Life on aromasin
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Lago, I switched from arimidex not long after you . While I had a lot of shedding when I first started arimidex, after a couple of months it stopped. Now, two months into exemestane, I'm finding way, way, too much hair in the shower drain. Are you also seeing this?
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Brookside, I, too, made the switch from Arimidex to generic Aromasin. At about the one-year mark, I noticed gobs of hair in the shower. The top of my head is noticeably thinner. Even my hairdresser acknowledged it. I've been taking Biotin since my first chemo, so that's not helping. My derm gave me Viviscal, another supplement, but so far that's not helping. I started Nioxin shampoo but so far that hasn't helped. I may try Minoxidil. Iago can give us tips on that.
It's pretty depressing, isn't it??
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BrooksideVT I had hair receding before diagnosis so I've been using Minoxidil since 2006. I also have a lot of thick hair… but yes I am noticing increased shedding but not major. I have another friend that switched and had the hair issue. She has thin hair to start. Decided she would rather suffer with the Anastrozole SE. Granted she doesn't get the depression. There is no way in hell I am going back to Anastrozole and being depressed. We'll see how much hair I have left after a year on this ESD or is it now an HSD.
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I too lost some hair with Arimidex, but am losing way more now that I am on Aromasin. I probably have about 50% less hair than I had when it first came in after chemo. My hair was thin and fine to begin with, so this is really disheartening. I have been using minoxidil and am going to start a new shampoo that is supposed to block DHT in the scalp. My testosterone levels were elevated with my last round of blood work. I hope it works, otherwise I will be back to wearing my wig
This is what I found one DHT and hair loss:
Hair loss is a condition that can affect many people, including both men and women of all ages. While there are a number of different root causes of hair loss, one of the key causes of this condition is DHT or Dihydrotestosterone. This hormone is an androgen that can play a huge part in hair loss, causing the condition known as pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It is produced by a metabolic modification of the hormone testosterone.
Often, this hormone production can be slowed down or eliminated by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. Different chemicals that can inhibit the enzyme are called DHT blockers. DHT blocker shampoo and other hair products contain ingredients that can reduce the production or accumulation of DHT, and by that slowdown hair loss that is a result of androgenic alopecia.
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Propecia is used for men who have the type of hair loss I'm experiencing (receding hairline). They don't prescribe for women though. It's also $$ and something you'll have to do for life or you lose the benefit.
But after chemo my hair came in great. Then Anastrozole started and I lost a little but still not bad. As I mentioned it as increased on Exemestane a bit but I'm still not in panic mode. No one else cant ell. My damn hair dresser won't really tell me if it's getting worse. I'd have to have a heterosexual bachelor in his 50's for a stylist LOL. It's like asking him if my new jeans make my butt look big… would never say yes. But he's been cutting my hair for 18 years, coloring for about 11. You'd think I could get him to tell me but he won't go there. LOL
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Propecia ? must tell you my story on that, I used to sell to Merck and one time my client told me that propecia was originally developed for prostrate cancer (or something else) till they realized it caused hair growth.
Head of Merck almost went ballestic thinking of all the $$$$ they would make on a hair growth product!
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It's a business. If they can treat cancer great. If not, it's a big loss…that loss might prevent them from researching another drug for cancer… but if they can recoup that loss because they found another use for the cancer drug that didn't work that is exciting. Research can continue for more cancer drugs.
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they do market the med for prostrate cancer, in a dif form I think but the revenue from a hair growth product? made the CEO very excited!
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Still don't have a problem with that.
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The one thing exemestane has not done is too much damage to my head thank goodness. I am losing more hair in my brush but I have a lot of it and no noticeable difference in how much is there. But the other stuff....my co worker told me I walk like Frankenstein the o ther day!! She was kidding but not really, cause I can't put pressure on my left foot at all and my knees hurt so much when I first get up, that I walk like I am 100 years old. This shit stinks for sure!
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My hair thickened up a lot on Exemestane, yet it was thinner on Femara.....
