Life on aromasin
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If she is post menopausal, that is generally the reason that she got an AI instead of Tamoxifen. Some docs (my MO for example) like to give Tamoxifen to post meno women first, but many go straight to the AI. Also, if your MIL has any issues with blood clots or other things that are contraindicated for Tamox, they will give an AI first.
Best of luck to her. Not everyone has bad Side Effects. She may do very well!
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I was prescribed Aromasin from the get go. Haven't had bad side effects at all. Best wishes to your MIL!
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I wanted to add that I have been weaning myself off Effexor and that stubborn 4 lbs. I gained is starting to come off. I've lost 2 lbs. in 5 days, woohoo! I think I gave Aromasin a bad rap when I blamed my wt. gain on it. The Effexor did it!
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Were most of you given Aromasin first? I got arrimidex then femara then aromasin. I was wondering why arrimidex is given first, if it is. One dr told me the efficacy of aromasin is questioned since it has a different mechanism, steroidal.
Sloan dr was adamant, NO! all 3 equally effective.
The Ai's are 20% more effective than Tamoxifin and without some of the serious side effects (I think). So much conflicting info has left me dazed and confused!
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Aromasin is all I've ever taken. The other two Als were available if I had trouble on Aromasin, but so far so good. I think they are all the same in terms of effectiveness.
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Paperjam, I too was given aromasin from the bginning. My MO felt it is more effective than tamoxifin . He said it had fewer side effects than the other AL's but from these boards we know that they all have the potential for SE"s. Here's hoping they are minimal. Tell her to hang in there because sometimes about a month in she may notice an increase in joint pain and aches . These usually subside with time and exercise. If too problematic her MO can switch her to another AL to try. I was having problems and noticed that on the various boards people were mentioning that the generic forms had fillers that were the probllem rather than the drug. For me that meant that I asked for the generic brand from Greenstone rather than the Roxane I had been getting. Greenstone is made by Pfizer who makes Aromasin and the pills are identical except the generic has a number printed on it. It did make a difference and I have now been on it for a year and a half. Good luck.
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She is postmenopausal and has some problems with blood pressure. So it's a normal and hopefully the best decision the one this doctor took. I wanted to hear this from some one because from what I read on the internet and in the prospectus I had doubts. So this treatment is just for a few years or for the rest of your life?
Thanks and best of luck to all of you!
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Ptdreamers, thanks for the advice. She actually had big problems with a knee during chemotherapy. I really hope that no more aches occur, she is already depressed because she has some aches from surgery that seem to become chronic.
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I am 77 and was put on Aromasin because I also have very bad osteoporosis and have broken several bones. He said Aromasin did the least damage to the bones. I also have high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation, but don't know if that entered into his decision to pick Aromasin other than the other two.
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My onco said just 5 years on aromasin. I asked about the tamoxaifin study and might 10 years be better? He said no.
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Also if you have ovarian/cervical cancer in your family history - that would be another reason NOT to be prescribed Tamox, as well as blood clots.
I was told Aromasin had the least SEs......tho not FDA approved yet for DCIS, (I found that out after my appt, my doc did not share that info with me). But alas, it did not work out for me to continue with it0 -
It is so strange how the same medication has such differences in how we can tolerate it. I have trouble with all medications and could not tolerate Aromasin at all. I have a friend who is doing great on Femara; she couldn't tolerate the other two.
Same thing with blood pressure medications. My blood pressure is still very high and the doctor is trying to find one which will help lower mine without causing horrible vertigo and panic attacks. It is really frustrating. I hate pills to begin with and not being able to tolerate very many is really frustrating. I had very high BP in my internist office as he was discussing my lack of judgement in going off Aromasin and various other things. As he was talking, I was taking my BP (he wanted me to bring in my own cuff to check it) the blood pressure soared to 188/102 and I said "Look, what you are doing to my BP" He just said "That's why you need the pills" you are always going to have stress". Instead of asking what I was stressing about and what could I do to make changes in my life, eg exercise, diet. etc. It is so disheartening when all the docs want to do is give you pills and if you have SEs? Then just take more pills for the SEs and if those give you other Ses then take even more ----it is never ending and I will not get on that merry-go-round.
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You are so right dogsandjogs.
I started out with Arimidex. I swear I thought I was going to die from those SE's. I took it for one year. I told my Onc. that I was going to stop taking it, that's when he put me on Aromasin. Iv'e got 70% SE's on Aromasin, (some more, some less, some different) instead of 90% on Arimidex. I guess I'll stick with it. I have taken more drugs in the last 2 1/2 years than I have taken my whole life.
Love and Blessings
Sharon
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My onco placed my on the aromasin from the beginning due to its reputation for fewer SE and stated at that time for 5 years but I don't know if that will change since the new study came out after I started that 10 years is now recommended.
I had some elevated BP years ago and took meds for a short period of time but was able to get off meds. Since my dx I have once again started having elevated BP which is gradually getting worse. I don't know if it is due to the stress, medication or constant back pain I have had for the past year due to DDD.
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Dogsandjogs, since my mother-in-law got diagnosed I've seen how closed-minded can doctors be. At least in my country, they have an allergy when hearing about natural remedy, they clearly believe that anything coming from nature is only for witch doctors. The truth is most of them have no idea about getting healthy by changing your diet and lifestyle, and that most of them despise this kind of ideas. It seems we have to seek for ourselves for solutions to escape this merry-go-round.
