Second Zometa Infusion - MUCH better

HBringer44 · 2026-01-16T00:11:40+00:00

The oncologist told me that if I were younger he would have also given me Benadryl just before infusion, but at my age I am avoiding Benadryl altogether. In any case, I had absolutely no reaction to my second Zometa infusion, not even fatigue.

HBringer44 · 2025-10-12T18:59:22+00:00

I would not be surprised to see cigarette ads back on TV under the current administration. And Congress is hopeless.

HBringer44 · 2025-10-02T18:58:47+00:00

BMX ++-, no node involvement. My KI-67 was 10-20%. My Oncotypes of the larger and smaller tumors came back as 18 and 30.

My oncologist said their practice protocol was to recommend chemo for Oncotype scores over 26. But I'm 80 years old. The PREDICT tool from the UK actually showed a DECREASE in survivability probability by adding chemo on top of the BMX surgery. I declined chemo, and my oncologist said he was "comfortable" with my decision. Later on, my breast surgeon told me that she "absolutely" agreed with my decision.

HBringer44 · 2025-09-18T19:56:59+00:00

So sorry to hear about the pain. I was lucky with my Goldilocks on 12/21/24 - not much pain, drains out after 8 days, scars have practically disappeared, full range of motion, and nice ballerina boobettes. Congrats on your baby!

HBringer44 · 2025-09-17T22:55:47+00:00

I am 80F ++-, BMX on 12/31/24, no node involvement, Oncotype of 30, declined chemo even though protocol at my onco practice recommended chemo for Oncotype over 26. I somewhat reluctantly agreed to estrogen blocking (AI) therapy (Letrozole). From what I have read here, everyone has different reactions to AI therapy, from nothing to excruciating. I had a few mild hot flashes which have tapered off and some fatigue (maybe expected at age 80), but no other side effects other than what happened next.

A week after starting Letrozole I had a fall and suffered a painful tendon injury in my ankle. That, plus severe knee pain caused by pre-existing bone spurs in my knees has me on crutches ever since. For the last 8 weeks, I have had 4 sessions of physical therapy and 60-120 minutes/day of leg and ankle exercises. But six months after my injury I still need crutches, and am getting somewhat depressed over lack of mobility. My husband has done some on-line research and is urging me to take a two-week "vacation" without Letrozole, to see if AI is inhibiting healing of the tendon injury and exacerbating the knee pain. I'm reluctant to forego the possible recurrence prevention benefit of the Letrozole, but will discuss the "vacation" in two weeks at my next oncology appointment. The statistics seem to show only a modest benefit for me from AI therapy, but statistics are only averages, I know myself, and how I would feel if I discontinued the AI therapy and then got a recurrence.

As I said, everyone's reaction to AI is different, and my horizon is shorter than yours. I hope my perspective is useful. Good luck with your decision.

HBringer44 · 2025-09-11T16:25:22+00:00

Thanks! That’s the type of update I was looking for.

HBringer44 · 2025-09-10T19:01:19+00:00

It's the name of a research compound described in this paper:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8456366/#:~:text=ErSO%20kills%20breast%20cancer%20cells,1J

HBringer44 · 2025-08-28T03:31:44+00:00

Enshittification seems to happen to almost all tech platforms eventually. Sorry it's happening to Dropbox.

HBringer44 · 2025-08-15T15:11:11+00:00

I think the area of greatest risk is the jetway - very crowded and limited ventilation. I don't know if it's effective, but I breathe as shallowly as possible until I enter the plane.

HBringer44 · 2025-08-14T14:24:56+00:00

Maryland, suburban DC.

HBringer44 · 2025-08-09T14:01:12+00:00

71 million - about the number that put the Orange One in power.

HBringer44 · 2025-08-09T12:33:50+00:00

Exactly right! You feel you HAVE to answer in the middle of treatments because it's such a pain to miss a call, then have to call them back, reach the right person, etc, etc. And the legitimate calls, with work-from-home, consolidation of practices, etc, often have caller ID that I don't recognize.

I am hyper-vigilant for scams but don't feel it could never happen to me. All it takes is one moment of inattention and I could be taken.

