Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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No ruthbru, diet does not work. Good nutrition/eating habits and exercise.
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true...I should have said 'diet' as in changing your diet so as to include good nutrition and eating habits....and especially the exercise can help with weight loss; you can speed up your metabolism through exercise, which burns more calories. Plus you look more slender if you are toned, no matter what your weight is.
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Just concentrate on what's healthy for you - exercise as much as you can, and eat a diet that's appropriate for you. I eat a low glycemic diet too, and substitute xylitol for sugar where I can. Very, very few carbs. I've been eating like this since September, and I've been on arimidex since september. I'm about to have my first standard blood panel this week, so I'll see what happens. I was able to loose the 25lbs I gained from chemo between October and February of this year, and I'm still loosing, very slowly.
But just remember that for some people it's not a straight line relationship between calories burned and calories in. And it does get harder when you get older. I don't believe that every one can loose weight and keep it off, actually, but I think everyone can be more healthy through nutrition and exercise. But there's no one way to eat.
There is so much stress around having breast cancer, try not to stress as much about weight loss.I'm convinced that balance is important. Women, especially, beat themselves up so much about weight.
I gained 25lbs on chemo (steroids, mood swings), and as I said, lost it once I stopped the steroids and made small changes to my eating habits, and was able to exercise more. I've been on Arimidex 6 months, and so far, haven't gained any weight. Blood pressure seems fine, don't know about cholesterol or blood sugar. I am post menopausal, but haven't had any significant hot flashes, I think, because I've been on zoloft for several years. I also take ritalin for fatigue. That works for me. I do see increasing joint pain and stiffness when I first get up, and I just feel a little slower. But it's all about balance, IMHO.
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I just finished my second time in 4 years with cancer and this time instead of totally triple negative I was 1 % ER+. So onc. wanted me to take Arimidex for five years. For 1%+? I tried it and stopped after three weeks. I had more hot flashes than normal....I am menopausal anyway....night sweats, diarrhea and joint pain. Since I have had a reuurence anyway the doctor says that my chance of cancer coming back again is around 40%. I just didn't see this medication as doing that much for 1% ER+. I have come to the realization that the cancer will either come back or it won't and I will live as well as I can until it takes me or I die from something else.
For those of you who are very ER+....I hope this medication helps you all. It's just not for me.
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I wouldn't take it for 1% either. I'm 95% ER receptive and I'm still thinking about quitting but I'm trying to trudge on in the hopes that the SE's will decrease.
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Hi all, well I will be going back on AI's this Sat. and am hoping for better results from the Femura, will see. I have to say, I feel so normal right now, back to my old self, even cleaned my closet! cooking, clear head, just lovin it. Has anyone decided not to stay on the meds? I am 100% estrogen and 3rd grade, but I can't remember the percent of protection from reoccurance one gets being on these meds vs. not taking them? I want to do everything I can do to prevent this again! Although I get what you are saying wrsmith.
Also, great idea with the Claritin, I used it during the chemo times and it did a great job, should the bone pain start up again I will start that again. Ginger M.
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Have any of you had eye problems on Arimidex? I cant seem to find out much about this. I have been having episodes of extremly bright flashes of light when my eyes are closed at night. As soon as I open them it goes away. Seems to be in both eyes. Doesn't hurt but is anoying. It last for about 30 minutes then goes away.
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Anybody else losing weight since starting Arimidex? I have lost about 25 pounds in the past 9 months. I have been diligent about exercising a minimum of 30 min/day since I got the OK after my TE to implant exchange last August. My diet hasn't really changed at all - I have always been a healthy eather. Getting a little concerned that the pounds keep falling off.......
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Hi Tina,
I will make this up, but 30 minutes/day could mean (300 x 7) 2100 per week. So 8000 calories per month. That would be consistent with your weight loss. I am assuming you weren't doing much of all previously. Also, muscle mass burns more calories, and you have to have converted some flab back to muscle.
You can always add in a few treats if you are concerned about being too thin. Or some of us will be only too happy to contribute.
Congrats on sticking to an exercise plan. - Claire
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estrogen therapy - defined as more than 10 years - is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, researchers reported April 1st in Chicago at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.
"This was something that we expected to find," lead author Dr. Wendy Y. Chen, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston told Reuters Health.
"It's already been shown that patients shouldn't be undergoing estrogen plus progesterone hormone therapy long term, and now we show that people should also be careful about longer-term use of estrogen-alone hormone therapy," she said.
The risk was linear, Dr. Chen added, rising the longer the women were on estrogen therapy.
