IV's, Injections, Turkeys, Tinsel and Targeted Treatment: Embracing the Chaos (and Calm) of the Holidays with Metastatic Breast Cancer

I apologize for the fact that my title has poultry in it again!

What month!

So many pokes.

So many appointments.

So much joy.

Some tears.

and fatigue, and pain, but lots of smiles too!

I started half of my treatment the week of Thanksgiving. 

I finished 10 days of palliative radiation to my femur the day before Thanksgiving.

I'm walking so much better! Very little pain. I still use my cane to protect my bone, and

take weight off my left leg.

I started the other half of my treatment this week.

I shopped, wrapped, decorated, laughed, cried and and enjoyed.

I even had a visit from my out of state son and his girlfriend!

I had a great turkey day, even though I didn't feel the greatest. I enjoyed thanksgiving with my family. I ate a plate of food, which was a huge feat considering my appetite was mostly gone after my treatment. I laughed. I watched others smile and laugh too. There was lots of joy at my Mom's house. 

My husband was home sick with a cold and a fever.

I cried when I realized he couldn't join us. I thought to myself. "I hope I'm OK next Thanksgiving."  I quickly convinced myself to still enjoy the day with what is. I told him I would fix him a plate.

My appetite had been bad that whole week . I ate only one serving of turkey dinner, and didn't want any pie afterwards.  I LOVE pie, but it did NOT seem appetizing to me at ALL. I was thankful my appetite returned by the weekend, and you better believe I tore into those leftovers!

So why did I lose my appetite?

On Monday the 24th of November,  I started on two medications. One is Faslodex (Fulvestrant), which is given as two injections in the upper outer butt muscles.  That's my endocrine therapy to destroy the estrogen receptors in the cancer. The other medication is Zometa (Zoledronic acid). Zometa is given as an IV infusion over 15 minutes. This strengthens my bones and helps to reduce my fracture risk everywhere.

I got both these meds at the Medical Oncology Infusion center in the hospital. My nurses were great, and the injections weren't so bad. They did burn going in. 

I felt completely normal the rest of that day except for lumps and lots of soreness at my injection sites.

Those later became bruises and lumps that faded in a few days.

The day after my infusion I woke up with flu like symptoms: fatigue, and body aches. It's normal for the Zometa, and appetite loss can be part of that too.

Side effects typically lessen after subsequent infusions. Mine were just as bad after my second infusion on December 22nd, but lessened in duration, only lasting one day.  By the time I had my second infusion of the Zometa, I was on my third "loading" dose of Faslodex. It's given every 2 week for the first three doses, then once a month afterward. 

The holidays sure were different, as I didn't have the energy or physical ability to do everything I usually do. I was initially apprehensive about the coming holiday season when I first got my stage 4 diagnosis. I was afraid it would be painful to give up some traditions I was used to

Normally I host Christmas and Thanksgiving. Normally I cook and bake a ton through the season.

This year I took a break, and my family stepped in . My Mom hosted both and my brother took care of Christmas dinner.  While I did miss what I usually do, I enjoyed what was. I lived in the present, and truly enjoyed the holiday season as I do every year..

My lower femur and knee feel so much better. The radiation really took the pain down

and I had no severe side effects.

I am happy that I am finally on my full treatment regimen.  After two months of scans, biopsies

and blood tests. I am finally hitting this thing full force.

Yesterday,  I started taking my oral targeted therapy. It's two pills. One is a brand new medication called Itovebi. It's also known as Inavolisib. This medication was just approved in October 2024, and shows very promising results. Itovebi is a Pik3ca inhibitor. Pik3ca is a mutation that my cancer has..  It is to be taken  as a triplet therapy with Ibrance, a CDK 4/6 inhibitor, and  the endocrine therapy shots I have been getting, Faslodex. I began taking the Ibrance yesterday as well.

As far as side effects. Diarrhea made itself known by waking me up this morning, after a few times of running to the bathroom, and Imodium AD helped, and I have been fine the rest of the day. Itovebi is known to raise blood sugar, and at first I will have to have my fasting blood sugar checked every three days.. at the hospital.  I had it checked today, and it's already the highest I have seen it since being on steroids during my stage II cancer treatment in 2017.

Normal fasting blood sugar is under 100... mine was 147. I will get it checked again in three days.

I have a feeling they might put my on medication to control my blood sugar. My oncologist said they would put me on metformin if that happens.  I may have to follow a diabetic diet as well.

At least I waited until AFTER Christmas to start taking the Itovebi. 

So yes, this entire holidays season was different, and that was OK.  There is a lot of different in my life right now, and more changes to come. I expect different. I expect changes. I expect chaos, but I also expect calm in between the chaos. Those will be the moments I live for.