Megace

barbakamom
barbakamom Member Posts: 15
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Ok, new tactic for 2nd recurrence of uterine adenocarcinoma - mets in the lungs - was ordered today. My background: total hysterectomy 2008, stage 1c, completed only 3 of 6 rounds of chemotherapy with carboplatin (allergic to Paclitaxel) + 3 rounds of brachytherapy. Mets to lungs in 2011 - lobectomy and resection of left lung. Recurrent in March 2012 - Pneumonectomy of the rest of the left lung. Now I have a spot in my right lung, (stage 4, grade 1-2) which we will try Megace on. Any suggestions, or drug reactions I should be aware of? Thanks for your help. I'm needing some support today....Wondering about what else I can do ...

Comments

  • pipscout
    pipscout Member Posts: 24
    #2
    Hello,
    I'm so sorry to hear
    Hello,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your new lung spot. I took Megace earlier this year for a few months for a recurrence. It is a hormonal treatment. I didn't have any problem tolerating it. The only side effect I had was some increased hot flashes. My gynecological oncologist explained that some people can achieve and maintain a disease free period with Megace, and it is a much gentler option than some other treatments. It's effectiveness does rely somewhat on whether your cancer cells have certain hormone receptors. I hope that it is effective for you!
    In my case I had a slight tumor growth while on it so we had to change plans.

    Teresa
  • barbakamom
    barbakamom Member Posts: 15
    #3
    pipscout said:

    Hello,
    I'm so sorry to hear
    Hello,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your new lung spot. I took Megace earlier this year for a few months for a recurrence. It is a hormonal treatment. I didn't have any problem tolerating it. The only side effect I had was some increased hot flashes. My gynecological oncologist explained that some people can achieve and maintain a disease free period with Megace, and it is a much gentler option than some other treatments. It's effectiveness does rely somewhat on whether your cancer cells have certain hormone receptors. I hope that it is effective for you!
    In my case I had a slight tumor growth while on it so we had to change plans.

    Teresa

    Thank you
    Teresa,
    Thank you for your reply. I am 70-90% estrogen sensitive - I really don't know the right terminology - but since I'm grade 1-2, the doctor thinks this will help. After 3 months, we'll see what effect it has had on the tumor - still could do surgery or radiation, but not sure about my quality of life and lung capacity after that with this being my only lung left... The good news is my CA125 is a 5,-- went DOWN from last time, so I believe that indicates it's still just in my lungs and not anywhere else in my body. But, a lung is an important organ to have !

    Still working, wishing I wasn't, but it probably helps keep me from worrying too much.
    Thanks again
    Barbara
  • HellieC
    HellieC Member Posts: 524 Member
    #4
    barbakamom said:

    Thank you
    Teresa,
    Thank you for your reply. I am 70-90% estrogen sensitive - I really don't know the right terminology - but since I'm grade 1-2, the doctor thinks this will help. After 3 months, we'll see what effect it has had on the tumor - still could do surgery or radiation, but not sure about my quality of life and lung capacity after that with this being my only lung left... The good news is my CA125 is a 5,-- went DOWN from last time, so I believe that indicates it's still just in my lungs and not anywhere else in my body. But, a lung is an important organ to have !

    Still working, wishing I wasn't, but it probably helps keep me from worrying too much.
    Thanks again
    Barbara

    Other hormonal options
    Hi Barbara
    Sorry you are facing this - it's a real beast, isn't it?
    I am fighting my third recurrence (still confined to pelvis, but inoperable due to proximity to pelvic sidewall). I have been prescribed Femara (generic name Letrozole). It is an aromatase inhibitor which is used in post menopausal women to stop the body producing oestrogen from our other cells (even post surgery and post menopause, we produce oestrogen). My tumour has also tested strongly for oestrogen receptors. I asked my onco why she was prescribing Femara rather than Megace, as there aren't many clinical trials out there to support it. Her response was that there is a lot of evidence from other oncos that this works well. I am going to have an MRI scan at the beginning of November to see how it's working, so I'll keep you posted.
    Wishing you well
    Helen
  • barbakamom
    barbakamom Member Posts: 15
    #5
    HellieC said:

    Other hormonal options
    Hi Barbara
    Sorry you are facing this - it's a real beast, isn't it?
    I am fighting my third recurrence (still confined to pelvis, but inoperable due to proximity to pelvic sidewall). I have been prescribed Femara (generic name Letrozole). It is an aromatase inhibitor which is used in post menopausal women to stop the body producing oestrogen from our other cells (even post surgery and post menopause, we produce oestrogen). My tumour has also tested strongly for oestrogen receptors. I asked my onco why she was prescribing Femara rather than Megace, as there aren't many clinical trials out there to support it. Her response was that there is a lot of evidence from other oncos that this works well. I am going to have an MRI scan at the beginning of November to see how it's working, so I'll keep you posted.
    Wishing you well
    Helen

    Still here

    Hi Helen,

    I see your post was in 2012 and it is now March of 2016! This is the anniversary of the fifth year since my uterine adenocarcinoma metastisized to my lungs, and the 8th year since I first was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I had a partial lung resection in 2011, followed by a complete thorocotamy of my left lung the following year. I have/had 2 spots in my remaining lung, but they have decreased from 7mm and 9 mm to a thin line - NED.  I have CT scans every 6 months, and take megace to keep the spots from growing. I still work full time, and have a boyfriend, so I am blessed. My only complaint is that I gained quite a bit of weight, and now have Type 2 diabetes, but I can live with that. Hope my story inspires others out there living with cancer.

    Barbara

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
    barbakamom said:

    Still here

    Hi Helen,

    I see your post was in 2012 and it is now March of 2016! This is the anniversary of the fifth year since my uterine adenocarcinoma metastisized to my lungs, and the 8th year since I first was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I had a partial lung resection in 2011, followed by a complete thorocotamy of my left lung the following year. I have/had 2 spots in my remaining lung, but they have decreased from 7mm and 9 mm to a thin line - NED.  I have CT scans every 6 months, and take megace to keep the spots from growing. I still work full time, and have a boyfriend, so I am blessed. My only complaint is that I gained quite a bit of weight, and now have Type 2 diabetes, but I can live with that. Hope my story inspires others out there living with cancer.

    Barbara

    Yes, I'm inspired!

    First of all, I'm so glad you have achieved NED, and stability.  I'm only on my first diagnosis, however, I'm prepared for hearing a reccurance at some later time.  I thrill with stories such as yours.  Thank you for sharing with me.  Hugs Nancy

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,483 Member
    #7
    barbakamom said:

    Still here

    Hi Helen,

    I see your post was in 2012 and it is now March of 2016! This is the anniversary of the fifth year since my uterine adenocarcinoma metastisized to my lungs, and the 8th year since I first was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I had a partial lung resection in 2011, followed by a complete thorocotamy of my left lung the following year. I have/had 2 spots in my remaining lung, but they have decreased from 7mm and 9 mm to a thin line - NED.  I have CT scans every 6 months, and take megace to keep the spots from growing. I still work full time, and have a boyfriend, so I am blessed. My only complaint is that I gained quite a bit of weight, and now have Type 2 diabetes, but I can live with that. Hope my story inspires others out there living with cancer.

    Barbara

    Thank you for posting,

    Thank you for posting, Barbara!!  It's always good to see long-term survivors on here.  

    Love,

    Eldri

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