doesn't help!

anyway, it's been another rollercoaster week 😞. First came the appointment for radiotherapist through over last weekend. Had to travel 1:30hs for the appointment, then find out the clinic was running 1h behind and then told to wait for CT to measure up... ende up coming home 6hs later!!! Then the day I was starting radiotherapy they were running behind, hadn't received my paperwork AND had to take an antisicknwss tablet which meant waiting another 30' !!! Thankfully both days the girsl were having fun with grandparents and cousin otherwise it would have been a nightmare!

On top of that I 've been sick for a week (before the radiotherapy) and now have constant feeling in my legs that they are going to cramp. Painful! 😧

To top ot up got a call form the onc saying that he wanted to see me... (always dread the last minute appointmnets!) Saw him friday after radiotherapy to tell me that the blitters have taken residence in my liver, haven't been accepted on the trial yet (they want me to have the next ct and the removal of ovaries that JT had) and to do an emergency ct scan of hte brain due to the vomiting....

aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh - sorry for the massive rant, I know you understand! (And dont get me going on the waiting times!!!)

JT someon said about having an ice oack unde rthe pillow to be able to hold in the night for the night sweats and that it helped... 🤔

hope everyone has had a nice weekend

big higs xxxx

[bonariensis]

I have a breast care nurse but I haven’t seen her since shortly after I was diagnosed. She’s based in the breast care unit miles from oncology so that’s not surprising. The care and support in the breast care unit was mostly excellent and I was seen there initially after secondary diagnosis. My BCN told me to ring her about anything but the last time I tried, her attitude was ‘Why are you ringing me about this?’ So I won’t be contacting her again. Mind you, have any of the other cancer patients I see at outpatients got that kind of specialist nurse?

I was told not to have anything invasive or even to have my blood pressure taken on the arm on the side of my lumpectomy and they gave me a card to carry which said that (now buried amongst all the other card shaped junk in my purse).

I take exemestane and I don’t eat grapefruit but apparently it affects all sorts of drugs. I don’t eat Seville orange marmalade either (I found a reference to it on a website) which is a pity because I love it and had just made a large batch when I found out.

Jellytot I can sympathise with your lack of sleep but I don’t have any magic answers. I’m afraid I take a pill from time to time.

Helen and Janette, glad to hear you're both stable!

Hugs to all Bon xx

[funnyface]

Stillhere, I read on line one time about grapefruit. There is something in it that can increase to potency of the drug. It also listed star fruit and pomegranate along with grapefruit and Seville oranges. Never was told marmalade. FF

PS Just went and had a read. Seville Oranges are used in marmalade. 

[Stillhere]

Hi Jellytot, I dip into the forum occasionally and was sorry to read about your horrid side effects, glad that they are getting better. I think I had pretty much the same ones as you when I started the PIPA trial, I'm probably repeating myself (brain dead these days!) but I almost gave up in the early days.

 Palbociclib and Ribociclib are almost the same drug I believe, just made by different companies so hang in there, I'm sure it will get much easier! I'm not allowed to eat grapefruit or its juice, Seville oranges or marmalade, have you been told the same? As you said, every tablet/supplement has to be approved on a trial in case it skews the results.I think I've already posted somewhere, my latest CT scan shows a 50% decrease after 15 months so it's still working well. I hope you get longer, best wishes x

[jazmia]

Hi Jellytot,

i believe sage tablets may help as my friend swears by them ,but take some time to realise they are working for some people ,she buys hers from amazon as much cheaper i am led to believe so good advice from maria louise and worth a try .

take care .

renee

[Rose47]

Jelly Tot I was recommended sage tablets by the hospital to try and help with the sweats.  I got them from Holland and Barret . I only actually ever took 2 or 3 as I kept forgetting and was taking so many anti sickness tablets at the time i just couldn't face another pill.  I may start taking them again though.  If you cook with sage you could always try the cheaper option and chew on a sage leaf. Xx

[jellytot83]

I'm pleased to report my nausea is much less now, my stomach issues aren't as bad and the headaches have gone. However insomnia is still plaguing me. I've called my trial team but I have to wait to hear back as to whether I can take anything because everything has to be approved by Novartis. I've tried relaxing as much as possible before I go to sleep. I can't do hot drinks or baths as they make me feel hot and flushy. Any tips for reducing night sweats at all as these aren't helping with the insomnia!

Hope everyone is doing well xxx

[Rose47]

I suppose thinking about it it does make sense using the arm that hasn't been compromised, I will remember to say something next month.

The double whammy was devastating but then so is any secondary diagnosis.

Every women that posts on here just amazes me,  this is a good place to unload and have a moan and we all deserve to be able to do that.

