Alternatives to Zoladex and Tamoxifan? & Genetic Testing for Drug Metabolism
Hi all, Who has had Genetic Testing for Drug Metabolism? I have and it has been spot on with understanding why over the years I have had sooo many side effects with different drugs. At this stage the testing is not covering every medication, but it is improving it's data base the more people do the test. It has been helpful when I have had my lumpectomy, my anesthetist tailor made my drug regime and I had no horrible side effects from the sedation or pain killers. I was also able to see that Tamoxifen is a no go for me. I was interested to see why, so I rang the genetic testing company to see why it came up as Red when I typed it in on my report. They told me that I may or may not have side effects, but I will not metabolise the drug to make the effective ingredient for it to work. I have told my onlocolgist this, and she is insisting I try it. I had severe side effects with Zoladex, the physical, while crappy, I could put up with. But the mental side effects were debilitating; Severe Depression, Anger, Irrationality etc, hence we did not start the aromatse inhibitors. My oncologist used a tool on the web (I think this has be spoken about in another post) and said that if I stopped taking the Zoladex that my 10 year survial rate would decrease by 2.7%. I was willing to take those odds, and we both agreed to stop the Zoladex. But my last visit, she wants me to start the Tamoxifen, because, some women do not have any troubles with it. :/ Again I do not want to, because 1. my genetic test and the company say that studies show that my genetic make up will not metabolize the drug to make the effective ingreadient; and 2. I do not want to add to the horrid mental side effects that I am experiencing ( A little less now that I am not on Zoledex) but still life disruptive. Because of my Genetic make up, I can't take nearly all of the antidpressents used to treat the side effects either. Im about ready to find another oncologist that will listen. What other alternatives to Tamoxifen are there? Other than Zoladex and Aromatase Inhibitors? Is anyone out there not taking anything at all? Thankyou for letting me rant, xo Heres a link to the genetic testing I had done if anyone is interested. https://www.mydna.life/medication/
Early Days on Letrozole
So, I started taking Letrozole on the 1/6/18. My oncologist says I have to be on it for 10 years as several ongoing studies are indicating cancer preventing benefits beyond the seven year mark. It's a watching brief though, so I'm prepared that the advice might change in this time. Three days after starting it my ankles started to ache. A lot. It got worse and started to wake me up at night. Whether I exercised or not didn't make any difference. I took some osteo-panadol for when it was really painful but I didn't fancy living on that, so on the advice of many people here, and my oncologist, I started taking krill oil. Within a few days the pain was down to a manageable level. Hooray! Three weeks later though the ache ramped up. At exactly the same time my hot flushes, which had subsided to a bearable level after chemo, suddenly got a lot worse. Longer, stronger and now with extra bonus sweat! I persisted with the krill oil for another week but there was no change. So in my personal clinical trial, I came off the krill oil for a (painful) week, and then started magnesium. Again on the anecdotal evidence from the good folk here, many of whom say it helps. I also had a foot, ankle and lower leg massage at one of those mall massage joints on the same day as I started magnesium. It was utter bliss having my aching ankles worked on! Something changed, because again the ankle pain subsided to a bearable level. Now whether this was something to do with the massage, or the magnesium, a combination of both, or my body simply adjusting to the rapid withdrawal of oestrogen, I simply don't know. My oncologist says no evidence that magnesium works on anything other than cramps. However I'll keep taking it for a couole more weeks and then stop. I'll observe what happens and then, if the pain returns, I'll move on to the next thing in my 'clinical trial', which is curcumin. The onc says her patients have reported success with that. There'll be a magnesium spray test at some point as well! My ankles still ache but it's at a lower level at the moment. All our bodies are different, der, but I thought I'd share my experiments in managing Letrozole side effects. It might be useful to someone! K xox
Insulin Potentiation Chemotherapy (IPT)
Has anyone had Insulin Potentiation Chemotherapy (IPT) It is basically an alternative to standard Chemo but is lower dose and is delivered to the cancer cells with insulin, you are put into a controlled hypoglycaemic state and the cancer cells are tricked into feeding on Chemo! no side effects and very effective. I quite fancy it but it’s not gov approved? They use it in hospitals in China if heard? I would be interested to here if anyone has experienced this treatment?
To chemo or not to chemo
Hi there, any thoughts on this would be appreciated. My early breast cancer is: no node involvement, no blood / vascular involvement detected, HER2 negative. I've had a complete single mastectomy. The invasive mass was 10mm, grade 3. But there were also 3 non-invasive, (grade 2 or lower / DCIS) masses of ~5mm size. I have smaller, dense boobs - so they took the whole thing. Now, I've been told that my 10 yr prognosis with hormone therapy is 83-88% depending on how they describe the mass - which as you see - didn't fit neatly into categories. Chemo would only add 2-3% to that - maybe. Whereas there are all sorts of short, medium & long term potential risks with chemo. So my initial gut reaction was - hell no. The oncologist says I'm really 'on the fence' as to if chemo is worth it at all. She's left it up to me. I'm pretty sure I'd rather invest in nurturing my body - you know, fitness, good food and stress management, which could equal the 2-3% benefit anyway. I know there's no guarantees either way. Anyone been in similar situation??
Chemo and Floating
I'm interested to find out if anyone here has used float tanks during their chemo or has any informed information about it? I have been told that it's not possible due to chemo leeching out into the water and possibly being a danger to other users, however I have seen a lot of info and experiences on the internet from patients who do float.
other treatment options?
I am 55 and just diagnosed, a couple of weeks ago, with iDC, i was really hoping it would have been insitu still, but not to be. I am booked for a mastectomy on the 20th (2 weeks eeek). The biopsy said high grade on Nottingham scale, hence the decision for a mastectomy over a lumpectomy. ok here we go. Has anyone heard of black salve???? its apparently a paste that you can apply to the cancer and it draws on the cancer cells, pulling it all out like a plug????? sounds too good to be true? has anyone done any reading on it?
Chemotherapy or natural?
Tomorrow I go to see oncologist for first time after surgery removal of invasive ductal carcinoma (12mm) and finding cancer in the only lymph node they found. Had CT Scans and bone scan yesterday so get those results then too tomorrow. Question - has anyone on here tried any alternatives to chemotherapy? Any thoughts please I am very concerned as I'm 66 and unfortunately not a great genetic heakth background. AND IM AS SCARED AS HELL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS also my cancer is HER2 negative but oestrogen & progesterone positive.
Complementary Therapies
I am not looking for a miracle cure but just wondering if anyone has had any success with complementary/natural/ alternative ideas while underdoing and/or recovering from chemo. No doubt everyone has had plenty of those around that mean well with all of the miracle cures - oxygen therapy, soursop tea, mushroom tea and the like. I like the idea of natural healing and anything that could assist with recovery without interfering with treatment interests me.
Alternatives?
My name is Leanne, I'm 41 and was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. My tumor is 4.3cm and has not spread anywhere at all. I am scheduled to have a mastectomy in a few days. My question is about chemo. Even though the cancer has not spread at all my Doctor says I need the full course of chemo (5 months) and then radiation. Has anyone else chosen not to have the chemo? The unknown of putting such toxic chemicals into my body frightens me and the long term effects of it all. Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on this.
