For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
-
Thanks to you too ruthbru....great information! There's a world of info out there that can be overwhelming. I just knew all you girls here would be the best and "real" sources....I'm hooked now :-) but need to sign off for the night. Sweet dreams to all!
0 -
samrodun---bodybuilders use Arimidex so it probably is a steroid. Check with yourDr or Pharmacist.---------kad2kar
0 -
Kad2kar
Since my MO is giving me the arimidex and she is very aware I cannot take steroids I would highly doubt that it is a steroid.
Just started reading this tread today moving from the tamox thread. Glad to see so many more people have had treatment surgery to chemo to radiation. Tried tamox and had a horrible time ,insomnia , bloating, headaches, crying for no reason, etc etc . Off it now and getting over reconstruction of both breasts (opted for prophylactic removal of right breast ) , transfusions, and IV and oral antibiotics leaving me exhausted to the bone. Waiting 2 more weeks to start Arimidex, hopefully with less se.
Glad to find this thread tonight!! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dx 9/12 DCIS left breast 2cm sentinel node stage 2A, Grade 3 , 1/12 nodes ER+, Hr-
Surgery 10/12 lumpectomy
Surgery 11/12 lump to get clean margins
Chemo 12/12 to 6/13 A >CT
Surgery double mast. W/ reconstruction
Radiation (external )
Surgery finish recons (removal of expanders )
Almost 2 years and 9 hospitalizations.....feel like I have gone through the ringer
0 -
kad2kar - Arimidex is not a steroid, but it does affect the male/female hormone balance in the body so perhaps that's why bodybuilders use it?????? When Arimidex (anastrozole) totally shuts down estrogen production by minor production sites like fat cells, etc. the male hormones (androgens) are no longer in proper balance. According to my docs, this can cause some of the SEs like acne, vaginal dryness, etc. The fun just never stops!
0 -
Thanks for the research, ruthbru. I'm committed to arimidex, but it's still great motivation to read about how effective/protective it really is. Samrodun, I have less hair than I did before, but I guarantee that nobody but me notices. I'm so glad the shedding stopped.
Kad2kar, how on earth can bodybuilders use arimidex? It tends to stiffen your joints and wouldn't that make some of those jerks (or whatever they call them) kind of dangerous?
0 -
I asked my trainer about Body builders using the ALs, he said they use way more than we do (my trainer is working on his PHD in physical therapy with cancer survivors)
think on, the AL is meant to rip out all estrogen from the body~~
0 -
Wow. I remember in Weight Watchers, years and years ago, the presenter told us that one pound of fat takes up four times the space of one pound of muscle. Now if only the stupid body building effect would take place in my body!
0 -
hhhmmmm, I will have to ask my cute little trainer that question! Maybe he can do a research survey on it? He did do one on LE and I gave him names from these boards to help him
0 -
Muscles? I WISH I would have gotten that SE!
0 -
Nck821 Wow you've been through quite a bit!
0 -
proudtospin.... I try my best to go to what I think are creditable websites to research information. I did find at one place that Aromasin (exemestane) is a steroidal, but Arimidex (anastrozole) and Femara (Letrozole) are not steroidals....and because I always thought bodybuilders took steroids, perhaps they took Aromasin and not the other 2 :-)
For anyone else... Does anyone know if all 3 aromatase inhibitors cause hair thinning like "brookside" experienced?
I should be making a decision on which medication I'm going to take by tomorrow or Thursday. After that I guess I should be going to the reconstruction forum which is humongous. I'm going to be doing delayed
0 -
Oops, I accidentally hit send. I'm typing on my cell phone because my area has had a major Internet outage for over 12 hours now. I meant to finish saying that after I make my medication decision, I will most likely be visiting the reconstruction forum as I had a skin sparing mastectomy with no tissue expander's and will be having delayed reconstruction.... Which I really want but I'm not looking forward to more surgeries. But I'll be back here also.
Oh, I just heard on the news that in some clinical trials, acupuncture has actually relieved a lot of SE's of cancer medications and may in the future be prescribed along with the medications.
0 -
samrodun not everyone gets hair thinning but it is due to lack of estrogen. Why do you think really old women have such thin hair? As they age they have less and less estrogen. My hair did recede a little bit but it had been doing that before chemo and I was perimenopausal. I do use Minoxidil to keep it at bay once a day. I know another friend that had the thinning and she started the Minoxidil and it worked. I still have pretty thick hair. I only use the minoxidil on the receding areas.
0 -
Didn't have thinning hair.
