For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Thank you all for your responses. Good or bad, they help us all.
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Talked to my cousin's wife this past month who was on Arimidex for 10 years. As soon as she got off, within a month, the S/E's went away. If I am on the 10 year plan, only 8 1/2 more years! Woo hoo!
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My side effects started within two weeks. My worst one is my feet aching, so hard to get up and walk sometimes. But I'm doing ok.
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Has anyone taking arimidex experienced any low body temperatures. Mine dropped to 95.5 this weekend been on it for 2 weeks. Don't know if its related or not but felt terrible. Also my ONC called said my estrogen was really high along with my thyroid. Anyone else experience this.
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Temperature sounds like the thyroid issue. Not sure about the estrogen issue on Armidex but you haven't been on it that long. Again maybe you are not ready for Arimdex and should still be on Tamoxifen. Just because you periods haven't come back (yet) doesn't mean you are in menopause
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Teresa-G: achy feet is my primary SE right now. I went through some other stuff early on but those SEs leveled off over time, then I noticed the achy feet. I'm sure I look a bit ridiculous while I work the kinks out after being immobile for a while, but once things loosen up I'm fine.
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Dennylinne - the way my RO explained it was he and my BS share me for the years after surgery, I see each of them once a year but staggered appointments 6 months apart. I am now over 2 years out from finishing rads, and at my last RO visit he commented that he could see my breast is still undergoing changes from the radiation. Of course, nothing looks different to me!
Ruth, thank you for the link to the article on exercise and AI - very interesting. Now to get exercising, something I just can't seem motivated enough to get back into.
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Come on, pat! You know you need to
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The voices, the voices... I have been choosing to ignore them Ruth, but I know I need this - treadmill tomorrow at the new gym by hook or by crook, see if I can get at least one day of 10k steps - the best I did last week was 7k. Thank you for the gentle kick in the pants!
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Any time
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Lago I was never on temoxifen they started me on arimidex I don't have any ovaries anymore so its not coming from that. I thought maybe the thyroid also was the cause for the low body temp and I feel the thyroid may be impacting the estrogen. My cancer was 100%ER+ it just seems since my diagnosis my life is turned upside down. I was once so healthy but now I feel like a hypochondriac Always complaining about something else hurting. And not understanding what could be happening and why. What should I worry about and what should I let go of Thanks for listening and responding to my questions. It really helps to have someone to talk to
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todays exercise involved snow movement.....guess I burned some calories for sure
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My BS (breast surgeon right?) wanted to see me after six month but I didn't do it. Did I really need to? I just ask because I've seen my PS (plastic surgeon) several times with my reconstruction and have another follow up appointment with him later this month. My Onc does a breast exam every time I see him and now that I am on Anastrozole I am seeing him every three months, I can't remember if he said that was for the first one or two years I am on it. So I haven't seen my BS since two months after my mastectomy. Am I really supposed to see him still? I also have a GP I see as well and saw her in December.
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Kathie100 , I can really relate to your comments, "it just seems since my diagnosis my life is turned upside down. I was once so healthy but now I feel like a hypochondriac Always complaining about something else hurting. And not understanding what could be happening and why. What should I worry about and what should I let go of ."
I have let my feelings be known to the people on this board and to my husband. Whine, whine, whine. I know it sounds like that's all I do, oh yes, and act like a spoiled child, like I am the only one who has ever been diagnosed. Then, when I realize that so many women are so much worse off than I am, I feel very guilty and wish I could take back everything I complained about. I must be getting on a couple of my doctors nerves too. I know that they are doing their best, I have no doubt of that. I still have a lot of anger to work through but I am really going to try to stop picking everything apart and let my docs worry about me.
Wow, did you hear what I just said? I had to stop and think about that for a minute. If I follow through on that, boatloads of stress will be lifted off of my shoulders! I'll stop worrying so much about myself and let my docs do all that! Yeaaaaaaa, that's the ticket!
Thanks so much girls for putting up with me. You've been a great help!
