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Joan2844 View Drop Down
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    Posted: Jun 11 2008 at 4:18pm
Ladies,

I am about to start treatment with zometa -- yea! I'm very pleased to be doing something pro-active rather than reactive.

For those of you who have had this drug, please tell me about it... how long it takes to receive the medication... vitamins/drugs you have been told to take (or to stop taking).... side effects you've experienced... etc.

I am thinking that it is a pretty tolerable drug? Very exciting to have something like this in our hip pocket! Smile


Edited by Joan2844 - Jun 12 2008 at 5:46pm
9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa.

NED since May 2008 :-)
www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com
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Shelly View Drop Down
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You said pro-active instead of reactive.. can you explain more.  Is this a drug that we could be taking to protect us from reoccurance?
Shelly
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Joan2844 View Drop Down
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Is this a drug that we could be taking to protect us from reoccurance?

I believe it could very well help protect against bone mets. This is recent news. Read the referenced article:

Bone drug Zometa helps fight breast cancer spread

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE – Jun 1, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) — A drug to prevent bone loss during breast cancer treatment also substantially cut the risk that the cancer would return, results that left doctors excited about a possible new way to fight the disease.

It is the first large study to affirm wider anti-cancer hopes for Zometa and other bone-building drugs called bisphosphonates. Zometa, made by Novartis AG, is used now for cancers that have already spread to the bone.

The new study involved 1,800 premenopausal women taking hormone treatments for early-stage breast cancer. Zometa cut by one-third the chances that cancer would recur — in their bones or anywhere else...




http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHHx6vYcgu-1WDoCww-qF7ePBGJgD9118J3O0
9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa.

NED since May 2008 :-)
www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com
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Shelly View Drop Down
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Thank you for the info.  It is really interesting!
Shelly
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KatePV View Drop Down
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Hi-
I saw an oncologist yesterday and he mentioned getting a bone scan to check for osteoporosis and if needed to start Zometa. It is an IV once a month. He said it has been shown to help with bone density and possibly prevent reoccurence. Apparently chemo induced menopause causes more osteoporosis and my periods stopped one week after chemo- at the age of 39. The doctor also said it is good that my body went into menopause, because even though I am triple negative, I am at a high chance of getting any breast cancer, whether ER/PR negative or positive and the less estrogen in my body, the better.
 I'm going on vacation next week, but will have a bone scan the following week. Hope this really does help.
Katie
DX 11/29/07 Stage 2, Grade 3 No Nodes involved, DD ACT chemo, Rads, bilateral mastectomy, hysterectomy

Lumpectomy

Dose-Dense chemo 4 A/C

4 Taxol

30 radiation
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sunbearz View Drop Down
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 Joan, Im a big believer in Zometa.It rapaired both my hips and some bone mets.It makes the bones ache at first because it is repairing them. Ive been on it for 8 years and just had to quit recently because of overgrowth of bone in my ears and jaw.
Its not a chemo, just a bone builder.After the first year I have been  free from any bone pain.It does take that long.I found myself a little stiff in the mornings, but the more you walk the better.Get those bones moving.
  Jill
Dx 1998 mast.Bone mets 2003
ac/xeloda,zometa,taxotere,,doxcil,rads to hip
triple neg brca-gemsar
Abraxine
2008 -gemsar/taxol combo
Taxotere ,Ixempra,liver, lung
Mets
Testosterone
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EWKSeattle View Drop Down
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I talked to my onc about the Zometa story this week.  She says that the study that generated all the news was limited to ER positive patients, so she feels it's not clear yet whether it would do anything for triple negatives.  That said, she's going to start me on Zometa in September after I finish the current heavy chemo regimen.  I'm early menopause, so it's justified for good for bone health anyway, and maybe it has some effect to prevent recurrence. 
Dx 05/06 Stage IIIC
Local Recurrence 01/07
Mets in opposite side axilla nodes 12/07
Mets to mediastinal nodes confirmed 11/08
NED March 2009-March 2010
Brain met March 2010.
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MarieM View Drop Down
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Zometa cleared up my bone mets, for which I am grateful. BUT there is a serious side effect that you should be aware of.  If you have to have dental work done, especially root canals or extractions, then there is a risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. this is a serious side effect. 
 
