Forum Discussion

jintie's avatar
jintie
Member
6 years ago

Zoladex

Are there alternatives to Zoladex?  Something that doesn’t require monthly injections or surgery?
  • I have had 7 injections so far and my understanding is that I will be having them for 10 years due to my age.  I can’t have them in my stomach at the moment because they’re too tight, so the GP has to inject them in other areas, including love handles.  I know they’re not bad to have at all and I do use the Elma cream.  I’m just fed up with having to go to medical appointments, so I may do what @youngdogmum suggested and ask if I can inject myself.
  • @Chev 
    Honestly they are not terrible things to have - I had 26 over a 2 year period, one every four weeks - always had a numbing injection first, which is a minor sting!  My GP looked after these for me during this time
    You have been through a lot already and hopefully this is the finality of it all for you
    Take care
  • @AllyJay it's a 16g needle and needs to go in a bit further than standard subcut because it deposits a small pellet in our fat tissue. It's definitely more difficult than the usual injection, my breast CNC was horrified when I said I wanted to do it myself after treatment. She said barely anyone does because they can't  tolerate it. However I agree with you I think it's a really good option for chev!!! 
  • Surely there must be an "inch of a pinch" of fat somewhere on your body that you can reach yourself? The length of the needle dictates the depth needed, and although I'm not sure of the needle size and length of the Zoladex , it surely isn't that long? I had to give myself Clexane injections (blood thinner) twice daily for almost two years, and now also have Prolia every six months. I do them myself with my doctor's blessing. I too am so over being touched and my needle phobia is bad. Having been on blood thinners, Warfarin, apart from the two years when it was replaced by the Clexane for over twenty years with blood tests weekly will do that to you. However, doing it myself is so much easier for me.
  • @Chev fair enough, your body has been through heaps of poking and prodding! Understandable you don't want anything/anyone else touching. My very first Zoladex was done in my butt by fertility doctor - that's probably more personal though and you may have already had that spot tried due to DIEP.
    Have you thought about doing the injection yourself? Maybe taking the control back and eliminating need for anyone to touch you? 
    Ive asked if I can do mine once I'm over active treatment, might be worth asking? 
  • I just don’t like anyone touching my body.  I’m fine with limbs.  But I have no fat in my stomach due to a recent DIEP reconstruction they have to inject elsewhere- and I really hate people touching me.
  • I don't believe so. There is a 3 monthly injection of Zoladex but everything I've read about it seems to be for prostate cancer. 
    Is it the actual injection you don't like? Have you tried numbing cream? Brands include EMLA and LMX, a good 50c size piece for 3 hours means I can't feel it when it's injected.

    Hope that's helpful. 
  • I’m already on estemestane.  I’m pre-menopausal so have to have the zoladex to kill my ovaries.