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my BS had said that she would follow me for ever! But really, now that I am clean for 5 years, she has me see her NP , she has said if a reoccurance, then she is my surgeon. I do have her read my mamo each year and she actually orders them. think all docs are dif and mine honestly, her practice has gotten much busier
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Hello, I want my breast surgeon to continue to follow me. Between him and my RO, I can't think of anyone more qualified to look at my mammos, ultrasound or do a breast exam. I will be seeing my Breast Surgeon every 6 months and my MO every 3 months. They will both receive my imaging reports. I see my BS as the best monitor for local recurrence and my MO best monitor for distant recurrence. Next month will be my last follow up with the RO unless something comes up.
MsP
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Teresa_G you BS wants to see you to make sure you are not having a recurrence especially on your scar. Typically you see your onc every 3 months the first year unless your BS is seeing you some of that time. After that it should go to at least seeing someone 2X a year (every 6 months) though the 5th year. Then it drops off to 1x a year. Your PS does not give you a breast exam so s/he doesn't count.
Kathie100 So what does your onc say about this estrogen high?
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Lago. You sound just like me. My onc has accused me of putting my HRT patches back on. Which I assured her I had not. I believe I also get on her nerves always complaining about something. She's turned me over to my primary physician to deal with the bone pain and thyroid issues. I go back to see her next week for more blood work. I'm gonna vent again. I'm so tired of seeing so many different Drs. I too didn't go back for my follow-up with surgeon in December nor my radiation onc in January for my 1 month follow up. Now I have to see my MO, primary MD, orthopedic Dr for back issues and its always a waiting game. I wish I could just go to a Dr. one time and by the end of the session the problem is solved. Test done, meds given (if needed) results given. Oh what a great day that would be. I really like them but feel I'm always waiting for answers or get sent somewhere else. Well I will quit my bellyaching. I know I'm not the only one feeling this way. 😒
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Kathie100 before BC I had my PCP, Gyno that I would see once a year. That is it. Since chemo I've had to see podiatrist, PS, BS, Onc, dermatologist, LE MD, rad onc and now endocrinologist (due to osteoporosis from the ESD). Now that I'm so far out I don't see the PS, Dermo, Podiatrist and of course I only saw the rad onc once. I'm about to cut my LE MD loose. My arm hasn't changed and my PCP said she can give me the prescription for the sleeves. I still want my scars/boobie prizes examined 2X a year till I hit year 5. I feel that is really important.
No doctor will ever get away with telling me my complaints aren't warranted. Granted when I have a problem now I report to my PCP first and maybe send a message to my onc so she knows what's going on. Not all our issues are related to cancer or cancer treatment and some that are, are better treated by a specialist (endocrinologist, podiatrist, dermatologist in my case).
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Teresa, I was confused about this, too. At one point I had to ask him (BS) because since the mastectomy that he performed, I'd had my exchange surgery for my permanent implant, and thought anymore post op appointments would be with my PS. He explained to me that it was my choice, but he has a responsibility to follow up my recovery for about a year (which for me will be tomorrow - wow, hard to believe). In fact, when I had a mammogram of my remaining breast done, one year after the dastardly discovery of my tumor, the results were sent to him. That freaked me out, as I feared it could mean he had bad news for me! Not the case, thankfully. I continue to see him, and two PSs plus my own phys. - excessive? They all have a reason to see me, and I'm glad for the attention and care right now. My BS just saw me in January, and told me he'd be sending me another appointment date in about 4 more months.
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My BS said he would follow me for the next 5 years. I never thought to ask why, I will at next appt.
the RO didn't want to see me any longer, said to come back if I noticed or had a problem.
The MO, I guess I'll be seeing her forever.
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Denilynne and Kathy100- You have a good reason to complain. Trust me no matter how nice- good -your BS, RO, MO are they do not have BC and have never had BC , so you see only someone who has been thru it can truely relate.
I am a ( had to retire) RN and it was really only when I went thru all this that I saw how the little things mean so much. Like holding a door open when your arm hurts to much to pull it. Not reading my chart only on entering my room or blowing me off when a new symptom developed.
I used to live and work in A2.
This is why these forums help so much in answering even the smallest questions. We deserve the best of care and must demand they listen.
Hugs to all of you.
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I havent seen my bs since post op about 1 week. Since then see my ps all the time. I see my mo every 3 months. I think once any exchange revisions are done, I wont see the ps either.