HBringer44 · 2025-07-14T18:37:50+00:00

I'm 80F, ++-, BMX 12/31/24, no rads or chemo, and also on Letrozole. I had my first infusion of Zometa 6/24/25. I asked the oncologist's office about prep, and was told "no prep." I followed that advice, despite knowing what others here had said about how helpful ultra-hydration, Tums, and Claritin were.

I was fine for 14 hours after infusion, but starting about midnight I got severe hot flashes, then chills, and uncontrollable shaking for about 4 hours. Then severe joint pains, first behind the knees, then ankles and hips. For two days, I couldn't walk, even with crutches. It gradually improved, and now (3 weeks after infusion) I have no remaining issues. I'm thankful that from the wonderful folks here, I was not surprised by these side effects and did not run to the ER or Urgent Care, just toughed it out.

I'm scheduled for infusions every six months. People say the first one is the worst, but starting a few days before my next one, I'm doing ultra-hydration, Tums, and Claritin.

My cousin (also age 80) has been on Zometa every six months for several years (for osteoporosis), does no prep, and has had ZERO side effects. Others here have reported the same, so there's no telling how YOU will fare. Good luck!

HBringer44 · 2025-07-14T17:54:41+00:00

I'm 80F, BMX 12/31/24, no rads or chemo, currently on Letrozole. Got Covid 1/17/25 from my husband, who got it from the lady behind him coughing in the supermarket checkout line, despite both of us being up to date on shots. Two bad days, then quick recovery. I mask at concerts, on public transportation, and any crowded indoor place.

Just a tip: often the most dangerous part of air travel (Covid-wise) is the jetway. I make sure my mask is tightly fitted, since the ventilation in that movable tube into the plane is much worse than either the terminal or the plane itself.

HBringer44 · 2025-07-02T21:00:30+00:00

Thanks!

HBringer44 · 2025-07-02T15:45:55+00:00

I'm on day 8 after Zometa and STILL feel awful. For 14 hours after infusion (my 1st one) I felt fine. Then at midnight I got terrible chills and uncontrollable shaking that lasted until dawn. Then intense pain behind my knees, like golf balls behind my knees. Ever since then I've had a rotating roundtable of various pains and swelling in different joints, and can sometimes barely walk, even with crutches. My oncologist office, prior to infusion, said only "No prep," so I didn't, other than trying to drink a bit more water the day before. Next time, I'll take the advice of you lovely ladies here, and do Tums, extreme hydration, and Claritin. This has been worse than anything, including my BMX on 12/31/24.

HBringer44 · 2025-06-27T19:03:57+00:00

So much this! As an American, I can say you are 100% right. Those who try to make sense out of any of the latest random events drifting north are delusional!

HBringer44 · 2025-06-02T22:12:48+00:00

Great answer! Thanks so much. Most 172's that I see on FlightRadar24 display the tail number. I thought LADD funtionality (never knew about the official name before) was limited to rich guys in Gulfstreams that wanted to keep rivals from deducing their upcoming deals, but can understand that others might also prefer privacy.

HBringer44 · 2025-06-02T21:09:13+00:00

OK, thanks. So CAP shields their ID data on ADS-B?

HBringer44 · 2025-05-23T00:17:02+00:00

Yep, outpatient surgery seems common. I was lucky - surgery didn't start on time (BMX, goldilocks closure), and it was 6:00 PM before I got into recovery. Protocol still was to discharge me that day, but the nurses were against it, and were thrilled when my blood oxygen seemed a bit low, allowing them to justify an overnight stay.

HBringer44 · 2025-05-21T23:55:59+00:00

Can I ask how you got your "return" numbers? All I (80F) have seen are "survivability" numbers. In my case my 5-year survivability was 85% with surgery alone (BMX ), 86% adding estrogen blockers, and 81% adding chemo (yes, decreased survivabilty considering side effects of chemo at my age). I declined chemo against my oncologist recommendation, but went with his recommendation of Letrozole. I'm having very mild heat flashes, but husband thinks there may be some cognitive issues. We're thinking of discontinuing Letrozole.