I seem to get serious cavaties during chemo, which is not unusual. During the chemo and zometa treatments i developed a serious dental problem which now I can't get fixed! My dentist want me to wait a year before he works on it!
 
Be sure to get any dental work done before starting zometa, and discuss the procedures with your onc, and I think they recommend waiting a while between the dental work and starting zometa.
 
Marie
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Nancy View Drop Down
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Good Morning MarieM,,
 
Welcome to the siteClap
 
I am Nancy and my daughter Lori was dx tnbc in June 13, 2007.
 
This Zometa must be similar to Fosamax? I have been on that for several years. I believe the same side effects are listed for that.
 
You gals don't need any other complications while going through chemo, that's for sure. However, if it helps, per haps the risks outweigh the problems?
 
Hugs,
Nancy
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MarieM View Drop Down
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Nancy - thanks for the welcome!
 
Yes, Foxamax is similar to Zometa. I believe we made the right decision at the time. Bone mets are scary. Now it's a bit of a juggling act for me.
 
I hope your daughter is doing well.
 
Marie
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dear all          my oncologist is recommending Zometa for me   twice a year for two years starting in '09   I had two lumpectomies in Sept '07 , finished chemo Jan '08  and radiation in April 08     at 58  the Dr is concerned about bone loss and recurrence    does anyone know of any other treatments we can take after to prevent recurrence?            thanks

 

 

 

Drug Stops Bone Loss From Breast Cancer Chemo

Zoledronic acid stabilized mineral density in premenopausal women, study finds.

By Robert Preidt
Aug. 22
 

THURSDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Zometa (zoledronic acid) prevented bone loss at 12 months in premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy after they had surgery for early stage breast cancer, a new study found.

The multicenter, phase III study is the first to evaluate the use of zoledronic acid in premenopausal breast cancer patients. The 101 women (85 completed the study) were divided into two groups that received either zoledronic acid or a placebo every three months for one year. All the women were given oral vitamin D and calcium supplements.

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured before the start of chemotherapy and again at six and 12 months. At six and 12 months, bone density was stable among patients who received zoledronic acid, but there were significant declines in spine and hip BMD among women in the placebo group. Side effects weren't significantly different between the two groups.

The findings were published online Aug. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Our study confirms that women experience significant bone loss due to cancer treatments and that zoledronic acid can prevent this loss," study lead author Dr. Dawn L. Hershman, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, said in a university news release.

"While our findings are promising, it's too early for us to recommend this drug for all premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, because we don't yet have all the information we need on dosing, cost effectiveness, and whether this drug actually prevents bone fractures," Hershman said. "However, this research does show we need to be more vigilant about monitoring patients' bone densities before and during treatment, so we can protect bone health and offset bone fracture or osteoporosis risk."

Previous research found that similar drugs prevent bone loss in breast cancer patients during and after chemotherapy. Recent findings have suggested that zoledronic acid prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women and may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
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megastar View Drop Down
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HI first time posting. My mum has bone mets, too many, her doctor is giving it to her every 6 weeks. In Australia the Cancer Council recommends every 3-4 weeks for mets.
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Lauriejn View Drop Down
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I've been on Aredia (another biophosphate) for Bone Mets.  The Zometa trial was linked to hormone receptor positive breast cancers.  My Onc said either drug does what it is suppose to do- rebuild calcium to make the bones stronger.  I receive it every 3-4 weeks.

Keep in mind, biophosphates may also be linked to throat cancer, esophagus problems, stomach problems and headaches.  Long term use is not recommended because it does not allow for the old brittle bone to wear away leaving stronger bone over older bone.
 
