Life on aromasin
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bc101, I did have two positive sentinel nodes. I was referred to RO, he said that I did not need radiation because I had opted for BMX and the margins were all clear. I did get a surprise call two months post-op that I had to have chemo. Long story, there was some confusion with the tumor pathology and they later found out the I had both ER+/PR+ and triple negative.
Proudtospin, I was fortunate several years ago to find a reasonable priced heavy duty machine...kind of a cross between and industrial machine and a portable. It was designed to be used with or without power on a boat. It coasts right through the canvas, but does not do so well on lightweight fabrics because it has a heavy foot. I have a nice general machine that my husband had acquired when he was doing a disaster restoration job a few years ago for someone who was a seamstress. We got two regular machines, a commercial straight stitch, blind hem and serger. I gave one of the home machines to my son and his wife, and kept the better of the two for myself. We gave the commercial straight stitch to a friend, and have held on to the serger and blind hem. I was going to try to sell them but I think I am going to try to learn how to use them.
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Rhody, sounds like you have a family of machines! amazing how many people have multiple machines. I also have my great grandmothers old Singer treadle machine. Just as a side table for now but gives good memories of my family using it in the past~~
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You girls make me jealous with your sewing - I can't sew to save my life. My DH even takes the hems up on new trousers himself because I'm so bad. I am creative though - just in a different way - I'm a professional photographer
Photography is my passion, and I"m luck enough to run a business doing what I love. I (and a business partner) photograph weddings and do family portraits, as well as event and corporate photography. We've recently started a second business for pet photography and that business is just exploding at the moment, which is great.bc101 I had two separate tumours - one was ILC and one was IDC. The IDC was triple positive and grade 3 so I had to do chemo and a year of herceptin. I had a umx so didn't need rads, thank goodness.
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Wow, we are a creative bunch! A few years ago I taught myself how to crochet from Youtube and really got hooked! I've made TONS of baby booties (my favorite thing), hats, scarves, mittens, coasters, hot pads, purses, earrings and lots more. I don't do big projects like afghans because I'm afraid of getting repetitive stress, so I stick with mostly small projects. I'd love to do more with mohair and wool. Now that it's winter again (we are getting 16 inches of snow today and tomorrow!!), I just CRAVE yarn!
Love that you all sew! I'm with you, Trish, I'm a terrible sewer! I've done all kinds of needlework in the past and I've dabbled in beading. My real passion is thrifting. I love finding vintage treasures, but I have to restrain myself because I have too many things! I'm thinking about opening an Etsy shop. Since my diagnosis I've been too distracted to do much of anything, but now I can feel my creative juices start to flow!
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Trisha, you are very talented, and a photography of pets sounds like you are a good business person! we all have are things!
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Hi!:)
You know I said I bought a pencil blow torch and some silver solder for my jewellery making? Well, tried it and it just makes all the little hoop things black.
Turns out it's used for solid silver jewellery making. Jeez have you seen the prices of real silver!
I'll just use tiny crimp beads for now.
Hope everyone is well and had a great weekend.:)
x x
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Great news....finally Pharmacy at my VA Hospital approved bringing in Exemestane for me, based on how badly things went for me on badly the side effects hit me from the Arimidex and Femara. Onc put it down I was allergic to them, since I'd told her I would NEVER take them again and would take my chances about BC instead if couldn't get the Aromasin!
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Galsal - yippee congrats for standing up for you! Gulp! You did good
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Thanks Lu! It's good to feel empowered now and then, especially when dealing with the VA.
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Yeah for strong women! You beat the VA!
seems to me you will beat the CA now as well0 -
I've just had a bone density scan and my hip bones haven't changed much at all (yay!) My spine has decreased by 7%. Does anyone know what is an acceptable degeneration with regards to the natural aging process and what is considered too much?
I've been on Aromasin for 2 1/2 years, and have pretty good bone density.
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I think the key is to see how close you are to -2.5. Once I went from -.3 to -.6 in my spine, which is a huge decrease percentage wise, but somewhat insignificant in terms of osteoporosis. So the question is in part is the 7% along the line of 0 to -2.5 or relative to what you were before.
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Thank you, Thank you.....taking a sweeping bow!
I don't know. Do know that we did a benchmark bone density scan for a benchmark. It showed Osteopenia. One done about two months ago still shows Osteopenia but now has the two of three elements at borderline levels to be the same diagnosis. I have 2-1/2 more years of it also. My guess is the next bone scan will show whether this will lead more to Osteoporosis by the time it's done.