0 -
I did not have the thinning hair either, was worried that I would because I have very thick hair and sometimes would complain about it, then cancer hit and was afraid I would lose it all! Well that didnt happen, when I first started arimidex I thought it was coming out some but that only lasted a very short time.
0 -
No thinning hair for me.
0 -
The hair on my head is not thinning - but elsewhere it is. I now only shave my legs once a week - and not really necessary then. (I used to be really hairy!) I shave my armpits once a month or so, but even that is mainly out of habit, not due to any accumulation. All I can figure is that it is due to the Arimidex. Some side effects are not so bad........
0 -
Ooh, sorry to hear that! Maybe it will ease off? Here's hoping, anyway.....
0 -
bblues and optimistictraveler - not only is the hair on my head not thinning, it's not thining anywhere else either (and I do mean ANYWHERE). Still have to shave and bikini wax just as often (except that it's still winter), and the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin are more numerous and coarse then ever so gotta keep the tweezers handy.
0 -
I was about to take something until I read that it shouldn't be used on anyone taking an immunosupresent. I think Anastrazole is an immunosupresent but am not sure and I won't be seeing my doctor for awhile. Does anyone know?
0 -
Fitz just call your doctor. You can always talk with the NP. You can also ask your pharmacist if there is an issue.
0 -
I don't think Arimidex (Anastrozole) is an immunosuppressant, but check with your Dr./pharmacist anyway.
Immunosuppressants are those medications used for people after organ transplants or those with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis and others. These drugs have a very long list of serious side effects - but often still worth it.
0 -
No, it is not. But talk to your pharmacist if you have a concern.
0 -
Hope you don't mind me popping in!
I started Arimidex a year ago this month and have had no issues. A few weeks ago I started getting bone pains.More specifically spine and left foot. Has anyone else had that side effect start a year after you started??
I called my oncologist because it has gotten worse and almost intolerable (spine) and I did have a bone scan and xrays done and of course am now waiting....just wanted to ask opinions is all
0 -
ConnieGreen - I'm not sure I would call it bone pain but I did develop foot pain around a year after starting it. The foot pain started more in the ball of my foot where they would be stiff and sore in the mornings or after I'd been immobile for a while, then go away after walking around a bit. Now the pain has moved from the balls of my feet to both of my heels and behaves a little differently than the original pain. I'm kind of hoping it's just moving it's way through and working it's way right out of my feet altogether
0 -
Hello All!
I am a newbie to BC drug therapy. My OC wants to put me on Arimidex. I am 57 and have great bone density and pretty fair joints for someone my age that is overweight. I am an accountant, so no big physical demands on me at work or home.
Would love to hear from you all about your experiences and concerns. I am due to start meds after my radiation should I decide to have the treatments, which would start in two weeks.
So happy I found this site of such wisdom.
Happy Spring to all!
1957
0 -
Hello there Traveler!
You may want to have your Thyroid checked if you are losing hair every where but your head. When that happened To me I found out I had Hypothyroidism! It was also responsible for much of my weight gain
Happy Trails!
0 -
Thyroid is OK. I have been on synthroid for many years, 10-11 years before BC diagnosis. My PCP checks thyroid levels every 4 months & it's been stable. The synthroid is suppressive - I had a subacute thyroiditis that started destroying the gland - with subsequent hemorragic-necrotic thyroid cyst. Gave me a big scare at the time when my Dr. said results of the thyroid scan showed a cold nodule - which could be benign....or cancer.
I thought the hair loss issue was hormonal - just a guess. I am post-menopausal (with no ovaries & of course no HRT), perhaps some of those secondary sex characteristics that appeared at puberty are subsiding again? I seem to recall some elderly women with hardly any leg or underarm hair. (Not that I consider myself elderly!!!!!)
0 -
Do you think inflammation might be part of the new pains? I recently developed pretty severe hip pain, decided to treat it like arthritis and clobbered it with three aspirin two or three times a day. Within a few days, the pain slinked back to the tolerable range. Now I'm taking two aspirin/day and that seems to be doing the trick. My onc says I can do this as long as I don't have problems with the aspirin.
0 -
Conniegreen, I developed pretty durned sharp hip pain a while ago, decided there might be some inflammation contribution, and clobbered it with three aspirin two or three times/day for about three days, then, mostly because I forgot about the pills, I dropped down to two aspirin/day. My onc says I can do this as long as the aspirin does not cause its own problems. Also, I'm not sure if I buy it yet or not, but I think it's better on the days I take a nice long bath in epsom salts.
0
