For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Thanks just found this: www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/01/08/five-apps-to-lower-cost-your-prescription-drugs/
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I have that good RX card but have not used it, I need to check out some of my scripts, thanks
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LOL lago
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I am self employed and have no prescription drug plan. I pay out of pocket but fortunately a 3 month supply of the generic arimidex cost me only $25.00.
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Deb, if your gut told you to go with it, then you did the right thing!
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Deb, my diagnosis did not give me a choice, but I think you did the intelligent thing, life is short, with or without cancer. You bought an insurance policy, to give yourself more time to enjoy life...
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deb, I have to make a comment here, because I felt the same way about radiation. I labored over the decision, went back and forth, thinking each time I had made up my mind, did more homework on the subject, saw each doctor 3times, til they thought I was nuts! Finally, I said to my surgeon " what would you tell your mom in this situation? Would you tell her to have radiation?" He replied yes. So, I did it. Just like you, I still wonder if it was the right thing to do. I lie in bed wondering if I have lung cancer or short of breath cause my heart was damaged...I am two years out and still think about it every day, to stop thinking about it requires prayer to fall asleep. All this is not due to lack of being busy or not having anything else to think about, because I am very active with my job and family...BC survivor...simply difficult!
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I think the end of active treatment is a really hard time; you are on such a whirlwind during treatment and then you feel like you are kicked out the door & expected to just jump back into 'normal' life. I think it was at least a year before I felt pretty 'normal' physically, and I couldn't even start to process the emotional side of it for at least that long. So your feelings are totally normal, and go ahead and vent when you need to, we get it!
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I had microscopic, no lump. They did not do an oncotype, it was stage 1 because it was out of the duct.
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no lump. It was found in a mammogram routine. I was lucky;)
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I tell all my friends...do not skip a mammogram. If I had skipped it even a few more months, with grade 3, it would have hit my lymph nods quickly.
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Deb, my cancer is stage 3, no lump, lobular cancer, 2 Drs, tried to feel it, nothing to feel, grows differently & does not always show up on mammograms...I had 2 friends with stage 1 bc...one chose chemo & rads, the other chose just rads....both had lumpectomy & so did I even with my scary stage 3 dx.
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Deb, wow, never heard of waiting, wait for what? Didn't they do a biopsy right away?
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Just butting in here... I had clear mammograms, no lump, just a bleeding nipple. Only seen on Ultrasound. That is, until I got an incredible Radiologist who said she could see changes in my 2009 and 2010 mammograms, that the other Radiologists missed.
The bleeding nipple really saved my life. Otherwise, I would have gone on getting clear mammograms for who knows how long?
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blessings, I wish ultrasound could be routine, also. They would catch so many more early cancers.
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DebDylan - I had very dense breasts, no lump, no family history. I was tired of the "normal" reports which actually said that no lesions seen, but dense breast tissue could obscure masses. I fought for an MRI and ended up with five biopsies (one ILC, one DCIS, and three benign fibroadenomas). None seen on mammogram and only three could be seen on ultrasound. I was diagnosed early and had clear nodes. My MO uses the Adjuvent database, but also ran the Oncotype DX at my request. Like you, my result was 18, smack on that borderline. I asked my MO the same question and she said if she was in my place, she would not do chemo. I also went with my gut, hope it didn't lead me astray on this one....
Hang in there!!!
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Blessings your story sounds like mine except my tumor was in total 6.5cm! My tissue very dense and tumor in posterior region. BTW the LCIS in the other breast was found by the MRI. That's not unusual for the US and Mammo to not pick up.
no one ever felt the lump but there was a denser area. Granted my breasts were so dense to begin with you really needed to be checking.
OK humor time. Try doing this on ESD: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_BnsrWMnI
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DebDylan that is normal to feel that way after year 2. I was more relaxed after year 3. Arimidex is probably more protective than chemo was for you so even though you are further out from chemo you still have maybe your biggest gun working for you.
My motto though is not to worry until someone tells you there is something to worry about. You have no symptoms so don't wait time. Here are my infamous speeches:
seat belt speech:
You don't assume you will get into a car accident every time you
get in your car. You do put on your seat belt and drive carefully. Same
with breast cancer. Eat right, maintain a healthy weight, exercise,
and take your hormone therapy (if prescribed). No reason to think you
are going to get mets until you actually have a symptom.shit doesn't happen speech:
Some people win the lottery and become millionaires too but do you
really think that's going to happen to you? Shit happens. Sometimes
good shit, sometimes bad shit, but most of the time shit doesn't
happen. Don't assume shit is going to happen to you.0 -
DebDylan if I didn't exercise I would go crazy. Seriously it does keep me sane. Helps with stress management. Just finished the first 4 miles (parts 1-4) of these videos again. That makes 4 times so far this week. (had to take some breaks earlier this week due to calf stiffness): walk walk walk
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I just had sinus surgery and was told to stay out of the gym.....It has been almost two weeks but I was getting nutty to went to the gym for stretching and just a light workout
yeap, exercise keeps my brain alive! and the scary thoughts at bay
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lago - two great speeches girlfriend! Love the 'shit doesn't happen' speech. I prefer to think that the shit that wasn't going to happen to me has now happened, so I should be free and clear for a good long while. Personally, I'm still planning on living to 100 (always been a bit of an over-achiever!).
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sweetandspecial that would be the Lightening rarely strikes twice speech but I haven't fully developed that one yet
The seat belt speech is older than the shit doesn't happen speech. I get better with age.0 -
Responding to an earlier post: DebDylan, as with Holeinone my diagnosis did not give me a choice regarding chemo. In my case, though, it came as a total surprise over 8 weeks post-mastectomy. Long story, but there was confusion with the pathology reports, and the oncotype showed previously undiagnosed triple negative BC. And I had to rush to start because the window of time was fading from the time of surgery. I do think, though, for myself, that if chemo had been an optional choice, that I would have done it. I just want to do everything I can to make sure that this sh%*t is out of my system, and chemo is/was the way to do that. I remind myself everyday as I deal with the miserable side effects that if the chemo is doing all "this" to my good cells then it must be kicking but on any bad ones left!
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Hi Lago,
If you get better with age, keep aging so we can enjoy the speeches! Maybe die of a massive stroke (BLAM!) at the age of 95? That will give you plenty of time to develop some fabulous material. Deal?
Gracers55
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Any Armidex users under 40? I'm 31 and will start taking the generic version Feb. 1st. My onc. said that it's really not studied in women my age. I'm so worried about having debilitating side effects.
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I am 37 years old and have been on femara for 6 months with no side effects .
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Gracers55 When it's time for me to go I want to go by firing squad. It's the quickest way I know.
BTW how old are you that you need me around when I'm in my early 90's anyway. I"m pretty sure you have a few years on me or you planning to live into your 100's 
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Just an update, I have been on generic form of Arimidex since Dec 26. The only side affect so far is a very dry mouth & throat.
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Ahhh but Lago, your wisdom will develop and mature, for future generations to enjoy forever... not just me. I'm 58, more than I few years older than you I suspect!
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