Best Of

Ahcancer, there are many, many antidepressants out there. Your psychiatrist can research which ones you might do better on. I have been on venlafaxine for many years, I have been told, for life. I have had a lot of stress in my life. In addition, for the arthritic pain as well as for the depression, you might consider The Anti-inflammatory Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the Atkins diet, and I am sure there are a few more, all prescribe a diet heavy in vegetables and protein and moderate in fruits. Whole grains in moderation, and a minimal use of non-processed sweets (like honey, date syrup, molasses, and maple syrup). It is a radical departure from the diet most Americans eat, and difficult to get used to. At the age of 76, and 165 pounds, I thought I had passed the age where it was possible to lose weight, but I have lost twenty pounds.

And I would kindly suggest that you make plans for your son now. I have an autistic son who is in long-term treatment— also substance abuse and bipolar.

Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie.
Gloria Steinem

Hi all,

I just received some upsetting news regarding a good friend of my niece who is only 39. I have known her since she was 12 years old. She had breast cancer around 2020. She had both breasts removed and followed it with chemo and radiation. Now I have been informed that it has come back in her spine and pelvic bones stage 4. She has 2 daughters one still in high school and the other in college. I am really depressed and questioning the big guy WHY!!!!!!

This is really hard for me to deal with this weekend.

ahcancer - You do have a full plate. Please talk to your RO and your therapist about your options for medications and medical interactions. There are other types of AI's - they all seem to have different SE's. And different SE's for different people. I didn't realize how angry I was with the world until I switched.

I also think the older we get, the more quality of life becomes an issue. I stopped my AI's after 3 years - my orthopedic surgeon finally admitted that they might be slowing down my recovery from knee surgery. There are charts showing the probability that cancer will be the thing that kills us based on diagnosis and age. I think it was called "Prediction." Betrayal, do you know?

I took the Claritin generic for the year I was getting Hercepton. It's quite reasonably priced.

We are holding you and SizieQ close.

I have been thinking through QOL over quantity myself. My tumor markers are rising and my SEs are getting tougher on this chemo. There are additional issues I need to discuss with my MO when I next see her on the 24th. After 10 years I am getting tired and I'm afraid my family is starting to show signs of fatigue also. My family and I have been discussing this and they all lovingly support my decision whatever it is. My main concern is my family.

Welcome ahcancer to the club no one wants to join. As far as your concern about the anastrozole, please discuss your side effects with your medical oncologist and how you feel about taking this drug. It isn't the best treatment for you, if you cannot tolerate the SE's.

There are two other AI's that can be prescribed for you and you need to discuss this before quitting. I did not tolerate this well either and had to switch two more times before I found one that had the least SE's. I took AI's for 7 years at the suggestion of my MO, but only because of the type of mixed BC I had. I took the last one for about 4 years. I finished AI treatment in 2023.

Please reach out for relief. If he doesn't listen to you, then find another MO who will listen. Please come back and tell us what you decide. We are here to help you and to listen as needed.

I was diagnosed at age 74 via an annual mammogram last year and had surgery last November to remove a stage one ER+ ductal lump. Everything seemed fine, hadn't gone into my lymph nodes, clean boundaries around the removal site. I thought I had really lucked out. Then I was told I needed to take Anastrozole for at least 5 years. At first, I felt no side effects. Now the side effects are hitting me really hard—memory loss, severe depression, fatigue, increased body aches, It has altered my life to an extent I am having a difficult time handling the simplest activities of life. As the parent of an adult autistic child who lives with me, this decline makes it very difficult to be a good mom to him. He is the light of my life, but half the time I feel like a zombie and cannot interact the way I always have with him. I am healthy otherwise, except for arthritis in my knees and feet. Before taking the Anastrozole I had good bone density. I don't know yet what effect the drug is having on that. I don't have any sort of menopausal symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, vomiting—yet.. I have a long history of chronic depression and have been on medications for it for decades. The depression from Anastrozole has surpassed the ability of the antidepressant to work. I go to a therapist weekly and he is becoming very concerned about my situation. When I talk to the oncologist, he says Anastrozole is the best cancer preventive drug for me. I asked if I could cut the dose in half, but studies show that doesn't work. I know I am old, but I want to live as long as I can so I can support my son and get prepared for his future when I am gone. My husband of 49 years died two years ago from kidney cancer, so a lot has fallen on me. I guess the choice has come to quit the Anastrozole and take my chances that cancer will not come back soon. I feel like I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. Maybe I am just venting, but I am hoping a group of older women might understand how I am feeling

ahcancer, welcome to our little forum and it is good for you to reach out. I was on Al's for a long time until I became endocrine resistant as I was diagnosed Stage IV from the beginning. Resistance often happens as part of the cycle. And yes, there are several different ones out there. Once my cancer started progressing after a treatment stopped working, we would change to a different Al along with a different treatment. Some are known to work together. A lot of BC tumors feed off hormones so it is just another weapon in our arsenal to starve and weaken the tumors. Discuss your options with your MO, and Betrayal is correct to advise you to find a MO who will listen to you if you need it. We have enough battles without fighting our MO.

Hi Everyone,

Betrayal-The nurse did recommend claritin for bone pain, but it's not been too bad as of yet. Isn't it so much fun to get together with friends from many years ago. I think it's great to reminisce about the past.

The other nurse did recommend an herbal supplement for hair loss, but she put it on the chart and the oncologist didn't say 1 word about it.

I forget the name she told me. I guess he didn't feel like it was a good fit.

It's another warm and sticky day in Lancaster county and I am still trying to eat right and exercise.

Ahcancer- prayers for you to have the strength to help your son while you are under treatment. I am not in hormonal therapy yet. I know that they do have many side effects, that comes after the chemo and radiation is finished. I am just fighting with the hospital over getting itemized bills. UGH

Prayers for all to have a safe and happy Labor Day!