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All the aches and digestive problems I was having on tamoxifen are gone after a week on Aromasin:)
But when I wash my hair there is more in the plughole now - not noticable on my head though.
I'm doing zumba for exercise and lots of walking
x x
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Whoa Kathy...10 years...kuddos to you!
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Thank you, RMulu!!
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Hi Ladies,
Went for my check up yesterday.I have been on Anastrozole for 3 years and 3 months.She switched me to exemestane because of some pain and eye issues.Can anyone give me input on this other drug.Such as side effects and such.I priced it and it is a lot me expensive!Is it worth the price increase?
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walley,
Pop over to the aromasin topic and there are many women who have moved from anastrazole/arimidex. I am one.
What are your eye problems? These may be due to low estrogen, not an individual meds.
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Doxie I had a retinal tear and had to have laser on the retina.Which may or may not be a side effect of the med.Did you think you had side effects from switching drugs?
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Walley I was on Anastrozole for 3 years. This spring I switched to Exemestane due to terrible depression, sleep issues, back/shoulder/neck pain. Yeah it's $$$ but I'm not going back. I feel like me again. I noticed the change in like 2 days!
I do notice a bit more hair shedding and a little sweatier but that's it. My night flashes were never that bad… and I get them from eating spicy food so sort of my own fault.
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Walley, it's worth the price. I switched from Arimidex to generic Aromasin because of joint pain and stiffness. MUCH better now!!!
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Thanks Ladies!I was a little afraid to switch drugs but from what you ladies say it is definety worth a try:)Thanks so much for you input I knew I could count on you ladies!Have a great week end!I will start the new pills today:)I will let you know how it is going!
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walley,
I doubt it was the drug, but the drop in estrogen. Because my eye SEs were so troubling initially - extremely blurred eyes in the morning, my MO gave me a two month break between arimidex and aromasin to make sure the eyes healed - they did and it was blissful with the return of estrogen. The VPD may have started during the arimidex, but it happened in a few months after going on to aromasin. By that time I'd gone through three extreme drops in estrogen - menopause and twice with AIs. My other eye is fine though.
I always cringe now when I hear about AI drug holidays because of each subsequent estrogen drop can be a trigger. Not sure I would take one again. As long as you have a relationship with a good ophthalmologist, a VPD that pulls at the retina can be treated with timely intervention.
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I did take a 5 week break before starting Exemestane. I noticed my eye lashes grew back more. Still pretty good on Exemestane.
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Thankful only doing this for Five years and half-way through it already. It worries me about having to deal with VA Oncology again once I no longer have health coverage through my employer. I might well have to deal with either Femara or Arimidex while fighting them to get Exemestane on the formulary or for me. It would have to be for a VERY short time period is all I can say!!
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I'm curious to know how much you guys pay for the generic exemestane? I get a 3 month supply for $15. Prior to that I was on tamoxifen and it was the same price.
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luckily since generic now, my insurance charges $20 for 3 month supply. Good incentive to keep working I guess. My husband is on a med that cost $10,000 a month. The copay is $2,000 but after $3,000 copay max everything for him is free for the rest of the year.
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you have much better insurance than I had when working, mine was more but not sure anymore!
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Wow! At Walgreens with my health insurance I pay $40 for one month supply. Sadly, it's a Tier 2 generic medication for my Plan. By going through the Rx mail in order, I get four months worth yet pay only for three.
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Under my insurance before my deductible is met I pay $342 (CVS) or if I go through GoodRX with coupon and not use my insurance it's $210 (CVS). Once I meet my deductible I think its $50 (CVS).
That's for 1 months supply
or $519.31 for 90 days mail order
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I pay 15 dollars.
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I pay 210.00 (which is part of my deductible but my employer gives us all of the deductible except 500 on a credit card we use) and then it is a 15.00 copay if I use all of the credit card deductible. The deductible for my husband and I is 6K but they give me 5500.00 of it so I have not had to pay anything so far thank goodness!
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