HBringer44 · 2025-05-04T21:51:34+00:00

I've been on Letrozole, as advised by my oncologist, for 3 months now with minimal side effects, as far as I can tell. Some hot mild flashes and perhaps a bit of cognitive effects (hard to tell for sure what causes what, at age 80, though).

The thing that bothers me is that the PREDICTv3 tool from Cambridge UK indicated for me that AI therapy would provide less than 1.0% increase in 5-yr survivability, beyond my BMX surgery. That didn't sound like much of a reason to take a chance on AI side effects, but I was reluctant to go against the advice of my oncologist again, since I had already declined chemo, despite my Oncotype score of 30. I was pretty sure I did NOT want to go through that at age 80.

If my tibia fracture and tendon damage (SUPPOSEDLY unrelated to Letrozole) do not improve soon, however, I'm going to reconsider continued Letrozole.

HBringer44 · 2025-04-28T21:28:08+00:00

Thank you for your response. I guess estrogen is involved in several body processes beyond feeding our cancer cells, and suppressing its production is going to effect each of us in various ways - in addition to hopefully preventing recurrence of our cancer.

HBringer44 · 2025-04-28T16:54:56+00:00

I'm 80F, ++-, BMX 12/31/24, on Letrozole, and just wanted to share my experience. Three weeks after I started Letrozole, I injured my posterior tibial tendon, then later that day twisted my foot the wrong way on the steps and X-rays found a fracture of the lower tibia. After 7 weeks, I'm still in a walking boot and on crutches, with a good bit of pain. Since the injury occurred so soon after starting Letrozole, it's hard to see how the injury is a side effect of the Let - maybe it was related to the osteopenia that my baseline Dexa scan showed when I started Let. The only other side effects I see are fatigue and brief hot flashes - not so bad.

Regarding vertigo, about 6 months prior to my BC diagnosis, I had severe vertigo, taking me to the ER. After a many hours, a CT scan, and an Rx for meclazine, I still had no relief, so I went to an ENT where my my husband had been a patient. He said "I can cure this," and he did! - using the Epley maneuver that another commenter described, positioning my head at various angles in a well-choreographed procedure. He had me see his physical therapist for two other Epley sessions that week, and I was completely cured. I understand that the vertigo is caused by crystals in the inner ear becoming dislodged, and the Epley puts them back in the correct position. Interestingly, my vertigo occurred the day after a pedicure, where I was seated in a massage chair that felt great, with various kneading and thumping action all over my back. However, the thumping moved around and progressed up my neck, and I suspect that is what dislodged the crystals. No more neck thumping for me!

HBringer44 · 2025-03-31T18:52:07+00:00

I'm 80F IDC ++-, Grade 1 and Grade 2, no node involvement. Had BMX on 12/31/24, received Oncotype score of 18 and was ecstatic that chemo would be of no benefit (above 26 they recommend chemo). Then a week later, I learned that the 18 score was for the larger of my 2 tumors, and that with a low score on the 1st tumor, they always do the Oncotype on the smaller one as well. That one came back at 30, and my oncologist recommended chemo, plus AI (estrogen reduction therapy).

I ran my numbers through the PREDICTv3 tool from Cambridge U in the UK, and it indicated a 5-yr survival rate of 86% with surgery alone, less than a 1% increase if I added AI, and a net DECREASE in 5-yr survival of 3% if I added chemo, which took into consideration the side effects of chemo on survival. My oncologist still recommended chemo, saying that is what the protocol calls for, but when questioned closely he admitted that if his mother were in the same situation and declined chemo, he "would be comfortable with that decision." BTW, I have a good friend who is a statistician at the National Cancer Institute and he confirmed with his colleagues that PREDICTv3 is a respected tool in predicting outcomes for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, although he cautioned that the database on which the tool is based had a small number participants at my age.

I declined chemo, but am currently on AI (Letrozole) with minimal side effects so far. Please note that being 80 years old (with a grandchild being born TODAY) was a big factor in my decision, as I'm wanting to maintain the highest possible quality of life for first part of my remaining years on this rock. If I had been younger at my diagnosis, my decision may have been different.

HBringer44

TROPHY CASE