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Yesterday was my 6 month follow up exam and my yearly mammogram. I met with both my bs and oconlogist. My mammo was normal and all appeared "excellent" upon both exams by both doctors. In fact the onco did not even order blood work based on the exam. She is however ordering a bone density scan, which I am due for as I have been on arimidex for nearly two years now. I asked her about the discussion on going to 10 years on arimidex. She had attended the symposium on breast cancer last fall in Texas and said there is not enough evidence yet on arimidex to warrant 10 years. She indicated that for tamoxifen, there is data that suggest it would be better to go 10 years. As we all know, she says a lot can change before my 5 years are up but she felt going longer might turn out to be the case for higher risk patients but she inferred I was not in that category. Don't ask me why with a grade 3 and lvi present. I should have pursued that line of questioning further. I was just so relieved with the good reports I wanted to get out of there. If it turns out after my bone density scan that indeed I need something for my bones, she told about a drug (don't have the name in front of me) that I would get twice a year and it is a one hour infusion each time. She said there is also evidence that this particular drug reduces bc occurrence somewhat too. I asked her what the down side would be and she said a very rare occurrence is that there are jaw problems and I would want to be sure to have all my dental work up to date first. I also asked about the shingles vaccination and she said by all means have it now that I am 60. She said the only time it is an issue is when receiving chemo. Now that I am 2 years post chemo (tomorrow is that anniversary), I will get the shot soon and hope my insurance covers it as it is pricey. But a small price to pay rather than having shingles.
I feel like such a wimp prior to these appointments but I have been having pain and discomfort in my good breast so it has been concerning me. I was told by my bs that I a quite cystic in that breast but there was nothing felt or seen on the mammo of concern. In fact she did not feel a need to do an ultrasound. She said my lumpectomy has healed very nicely and looks just like she wants it to look. She showed me my X-rays and explained what I was looking at. I will finish this lengthy post by saying I am sooo fortunate to have the medical team I have, particularly my bs. And my onco is young, bright and ontop of all the new reports on bc. I really have lots of confidence in both these gals. Someone here mentioned letting the doctors do the worrying about their health and I would agree, though I do my share of worrying and need to heed that advice myself.
Even with good reports, I do not take anything for granted.
Keep the faith everyone,
Allagashmaggie
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Yes, now I see more doctors than I ever thought possible. Kathie100, things will get easier with time. Our lives have changed forever, but our lives go on, and while it is always at the back of my mind, I concentrate on moving forward with the rest of my life. Dennilynne, I can so relate to your comment about whining when so many women are much worse off than we are. That is the beauty of these boards, a place you can whine, complain, ask stupid questions, without fear of retaliation or eye rolls! My MO is a very kind, gentle, spiritual man - while he does a thorough exam and blood work at every visit, he also checks to see how I am really doing in my head. It took me about a year before his message got through to me - be good to myself, enjoy life, and take pleasure in each day. So that's what I try to do now, and in doing so I find that my cancer diagnosis and problems from it (medication side effects, lymphadema) is just my new normal, and now takes a back seat in my brain.
Pat
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Well said Pat.
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yes, I do recall when my only doc visits were to the dentist, gyno, eye doctor, each once a year and to my Primary care doc who used to monitor all the other stuff including sinus junk
I know several women who proudly said at the start of their BC journey that the only pill they took was their AL.
course now each of them take cholesterol, BP and lord knows what else
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Thanks for your thought on seeing a BS. My thought was that since he did my mastectomy I have now had three surgeries on that same breast. I kind of figured that we were done with each other and it was someone elses turn to keep an eye on me. My mammo is due in April so I will see him then if not before instead of my GP for that.
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and to add insult to injury, I get to have a colonoscopy in April..fun!
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aviva - my first colonoscopy was last April. It really wasn't so bad. Everyone told me the prep is the worst but I had my worst discomfort for about 3-4 hours afterwards because of the gas or whatever they use to 'inflate' your intestines for a good view! Probbaly TMI but the first bathroom episode after starting the prep was the real pipe cleaner. All other trips after that served more to give everything a final rinse than being anything 'productive'......lol! The reward for going through the procedure was hearing my surgeon (who happens to be my BS also) say 'See you in 10-12 years'.....it actually brought tears to my eyes after the last 6 months I had been through!
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