CancerCompass message board discussion started by marybelle on 2/13/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20910,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am an identical twin and I am watching my twin fight breast CA.  Annie was dx in 1999.  She had a total masectomy.  The surgeon dx Stage III infiltratring duct carcinoma. She did Chemo and Radiation.Cancer reared its ugly head again in 2005; this time close to her spine-  a large tumor directly back of breast on T6-T7 She has had back pain ever since;  at one time radiation eased the pain.   She is on Mirtazapine 30mg (2 at nite), zolpidem 10mg at 9:30PM, oxycodone 40mg 2X day, Roxicet 5mg/325mg tablet as needed for pain(sometimes 3-6day sometimes none) Lorazepam 0.5mg tab take for anxiety.  They tried a chemo drug called xeloda 500mg tab 3 tabs 2X daily w/ promethazine 25mg but Annie was unable to tolerate.  Now they are tryingAromasin 25mg 1x-  what do you think?  All these drugs....all these side effects.....I hate watching all this;  I feel so helpless.  Is there a better way out there?   I live in Lancaster, Pa and my twin lives in Hancock, Md. marybelle Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Dear Marybelle,My heart goes out to you as you must feel so helpless being so far from your twin.  I can't offer any medical advice, but I think you need to go to her side, if you can.  You two need to be with each other, I am sure.  Best of luck to you and your twin sister.  I am so sorry.Linda Lou Linda Lou Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT