For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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MAGF I'm taking the entire pill. Not sure how effective it will be with 1/2. You need to discuss this with your onc.
pelively that's what they tested but they are doing studies on 10 years. Also remember that the biggest risk for recurrence is the first 5 years (especially the first 1-3). So I'm sure that's why they tested on 5 years. Just saw this is a repeat of what Ruth said.
ConnieGreene my reaction to reading your post is the same as Ruth's. Taking Aleve everyday has it's risks too.
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Conniegreene - I have arthritis in my cervical spine. My pain issues were exacerbated by Femara and Arimidex. Since then, I have a new MO and have been in PT. PT (physical therapy) has done wonders to help with my pain. I still have pain, but the intensity has greatly lessened. Please, please do not let this doctor tell you that there is nothing you can do. Ask for a PT referral! It is a start, if that doesn't work, go to a pain clinic (this did wonders for me in my precancerous days).
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Here's something I came across recently regarding the 5 years. I'm now at 5 years and see my MO week after next so will discuss. He always had me believe I only needed 5 years so I expect he will tell me I no longer need to stay on. I'm a little worried because this study seems to say that as HER2- I'm at higher risk of recurrence between years 5-10. You don't know what to believe because I'm certain if we look around enough there will be another study that says there is no benefit to staying on longer than the 5. I really want to go off but we'll see. I've had no significant se's these first 5 years.
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Connie. Ask for a referral to an orthopedic Spine surgeon. I let a neurosurgeon do a laminectomey on my cervical spine. He screwed up badly, left permanent damage. Should have sued, it's that bad. And yes, a physiatrist can help too,
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I have read on a number of sites, that for us ladies who were high ER+ and PR+, our risk of recurrence is just as high in the years 5 - 15 as it is 0-5 years. But as others have said, different sites, give different information.
I have just started my 7th year of Femara and my Onc has agreed that for the moment, he is happy for me to continue, as he confirmed that my risk is still moderate. While ever my bones stand up to it, I think he agrees that I should continue the AI.
Ched
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patoo the link you posted doesn't really get into specifics... and it's not like we are doctors that can really understand. I would ask your onc about this. You were node negative so this still might put you in a low risk group.
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I'm the former pelively...decided it was time to get my settings fixed.
I met with my MO to review my Oncotype report. The breast cancer recurrence score is 6 if I take the antihormonal therapy. I wouldn't be on Tamoxifen because it would interact with Cymbalta that I'm taking. My recurrence risk would be 14.4% if not on the Arimidex.
I'm 61, tumor size was 0.1 -1.1.0 c.m with no nodes involved ( sentinel node removed). Chemo and Radiation wouldn't be of any benefit. I'm wondering if the SE are worth the benefit with these numbers. Family says at least try it. I'm just now walking and getting my health back; a week away from reconstruction. Afraid of SE and afraid of reoccurrence. Any thoughts out there?
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Lost, I think you should give it 3 months. My dx is stage 3, high risk of recurrence. I will take the Arimidex for 10 years. I have taken it now for 6 weeks. I was achy, sore hips daily for the first 2-3 weeks. It seems better, also it helps to be active & move.
It's very cheap, and you can always quit it or try another AI. I starting reading both the Arimidex threads for several months, while I was still getting chemo. Some of the ladies have NO SE.
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lost, my thought would be do not not do AL because you are afraid of side effects. You may never experience any SEs. I made it through my 5 years on my AL.....now that it is over, can not really say any of my achies were caused by mine. And I have the confidence that I did the recommended treatment.
That said, talk to your MO and try not to think about he numbers. and if you do have side effects...you can stop but you may never have any!
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My side effects have decreased tremendously since I started in early December. Recently I started taking the pill at night and it has helped decrease the amount of wakefulness that I have. Thank heavens!
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Lost I was more scared of Anastrozole than chemo. OMG they want me to take this for 5 years! Well I just finished year 3. Yeah I have some SE but nothing is stopping me. Very minor especially after the first year... well except for now I do have osteoporosis but not too bad. 14.4% recurrence without an AI. I think that's what I have doing all my treatments. I wish it were less.
