Thursday, March 25, 2010 Auds asks

Q: Had chemo, rads, am on Zoladex & Arimidex. Am tired, bone pain, nauseaus. Suggestions/advice

I'm 46 yeras old. I was diagnosed with ILC in May 2009 & had bi-lateral mastectomy, with immediate diep-flap reconstruction, as tests showed I was BRCA2 positive. Stage 3c, 17 nodes were positive with extra-nodal spread.

I had 8 wks chemo (A+C) and 5 weeks of radiation, which I completed on Friday - yipeee!.

I had my 3rd Zoladex injection yesterday and completed my first month of Arimidex.This week followed with CT scans (bone, liver & chest) and bone density tests .... Just got the results - bone is clear, which I'm ecstatic about.

With the chest & upper abdomen CT scan they have found "a few subcentimetre lymphnodes in the mediastinum and there are single, quite prominent subcentimetre lymphnodes in both hila. The nodes measure 0.88 and 0.9 cm respectively." WHAT does this mean? My onco is away for 2 weeks and I really need some-one to tell me something/ give advice/ or had similar results tell me about this. The next paragraph says " A few dense pulmonary nodules are seen in the periphery of the right middle lobe. The lesions could represent matastasis, but can most likely be post-infective granulomas. Follow up of these lesions is advised".I do not understand the medical "lingo" and surely after just having completed my therapy, a cancer recurrence is not possible so soon afterwards .... or am I living in a dream world? Any comments?

I have been feeling really tired, for the first time since therapy started, have bone pains and am nauseaus. My under arm is red and sore and a definite rounded lump is sore (but has Ct scan & they don't say anything, so assume it's ok??). Is this possibly Arimidex? Chemo? Radiation?? Any suggestions, similar effects, knowledge you have - please share it with me .... need some advice to "understand". Thanks. Audrey

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Answers (1)

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

3/25/10 9:39am

Hi Audrey - sounds like they want to double check some of those nodes, but almost always what they're seeing isn't metastasis, but something else - a slight infection, a natural irregularity, nothing to worry about. Still, they're being ultra-careful with you, just having completed treatment - so go with the flow, and continue on with the process till they give you the all clear. I know it's difficult to wait, though - how about calling your oncologist's office, telling them you're incredibly stressed, and you can't wait 2 weeks to find out what those results show and mean? It's worth a try.

As for the fatigue and bone pain - radiation = fatigue, bone pain = Arimidex. Both very well documented side effects. The fatigue will lessen, in time. The bone pain - may continue throughout the course of the Arimidex, unfortunately, though you may also get used to it. I find that some light exercise first thing in the morning (a brisk walk, for instance) helps keep that bone pain under control. Best of luck to you, Audrey- PJH

Q: Had chemo, rads, am on Zoladex & Arimidex. Am tired, bone pain, nauseaus. Suggestions/advice

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