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Really seabeal,
This is the first I have heard about an additional 5 years for AL's. I have been counting down the years until 5. Where did you read the studies? I would love to read up on it. Post a link if you can. Thanks.
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I could have sworn that I read this on breastcancer.org but haven't been able to find it. I will continue to look although this may be in vain as I know my memory has taken a beating this past year so I'm beginning to wonder if I actually read it or dreamed it. I know that the thought of 5 yr vs 10 yrs is so depressing but either way I'ld cross that bridge when and if I get there.
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So true Paperjam! Yet, this guy is super intelligent; went to Harvard and Johns Hopkins. He used to be such fun to see; great sense of humor, quick-witted, etc. Now he acts like he is burned out, disagrees with everything I say, complains about patients taking longer than 10 minutes, (he says he has no time for anything over that) and is not sympathetic at all. I asked if I should see an ENT guy for my dizziness. He snapped "There is nothing wrong with your ears." He also wouldn't give me an RX for the problem. I think I'll have to change doctors---sigh--
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I had a tooth pulled last week, The oral surgeon had the hygienist give me the novacaine, He was too busy,
I was not numb.
This is the wave of medical care of the future. It will only get worse,
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Dogsandjogs - couldnt agree more about Docs wanting to give out pills to deal with SEs - instead of offering up exercise diet as a way to deal. My Onc never said anything about diet/exercise......ever. Even when I brought it up, her eyes got all glassy like she couldnt hear me. My opinion, and this is after listening to seniors where I live, getting on the "taking pills to counteract the pills" merry-go-round......is a slippery slope i prefer to stay off of. What happens when you are so dependent on these drugs, that you can no longer pay for them because you dont have insurance or they arent covered any more? Its ironic that getting cancer has gotten me living a more healthier lifestyle than I ever have before. Ill stay off the drugs...... now if i could find a healthy way to get more sleep, id be all over it.
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Timbuktu, You are so right about the direction of medical care. This is just one of the prices for socialized medicine. Whether you are an advocate or not, nothing is for free with a price being paid by someone for all those government benefits. Don't get me started, I've worked my a$$ off all my life and now at my age the only thing I feel like I have to look forward to is dying.
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Seabeal, we're on the same wavelength.
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Tim: I had a similar experience. I needed a growth on my face removed. The doctor came in to say hello, then took off. Her assistant removed the growth and it was painful. That had never happened to me before. I got another dermatologist. The lady in the front office told me that legally an assistant can do the procedure, but she agreed that it was not fair to me as I was paying for the doctor to do it, not an assistant who didn't know how to administer lidocaine.
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Shayne, I asked the company who makes my current blood pressure pill if I could get help with the cost as I am living on Social Security. Sorry, they said, we only help people who have no insurance. And these drug companies are making billions-----
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my onco believes the side effects of Tamoxifin are way worse that those for Aromasin...as in it can cause Uterine cancer (think I have the right cancer~~)
Tam was the first treatment and does have more history than the ALs
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Maybe it depends on your onc. A poster on another thread thought she was thru after 5 years with her AI. Then she moved out West and her new onc wants her to stay on for 5 more. She was pretty disappointed---
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I suppose each dr is different. I have a friend who had breast cancer almost 20 years ago. He's kept her on tamoxifin all of these years! And this was before the new findings. He had reasons I suppose and she is fine today.
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WOW Timbuktu! Ive never heard that. But I guess if the patient isnt questioning it.... Sometimes I worry, not being on it.....and if my SEs werent so severe I would be still on it. Kinda made my decision to stay off of it easier. Ive started doing yoga again, i mean, a serious practice this time. And Im amazed at how great I feel on all levels - physical and emotional. Each time Ive had small emotional releases, tears.....like a letting go of the stress of the past 11 months. April 16th will be a year since my dx. It feels like longer......
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That sounds so wonderful Shayne. I'm happy for you. My friend's dr was in research and I can't remember why but there was a specific reason he wanted her to stay on it. I guess the research takes a long time and there must have been evidence a long time before the findings came out.
April 15 is one year since I went on AI's. I've been off for 5 days now Still far from feeling "normal" but things are definitely moving in that direction. It must be great to do yoga obviously your joints are ok now. It's good to know that the problems reverse themselves.
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I don't know Tim, I wouldn't worry too much though (if thats possible) I think this whole tx thing is nothing but a crap shoot anyway. You make the best choices you can with the information you have but none of us know if this disease is truely licked and no one can give us gurantees either. What were the odds that I would be going through this to start off with so I don't have a whole lot of faith in any of their odds. I think that the only thing we can do at this point is live in the moment (now thats a cliche) doing whatever it takes. If you choose quality of life over SE, no one can blame you, we are each doing what we have to feel that we are and will continue to get the most out of life. My onco has assured me that he thinks the odds (there's that word again) of the ca coming back with no chemo are in my favor (what does that mean?) However I have felt a sence of doom in the core of my soul and feel that this is not what is going to best for me in the long run. Onco score was boderline and was ran on only one of the tumors though they were completely seperate (over 5cm). Since I live in BFE I don't have all the choices that are available in metropolitan areas, I will live with it cause what are the odds?
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