Laurie
Dx Oct2008- IDC Gr 3/Stage 3C
Mastectomy 11/7/08- 6/21 nodes
Bone Mets dx Dec 2008-Stage 4
Albany, NY BRCA neg
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I had osteoporosis in spine and hips  after initial diagnosis  of stage IIB in 2006. Ias on monthly boniva. When cancer recurred in lung, 2008, my onc changed me to zometa, once every 6 months. With one treatment, I am now  normal in hips and only slightly osteopenic in spine. Had 2nd treatment  this past friday....He said if I ever got bone mets, I would go to monthly but for now, just every 6 months...has anybody ever heard of doing this or should I ask for it monthly with my monthly avastins that will start in February? Any suggestions? thanks Christi
christi

2006,TNBC,Gr3 dbl mast, 4AC/4T {NED 4/07}, Lung Met 4/08, Carbo, Avastin, Taxol/Taxotere (CAT)x4, Lung Surgery 9/08, then Avastin every 3 wks until 2012...NED since 2/09
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Dear Joan,
 
My mother had her bone cancer successfully controlled through Zometa.  She took injections monthly for a while, then every three months.  It both kept her cancer at bay and helped to build back bone.  What symptoms she had were minimal.  I believe the worst was constipation.
 
Hope this helps.  Sending you healing thoughts and prayers.
Yours Online, Kathleen

12/99 bc initial dx-stage 1, Nottingham-tenovus cells - bilateral mast.
6/08 TN cells, only in lungs
Treatments: 6/08-5/09 Taxol & Carboplatin. 5/09+ Xeloda.
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thinkpositive View Drop Down
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Kristi - I notice that you had lung mets and lung surgery.  What type of surgery did you have ?  did they remove the tumor/nodules?  
I have lung mets that have not really responded to chemo and wondering if I should be asking about surgery.   Also will ask my oncologist about Zometa since it sounds like something that might be good for me as well.    How are you doing with your current chemo?
dx 3/06 stg II 0/7 lymph
bilateral mastectomy 7/06 AC/Taxol lung mets 1/08 Avastin Abraxene 02/08/9/08
Brca neg Avastin Xeloda 10/08
Curagen 2/09 Ixempra 6/09 Lung Mets
Gemzar/ Carboplatin 9/09
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My lung met responded well to the chemo but I wanted all of it out. Also, a friend of mine who is an oncology fellow gave me a couple articles supporting chemo and surgery. I had the full "mini thoracotomy with wedge resection of the tumor". I could have done the video laparoscopy version but was discouraged by the surgeon and the oncologist due to wanting to make sure no cancer cells were "dropped" on the way out the door, if you know what I mean...The surgery, while not pleasant, was no worse than the mastectomy and am glad I chose that route. If I had several mets in different lobes, I don't think it would have been an option. Mine were in 1 lobe. They got clean margins and so now the chemo is to get the MICROMETS lurking wherever they are lurking. My lungs are NED.  I have 1 more round of carboplatin, taxol and avastin, then will continue avastin, I think once a month and zometa once every 6 months.  How many lesions are on on your lungs and where? what chemo did/do they have you on?  We can exchange numbers if you want to talk..Just let me know. I will keep you in my prayers. Christi
christi

2006,TNBC,Gr3 dbl mast, 4AC/4T {NED 4/07}, Lung Met 4/08, Carbo, Avastin, Taxol/Taxotere (CAT)x4, Lung Surgery 9/08, then Avastin every 3 wks until 2012...NED since 2/09
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Thank you for sharing your info.  Initially I had 4 spots on the left and one on the right lung.  I did Abraxene & avastin and the right one went away and one of the 4 on the left went away and the other 3 got smaller.  Needless to say I was encouraged.  After another round,  one of the 3 got larger again.  We changed to Xeloda - had good results the first scan and just maintained the second scan.  I'm doing one more round of Xeloda and Avastin and then we'll scan again. 
When I asked about surgery initially, my oncologist said we would consider it once we see it stabilize.   You are the first person I have talked to that has gone the surgery route.  I'd like to explore.  What city are you in?  I am in Atlanta. 
dx 3/06 stg II 0/7 lymph
bilateral mastectomy 7/06 AC/Taxol lung mets 1/08 Avastin Abraxene 02/08/9/08
Brca neg Avastin Xeloda 10/08
Curagen 2/09 Ixempra 6/09 Lung Mets
Gemzar/ Carboplatin 9/09
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