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Monitoring and Reducing Risks of Aromatase Inhibitors
I asked how to monitor my HEART while on Letrozole. Suggested: Heart scan at the start of prescription then about 18 months later. A quick check found several for $50-$150, all out-of-pocket. Overkill: I asked if I should make an appt with a heart specialist and the answer was that it was not needed. Question: Do any of…
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Low White Blood Count? Freaking out
I am more than six months past chemo and two months out of radiaiton. I have been taking letrozole (Femara) for five weeks. I have been having a little lightheadedness, which I reported to my MO because it's not uncommon with AIs. At the same time, my PCP was doing my annual blood work, and my WBC is down to 2.7. (The…
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Turmeric Circumin Yay or Nay?
Forgive me if this has been discussed before. I have been taking Turmeric for years for its anti-inflammatory benefits. I have researched whether it is safe to use when you have breast cancer and especially on an AI (Anastrozole in my case) and I have found many conflicting studies that say no to and to take it as it can…
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Zoladex timing
I will be starting Zoladex here in a few weeks. I read it's every 28 days. How much leeway do they give you with that? I want to try to plan a 4 day weekend to the mountains in the late spring, but how in the world can I really figure out when to book that? I'm already seeing why people get their ovaries removed. I will…
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cholesterol, a1c and letrozole (femara)
Just curious if anyone had their cholesterol go up while taking letrozole. I used to have really good total cholesterol around 150. Now it is at 233. What the heck? I eat like always do. I have read letrozole can cause this. Any of you had this happen. Honestly I'm ready to dump letrozole. I have been on hormonal therapy…
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Is There a Deadline to Start Anti-Estrogen Therapy?
I saw my MO on Monday, and we VERY briefly discussed the options for my anti-estrogen therapy, and I decided to try Tamoxifen since I have osteoporosis and don't want to be on a bisphosphonate too. I tried to go over the serious side effects with him, but like with the other MOs he kind of skimmed over things and minimized…
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Cymbalta for pain?
Hi there, has anyone tried Cymbalta to help with pain from Anatrazole?
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Experienced occasional blood pressure drop due to. Letrozole?
I experience occasional bladder pressure drop while doing my regular chores. Never had a such problem before BC. I had chimiothérapie and herceptin as well. So I do not know if the Letrozole, which I am taking for 2 years now, or previous treatment are the cause? Any thoughts or similar experience
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Which is better! Letrozole or Tamoxifen?
I had ILC before surgery and chemo. Now I’m technically cancer free. No lymph nodes. Please tell me which is best letrozole or tamoxifen? My dr put me on tamoxifen but i read that Letrozole is better for ILC. I am so scared it will recur. I asked my dr and he seemed to think tamoxifen was best.
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Preparing for AI
So I will be starting on Aromasin in about two weeks, and though I am doing my best to stay positive, I am nervous as all hell. I have already started on a regimen of exercise (daily walks and some running, lifting kettlebells, etc.) and vitamins (everything I can think of including fish oil and turkey tail mushroom…
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Should I switch from letrozole
I've posted about my cholesterol going up. I've been on letrozole for 4 years. The first year on it my cholesterol jumped 40 points 😡. I was looking through the files here which talks about all of the AI's only letrozole lists high cholesterol as a possible side effect. The others do not. Wouldn't they all cause high…
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BCI denial
Figures. I got denied for the BCI test. Insurance doesn't want to pay. Shocker!!! Looks like I'll be on an AI for 3 more years. Yippee - not
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Acne and Tamoxifen
I seem to be getting acne even with washing my face several times per day. I thought that cutting off the estrogen would keep my skin drier and thus not having so much oil to cause breakouts. Anyone else having this problem?
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Podcast: AIs vs. Tamoxifen for Pre-Menopausal Early-Stage, HR+
Aromatase Inhibitors versus Tamoxifen for Pre-Menopausal Women Diagnosed With Early-Stage, Hormone Receptor-Positive Disease December 13, 2021 Dr. Jeremy Braybrooke, is a consultant medical oncologist and clinical lead for oncology at University Hospitals Bristol, as well as a senior clinical research fellow at the…
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AIs vs. Tamoxifen for Pre-Menopausal Women W/ Early-Stage, HR+
Study Compares Aromatase Inhibitors vs. Tamoxifen for Pre-Menopausal Women With Early-Stage, Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer December 15, 2021 Pre-menopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who took an aromatase inhibitor along with ovarian suppression after surgery had a…
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Intermittent Fasting May Help Cancer Treatments Work Better
Intermittent Fasting May Help Cancer Treatments Work Better, Small, Early Study Suggests November 30, 2021 A small study suggests that a specific type of intermittent fasting is safe and possible for people diagnosed with cancer and may boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and…
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Zoladex Infusión cancelled
Met with my MO this morning to get my 1st Zoladex Infusion. She said since I had a hysterectomy 24 months ago I don’t need the Zoladex. I confirmed with her that I am peri menopausal since I kept the ovaries which is why she scheduled the Zoladex Infand she said since I have not had a cycle in 24 months I don’t need the…
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Aromasin (exestemane) stories?