"In previous studies, researchers only evaluated risks that were associated with less than 10 years of hormone therapy use. We wanted to look at the effects with longer use," she said.
Dr. Chen and her team evaluated data from the Nurses' Health Study, which followed 121,700 female registered nurses from 1980 through 2008 who were aged 30 to 55 years in 1976. The women filled out questionnaires about their medication use, risk factors and cancer incidence every two years.
Only postmenopausal women were included in this analysis.
The researchers found that the risk for breast cancer was 88% higher in women who had taken estrogen plus progesterone for 10 to 14.9 years compared with women who did not use estrogen plus progesterone (relative risk 1.88). This risk more the doubled for women who used estrogen plus progesterone therapy for 15 to 19.9 years (RR 2.35).
For women who used estrogen only, the researchers found a 22% increased risk for breast cancer if used for 10 to 14.9 years (RR 1.22) and a 43% increased risk for 15 to 19.9 years of use (RR 1.43), compared with women who did not use unopposed estrogen.
To further clarify long-term risks of estrogen-only therapy, Dr. Chen and her colleagues evaluated a subset of the women who also met the criteria for participation in the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial of postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older.
They found that the risk for breast cancer was reduced slightly for women who used estrogen alone for less than 10 years, (RR 0.93) compared with non-users. The risk increased 30% for women who took estrogen for 15 to 19.9 years (RR 1.30).
Although breast cancer incidence was increased among women who used estrogen-progesterone or estrogen alone, there was no increase in fatal breast cancer, Dr. Chen reported.
Commenting on this study for Reuters Health, Dr. Jo Freudenheim, from the University of Buffalo, New York, noted that observational studies such as Dr. Chen's have limitations.
"There is always the possibility of confounding in a variety of ways," she said. "How often did the women get a mammogram? How often did they go to the doctor? What was their access to health care? Did they have health insurance? Did they exercise? What was their diet like? All these things might be correlated with whether they take hormones."
"There are a lot of unanswered questions here," she added. "Using unopposed estrogen for 15 to 20 years is a lot longer than many women use it for and it could be that this group of women are different in some way."
More on This TopicReuters Health
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Hey I did not have any trouble with the links but here's what one link opens the story to say about unopposed estrogen etc and hormone replacement,they think it is linked to possible causing or helping the cancer grow.
Marie2,I had to quit Arimidex because I couldnt' breathe. I would get out of my car at the curb,go into the office bldg,huffing and puffing and exhausted and when I got into my chair after riding the elevator a few floors up,I was talking like I had been running real fast and couldnt catch my breath! It was not asthma! It was those pills.
Also Rocket,you are right,I would wake up wearing my Tshirt to bed and the Tshirt would be soaking wet. I dont think I am talented enough to pee on my collar bone so I think it was definitely hot flashes so bad I was drenched in sweat and would wake up in my own sweat while taking the pills. I still have hot flashes but I dont sweat like that anymore,just feel super hot and burning skin for about 10 min which is probably normal menopause hot flashes.
Still have cracked lips and burning mouth but the ulcers in mouth have gone away since I quit the Arimi. But I gotta take something? Is there anything that I can take? I am not worried about joint pain too much if I can take a pain reliever but I have to breath and talk without a swollen tongue to do my job.
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about three weeks on arimidex and the hot flashes are crazy!
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Re: weight loss. My chemo ended in July, rads ended in September. Started Arimidex then, and from July to now, have lost close to 25 lbs (a little over 10 kilos). I think it was a combination of stopping steroids, feeling better, being more active and changing my eating habits to limit carbohydrates, including sugar.. It's true that I gained most of those 10 kilos the first half of the year on chemo, so maybe that's it too. Whatever, I'm happy that I haven't gained weight on arimidex and I'm going to monitor it carefully.
Right before my breast cancer dx, I was dx'd with an arthritic knee and so I'm looking at a knee replacement in the next few years. So I'm doing a lot of physio therapy to stregnthen my legs in anticipation of that fun. Maybe that's helping too. I'm not a big believer in "diets' as a rule, but this seems to work for me and I don't feel like eating everything in sight.
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Well all, I guess my brain isn't as good as I thought it was, I am not going on Femura duh! I am going on Exemestane (generic for Aromasin)
Tina T - I lost weight on the Arimidex (generic) I think because of the estrogen loss lowers your muscle mass and I was also not eating as much had no appetite. I didn't go lower than I was before BC, but lost all I gained from the steroids during chemo which was about 12 lbs.