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Lol - nowhere near a minus score, it's around 2.1
When I had my baseline scan done, my onc said to me "You are to be congratulated on your bone density! Very impressive!" He's Australian but has a slight British accent. I've always said my weight is mostly because of my bones.
I'm not in any danger of becoming osteopenic, when I looked at the report more closely, I could see that I could afford to lose a lot more bone density before even starting to worry.
But - you know how it is, you see a 7% reduction and think what the?
I'm over my mild panic now
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Had my MO appointment yesterday and discussed Femara in the new year. I think I am going to use up the two months left of exemestane and then switch to see if I feel any better (doubtful) but if I don't or if it is worse, am going back to exemestane or OFF altogether. So tired of feeling like chit if you know what I mean.
At least my calcium is back in normal range although they are ordering another bone density for May when I go back for the next MO appt. We shall see...am ok now in terms of bones but it may change by then as it will have been a year.
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Hello! I'm starting Aromasin today. I'm very anxious about it. I was on Tamoxifin for a short bit till they declared me to be in chemo induced menopause (hadn't had a period for over a year). Then they switched me to Arimidex. No SE. Then, I got my period again. Refused to go on Tamox (put me in depression). Had a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago. So, my Dr. put me back on Arimidex and got a terrible ongoing headache, nauseous and was really weepy. So, today's the day.
This thread is quite long and I've skimmed some of it. I see joint pain and hot flashes as big SE of Aromasin. What about hair loss/thinning? Anything else? I'm increasing my calcium and vitamin D and taking some stuff for hair/nails/skin.
Any info would be so helpful. Thank you!!
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side effects are not inevitable and those who get them all have individual experiences.....my hair has thickened since being on it..........joint pain is the most common one but exercise helps a lot with that, good luck!
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I've had severe hair-thinning but it started after 1.5 years on generic Aromasin..
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mcgis - I've been on Aromasin for a little over a year with no noticeable side effects, although my hair does seem thinner. It's hard to say because I've always had thin hair, so I maybe I'm used to it? I figure it's a small price to pay. Good luck to you!
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Aromasin...humm
For the most part a nonevent. Hair thinning and bone loss. I've stepped up my game adds Zometa infusions every 6mos and supplements and prunes!
Think exercise, weight lifting help
)) a few hot flashes, but not really a big deal...humm...guess I'll know at my Jan MO appointment what m blood work says. The hair bugs me...I had thick baby fine wavy hair...friend cut my when dx...my famil voted for cut...guess they were all terrified who was going to detangle my matted waves...thankfully tx was easy and I've adjusted to blow and go. Best Wishes!
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Anyone get anxiety on Aromasin?
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hope, no hair loss either
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nope hair loss~~
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No anxiety, but a sharper focus than when on arimidex and the 2 month break between. For someone else that could lead to anxiety.
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Thanks Doxie
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lago, yes. Along with the depression and crying stints I had anxiety every day that I could not attribute to any real reason. It took me a good 2 weeks after stopping the drug for the anxiety to subside. I have been off the drug a little over a month now and the anxiety is finally totally gone.
DH commented recently that it was nice to have me back from "the anti estrogen drug abyss".
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Lago, I experience anxiety from time to time and I believe it is the aromasin...also, am going through a bout of depression right now that is disproportinate to what I normally do around the holidays missing my Mom etc. I am really quite blue right now and it is miserable but at least I KNOW what is happening to me so it is doable I guess.
Hugs and hope your anxiety dissipates if indeed you are finding yourself overly anxious!
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Bren thank you, thank you, thank you! You explained exactly how I feel. Granted I've been on it since April but it crept up on me. I do think the depression is induced by the anxiety. Will PM you later. Seeing my PCP today. I gave up on my MO on this issue. She just comes at me with how high risk I am and "Tamoxifen is better than nothing."
I was to live not just survive. Not sure I want to go off this though. Guess there might be another drug to combat that anxiety. I'm over 3.5 years on AI.
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I have anxiety and depression, too, but I was depressed before cancer so I'm not sure what's "normal" for me anymore.
I feel I"m anxious because I just went through this bc journey, plus I'm going through some other major life stressors right now. I recently started Wellbutrin, but I always worry that antidepressants might reduce the effectiveness of Aromasin. They say it doesn't, but do they REALLY know for sure? I know they did prove that some antidepressants reduce the effectiveness of Tamoxifen, but I'm not aware of any studies with AI's and antidepressants. Anyone else taking Aromasin and an antidepressant?
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I took some occasionally, forget what but docs gave them to me as I would be in tears in their offices~~
do ask your doc. I am clean so guess it did not affect the AL
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