Now going to have breakfast, I do love the late starts in the school holidays.

xx

[Carolyn52]

Hello Maria
There are a few hormone options so you hopefully have them as an option at a later time. We moan about side effects but really it's minimal compared to some treatment ..and if we didn't moan ...then we would have nothing to.post here .....
My oncologist says firmly that my arm with the lymph node removal must not be used even after 13 years ...only once did a locum nurse use it.
Reading on other threads though ..a lot of oncologists relax that you can use that arm for taking out blood but not putting in anything ..it's very much different from hospital to hospital but it's to do with infection and lymphadema ...
I'm so sorry you got the double whammy of primary and secondary. .must have been tough news to take in at the time ...
Hugs xxxx

[Rose47]

Morning ladies.  

Carolyn, thank you for your reply re hormone treatments, I wasn't sure how many other options there were on this type of treatment.  I haven't had a period since April last year so I am assuming that I have been going through the menopause during that time.  See that was one of my questions for my onc that I didn't ask in my haste to get out of the hospital.

Yesterday I had my Zometa treatment and the nurse who set it up asked me which side I had my nodes removed from as they don't like to use that side for treatment.  I had never been told that before.  Has anyone else heard of this?  

Janette I bet you feel better this morning, I am so pleased that your scan matched your good Tm results.  

Helen good news with your treatment working too.

Jelly tot tot how are you feeling this morning ?  being unable to sleep can magnify everything.  Do you have a good book you can pick up in the lonely hours, maybe a little read could send you off to sleep?  

Nicky I watched the athletics Wednesday night and felt so sorry for those athletes getting soaked.  I hope you enjoyed your day though, I do wish we had gotten tickets but I am not so good at planning ahead !! It's all last minute with me.

it sounds like it depends where your hospital is as to whether or not you get a bcn to support you after secondary diagnosis.  I think I noticed it more as I was diagnosed straight out with primary and secondary So never really had much to do with them at all.  

Wishing you all a sunny day today xx

[rosie53]

Hi Nicky, lovely to hear from you. Really hope you are doing well. Sorry you had rubbish weather on....thats typical British weather for you isn't it, you can't plan anything in this country!
I was actually thinking the same thing about Femara, I am lucky enough to have a great set of GPs at my surgery and they had no reservations about prescribing me the branded, if I'm being honest I really do feel that all this itching is down to the fact I have been thrown into menopause and it's symptoms from that because I googled menopause symptoms and I appear to have most 😀 haha lucky me!! The itching and dry skin, low mood, tiredness and irritable. My bcn has referred me to the clinical physiologist at The Christie who are meant to be amazing at teaching coping mechanisms etc.
Take care hugs Janette xxx

[nicky08]

Yay, plenty of stable Mabels! Great news Janette and of course Helen, who I knew about before. Enjoy your holiday Jools, hope to catch up in September -  maybe when the sun has returned from its holidays 😉

Talking of the lack of sun, guess which night we had tickets for the Athletics World Championships? Yep, Wednesday, the only one it rained on. Typical, you order these tickets about a year in advance, find out that you have actually got the ones you requested and then on the night in question it pours down ☔️ Never mind, all the spectators are under cover, which we found out when we got there, just felt sorry for the athletes getting soaking wet.

Janette, check out brands of letrozole but if you are lucky enough to be getting the branded, and therefore fully tested and trialled, version (Femara) it will be the one that is least likely to affect you. Some of the others have definitely affected me in the past and agree with Carolyn to avoid Cipra. Also, as with Helen, I have been on Denosumab for 4 years or so and not had any symptoms of itching (plus there's no news of coming off it after 3 or more years in our healthcare trust) but I know we can all be different. Isn't it great, the mixed bag of side effects? Which one will you get? However they are things we do have to put up with when we know how well the actual drug is working for us.

Hi to all our mets ladies, here and across the pond.

Nicky x

Ps, edited to say to Jellytot, how awful to have really severe side effects from the trial you're on. I know you will be closely monitored so maybe they can reduce doses somewhere in the combination as they do aim to get a balance between effectiveness and how you cope with the side effects.

Alos, regarding BCN for secondary BC for many years I haven't had one at all but for the past couple of years I do have one. I think it's up to each Trust to determine who they train up to cover secondaries as most are trained for primary BC which, as we know, is a different level of support and information. At first I was always worried when my BCN sat in on my oncologist appointment just in case she was there to hold my hand because of bad news. Now however we all have a chat about holidays etc, my oncologist included! She is definitely part of the team and doesn't just sit there taking notes she get involved with my appointments.

[funnyface]

You go Renee!!

Jeanette!! Yahoo!!! Wonderful !! Toot! Toot!!

[helen44]

Janette - fab news Stable Mabel! I would definitely think about changing the brand of letrozole & see if the at is causing the itching. I've been on denosumab for nearly 5 years and never had itching but then we are all different.