I saw my MO and told him that I wanted to try something else instead of arimidex due to intolerable side effects. I fully expected that I was going to try letrozole, but instead he suggested aromasin. He says in his personal experience, he has seen more patients able to tolerate aromasin than the other AI's. So I said…
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Will stop taking Tamoxifen after 10 yrs
I have taken Tamoxifen for 3 yrs (after my surgery, chemo & radiations), followed by 5 yrs of Aromasin and then back to Tamoxifen for 2 more yrs. My oncologist told me that I can now stop taking Tamoxifen bec latest studies suggest that after 10yrs there are no advantages. Has anyone stopped taking Tamoxifen cold turkey?…
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Fareston/Toremifene
I am post menopausal and in addition to BC, I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've had the arthritis for over 30 years. The RA is under control so I did not want to go on any of the aromatase inhibitors due to the side effects of joint and muscle pain. My oncologist was really pushing one of the AI's. We had many…
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Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Not just for Arimidex but all the Hormonals - se's are so similar so coping with them should also be similar and the remedies offered should work for any of the Hormonals - don't go away, read on if you are taking any of the hormonal treatments.... For those of us who are taking this potentially life saving/life prolonging…
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Zoladex bone pain
Has anyone had brief, sharp bone pain during hormone therapy? Similar to the Neulasta bone pain perhaps? I've been on Exemestane and Zoladex for about 14 months. I try to run a few times each week. I can't correlate the pain to any event/timing other that it seems to be more prominent during weeks when I'm lazy with…
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Raloxifene 4 yrs post lumpectomy/radiation
After Mammaprint high risk score, Onco suggested Raloxifene. Oncotype score was 11 and have had clean Mammos, exercising, eating nutritionally. Has anyone started Raloxifene later after their diagnosis?
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Lupron injection
Hi, I've being on monthly Lupron injections (3.75mg) since March 2020. My cancer center in California also offered an option of 3-month Lupron shots, but I don't know the dosage. I adjusted to this treatment with tolerable side effects. My hormone levels were checked and this dosage was enough. Recently we moved to Texas…
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I am SO upset - need a reality check....
I had my 2nd meeting with the MO I chose today. The backstory is that when I was diagnosed the BCS was on vacation and I couldn't get in for 3 weeks, so I saw the PA who I loved. She told me at that meeting that I had to choose my team, and gave me a list of MOs, and Radiation Therapists. She told me that they would review…
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Reaction to faslodex / fulvestrant
Has anyone had a reaction to faslodex during their injection? I have been getting the fasoldex injections every month for almost 3 years. Last week, right when the nurses starting to inject me, I had a weird feeling in my chest and my lower jaw which caused me to start coughing. On top of that, my left hand started burning…
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Terrifying stories
I'm going in for my oncoplastic lumpectomy on Thursday. This will be followed by 3 weeks if radiation, and then.... An aromatase inhibitor. They caught this early, and everyone is telling me how lucky lucky lucky I am. I'm terrified. Not by the surgery or the radiation really-- in confident that this part will go well. But…
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Tomxfine for 5 years
Hello everyone I am stage 1 ilc ER +PR+ HER 2 - grade 1 Lymph node 0/3. I took T for 5 years and 11 months of Letrazole and I developed severe joint arthopathy involving the hands and other joints.I had to have hysterectomy because of polyps .Anyone in a similar situation took T for 5 years or do I have to continue for up…
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After 2-3 Yrs of Tamoxifen, 5 Yrs of Femara Offers More Benefits
After 2-3 Years of Tamoxifen, 5 Years of Femara Offers More Benefits Than 2-3 Years September 30, 2021 After taking tamoxifen for 2 to 3 years following surgery, postmenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer had a better survival rate from taking 5 years of Femara rather than 2 to…
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I need estrogen!!
Hello all! It’s been a while since I’ve been on! I hope everyone is doing well. I want to complain for a minute because y’all know more than complaining to my friends. Lol I’m almost 3 years out. I’ve had my ovaries removed 2 years ago and quiet honestly, if I had it to do over, I would have never done it. I NEVER sleep,…