Ginger M.
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Has any one had real trouble with nausea on nearly all of these? I went on Arimidex, and the joint pain was out of control. Went on Femara, had nausea & vomiting, along with anxiety & depression. Am now on Aromasin, and having the nausea. I know I'm not pregnant...:)
Just really tired of this.......
Queazy purrs,
Jenn
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mpeaches, Are you taking it after you eat? I had nausea a couple of times but it usually was a result of not having enough on my stomach.
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The burning sensation in my wrists and fingers when I sleep seems to be increasing at night. It wakes me up. Does anyone else get that? Are there any remedies?
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I get burning and numbness in my hands/fingers/elbows/shoulders since taking arimidex. I find, oddly enough, that wearing a wrist brace at night for a few nights puts a stop to it for a while. I have one brace and wear it on one hand for a while, then the other.
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Hi, A Team!
Just wanted to let you know that I started a therapeutic riding program and it's amazing - my shoulders and knees do not hurt when I'm on a horse! It's done wonders for my spirits, just being free to move wherever I want, as fast as I want, without limping and hurting. If you have a therapeutic riding program in your neck of the woods, I suggest you give it a try. Many of them offer scholarships to people in need.
Scoooot
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NativeMainer, I have two wrist splints-a left handed and right handed one- that do not really help. Years ago I had carpal tunnel in my left wrist and used a splint that worked wonders. So I was really hoping splints would help this time.
I was actually asking God out loud last night to please take the pain away. I'm not really a complainer of physical ailments, but it would sure be nice look forward to sleeping instead of knowing I will awake through the night in pain.
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Crazy hot flashes at night are leaving me pretty tired during work the next day. Any ideas on how to deal with them? Thanks!
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spunkyboobster, what time of day are you taking it? Perhaps change the time and see if it helps?
TheDivineMrsM, perhaps talk with a physical therapist who may be able to give you exercises for your hands.
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Hi all,
I am about to go off Arimidex and feeling a little apprehensive! I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has concluded their 5 years.
I have been quite lucky with ses but do have regular hot flashes and constant night sweats. I take Catapres which helps quite a lot.
Cheers
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back on AI, thinking positive thoughts!!!!! Ginger M.
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spunky--there are things you can do to help wtih the hot flashes at night--put layers on the bed so you only have to strip off one sheet and don't have to remake the bed entirely, run a fan (amazing how much difference a fan set on low, not even blowing on you will make), and there are more that I can't remember. You can also talk to your MO about trying one of the antidepressants at a low dose or gabapentin. I take gabapentin and it works wonders. I take 300 mg in the morning, 600 mg at bedtime. Doesn't stop them altogether, but makes them bearable!
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DivineMrsM
When My hand pain got tht bad - about 3 months after I started Arimidex, my oncologist had me STOP TAKING IT - for 6 weeks - went to physiotherapist, did hand exercises she gave me, and when I restarted I WAS FINE. There's something about the stuff - sometimes out bodies just scream for a "time off" - usually it's early in the treatment - but who knows? This is all still so almost experimental - while we know it works = the SE's - well, call your oncologist. It may be time for a few weeks off.
ALSO, physiotherapy on your hands will help. Don't give up on the wrist splints, yet. I needed them for months..good luck.
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begalder, I'm only in 3 years so can't talk about ending but, you are right, it is scary. Funny that when you (and I) first started the course it was for 5 years, so that's what our docs told us. Do they not change as the research changes? Have you spoken about it with your MO; that current research may now be saying 7-7 1/2 years instead? That is what my MO told me a couple weeks ago when I brought it up so I now will probably be on it at least 4 more years. If you've had enough it's your option to go off but you may want to get your MO's take on it first. JMHO
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what patoo said
I'm at Dana Farber in Boston, MA - and the "standard of care" is not just 5 years for everyone. It WAS 5 years ago - for most women, but many are now on it for a lot longer. I go for my routine check up next month - and expect to have my doc confirm what we discussed 6 months ago - at least 2 to 3 more years.
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It's funny...I was just asking my MO that question earlier this week..."After 5 years, then what?" He said that there hasn't been enough long-term study done on the AIs so although right now the standard of care is 5 years, but by the time I get to 5 years it may be different. He basically said they don't really know what the best term is at this point in time.
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Snoopsmom
hopefully, b4 you're at 5 years, there will be something easier ;-) And as you are Grade 1 with a very low Oncotypeon a very small tumor - expect you'll be fine. The SOC is changing fast now, with several clinical trials about time, and dose.
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