Julia - thanks for popping in & enjoy your holiday, hope to see you again in September.

Jellytot - really sorry to hear you have so many side effects on your trial drug, hang in there girl

Good luck to everyone on their treatments and thanks for your good wishes from another Stable Mabel

Helen x

[rosie53]

Yes Carolyn my onc did mention that as a possibility too? ????? 

Janette xxxxxxx 

[Carolyn52]

Jeanette
I think u maybe blaming letrozole but looking at side effects of DENOSUMAB ..it's says itchy and dry skin as a possible problem ..you have been having it for a long time now ..could it be that? Our hospital stops it after 3 years ...
Hugs xxxx

[Carolyn52]

Hello Jeanette
Ha ha ..I've got the itchy bits too ..sometimes my bum cheeks and back of my legs !! Im ok until i start itching and then it goes on ! If u try a different brand ..avoid cipra .I can't get on with that one ..I like accord brand but Sandoz is another ok one and Dr reddy is fine too.
I find tea tree oil stuff good. .creams shower gels and shampoos all help.
But ..it's doing its job so we mustn't complain.
Hugs xxx

[rosie53]

Yes Carolyn we did discuss my itchy scalp and she suggested maybe trying a different brand of letrozole, I currently take the branded Femara, she doesn't think it's down to the letrozole itself but could be one of the bulking agents in it??? So any ideas ladies on preferred brands would be appreciated. I've also started to get really dry and itchy at the very top of my legs (groin area) I look a dirt bag with what looks like I'm itching my lady bits!! 😀 hey ho I'm not complaining though as letrozole is remaining loyal to me!
Hugs Janette xxx

[JoolsW]

Hi Helen 

excellent news  😀 I've been thinking of you and I'm very pleased you are a stable Mabel.  I'm off to Norway tomorrow so just popped "in" to see if you'd had news.

lots of love hopefully see you next month, take care.

Julia X 🙋

[jazmia]

hi carolyn,

i have never thought about what you say before ,but you have a valid point, when i think about it as the nurses were all over me the first appointment ,so yes i do think you are correct and will ask her when she is around next if she is only for primary patients ,because she sure has not been there for me ,yet in front of oncologist she is so nice,[two faced bitch].

renex

[Carolyn52]

Jeanette
Well done my letrozole buddy. .it's still doing its job ..did you ask about the itchy scalp today?
I just hope it's still working for me too as I don't get scanned til October. ...
I had my bone juice yesterday and feel slobby today so hopefully be back on form again tomorrow. .
Hugs xxx☺☺☺

[rosie53]

Stable Mabel reporting in!
I can relax again now for another 3 months.
Hugs Janette xxx

[Carolyn52]

Jeanette
We are all holding your hand ..for good news ..keep calm if you can ..rise above the stress! !
Renee
Glad u told the bcn what you thought ..don't think they are interested in secondary ladies ..we upset their stats for survival !!
Hugs xxx

[rosie53]

Well I've been sat here for over an hour only to be informed that my CT results have not yet been reported! So now have got to wait at least another half an hour for them to come across!......not a happy bunny!
Janette xxx

[jazmia]

hi ladies

,you are not alone carolyn,i was introduced to a bcn when diagnosed ,she gave out three cards with her number on and passed one to me and one each to my two sons ,also stated she or someone was available 24/7 ,what a laugh ,she has never ever got back to me,but last week at my onco appointment ,i met up with her ,she had the nerve to say ,,,so nice to see you again ,so she got it all barrels blazing plus in front of my onco and must say i felt much better for telling her .

good luck to all you ladies who are either suffering after treatment or waiting for results.

love reneex 

[funnyface]

Pippin, Stable Mabel is always good to hear! You get to walk around with a huge smile!

Maria, Waiting for the mail to deliver your results must really create anxiety! At least when you have a doctor's appointment for results, you know when you're getting them. 

Jelly, I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Vomiting and not sleeping are the worse! Big hugs!!

FF

[Carolyn52]

Hello Maria
How nice to hear from you and it's a really stressful time waiting for results .
I haven't got a bcn at all ..hence why I use these forums for info. Back at my primary dx ..I almost fell over them everytime I went hospital but now at secondary ..they don't want to know .

I'm sure if tamoxifen stops working they might consider another hormone like letrozole which I take but if you are pre menopausal you might need to have zoladex ( I think) to switch woman's things off !!
You don't need to say it aloud ..shout and rant as we all understand how you feel.
Anyway. .thinking of that white envelope with scan results popping through your door any day. .we are holding your hand and sending you hugs
Xxxxx

[Carolyn52]

Jellytot
Phew you certainly have the full set of side effects ..how miserable for you and of course it's a new drug so we can't really help with any advice.
Maybe it will settle down after the first dose and you will feel back to a new kind of normal again.
Hugs xxx