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Lost - I have only a 5% chance of recurrence without the AI and with it even less than that. I never gave a thought to not taking it because I want to do everything I can to keep a recurrence out of my future. I've had various SEs come and go. Right now I'm dealing with plantar fasciitis, but I can't guarantee that it's totally caused by Arimidex because I was also doing a fair amount of walking/running in Jan/Feb this year beginning to train for a 5K this summer.
I wouldn't avoid taking it out of fear of side effects. You may be one of the many who experience little or even no SEs. You won't know if you don't try.
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Bosum, maybe you can try a different AI? Many have had to do that.
lago, yes, I agree that perhaps my MO will have me go off because of my low risk. I also had low oncotype score. I'm just a little worried because it's ILC which is the tricky little devil but if I'm satisfied with his answers I will definitely stop. Maybe then I'll be able to drop some weight and have more motivation to do more than plop in my lounge chair every night!
Hang in there everyone.
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Hi girls, glad to see so many of you are still posting - although this chat about shingles is making me itchy all over.... I had poison ivy 3 years ago and it was awful - I can't even imagine how bad shingles are, don't want to know either. So how is everyone doing? I see most of you still have achy joints -so do I (been on Arimidex for 1 year now and I have also gained some weight but mostly it turned to pudding and I look so round, so all around!!!! I finally joined the gym and started to go app 4 times a week but this weekend I fell off a step and landed flat on both knees and elbows - no exercise for awhile... at least I didn't break anything but - This sucks....Take care girls...and keep well
)
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HI 5LuvBugs! Good to see you. So far still doing 5 years but I see my onc next week. She's going to have a hard time convincing me to do more. Right now I feel it is going to do more harm than benefit.
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smokes but I wrote a big post and lost it..........grrr
Sorry luv about your fall! I try to be so careful not to fall as had some vertigo issues a while back so I work on my balance at the gym all the time! great that you joined a gym, I create my gym time in keeping the achies to a minimum.
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OK update on Osteoporosis treatment. I saw a rheumatologist today because the endocrinologist I felt brushed me off. Well my feelings were correct. The rheumatologist feels I should try Fosamax first even though I have a history of acid reflux. She said not all her patients with that history have problems. She also told me that I shouldn't be lifting (strength training) more than 5lbs over my head! I shouldn't be doing crunches and avoid bending my spine. I'm not sure if I want to do that. I use 5, 7 and 10lb weights but mostly 7. She said to stick to 5! No crunches... then my back will bother me. Not happy and not sure if I'm willing to give up crunches.
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lago, sorry for your issue. I have a personal trainer who is working on his PHD in therapy for cancer survivors....I turned to him a while back as I was doing weights like I used before treatment but now was getting arm pains...I do have LE on my dang side. He worked with me and kept me on very low weights and now not a problem.
if It was me, I would back off on some of your weights, you really do not want to break a bone....sorry
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proudtospin the problem with not doing the core exercises is I will then have back problems and be in pain. This is bullshit. I feel this should have been adressed when I was osteopenic.
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I understand but still suggesting to have a trainer therapist help you figure things out
it is really hard to find trained folks who know what they are doing in this area
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lago, might it be of benefit if you do more reps with the 5 lb wts instead of upping the weight? Also, I read/heard/? that crunches were over-rated. Or maybe because I don't like to do them I imagined that! Are you doing them on your own or at the gym? My gym has wonderful equipment to work the core and strengthen the back.
5LuvBugs - ouch! I slipped on my steps at home last week and, thankfully, was able to catch myself as I slid down about 3 steps. Only hurt my feelings but definitely could have broken my leg or hip. Slippers on carpeted steps is an accident waiting.
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I can use resistance bands for upper body. I'm not as upset about that. I do all of these at home. I know that there are leg lifts I do that help with some of my core. She did seem to indicate that doing side to side was OK but I need to check... and I do these with 10lb weights in each hand but never found them all that challenging... well actually crunches aren't all that challenging either but I was getting results.
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If it doesn't feel like it is too much, then I don't know why it should be a problem (of course, I am in no way at all a medical expert!!!).
Would yoga and/or pilates be good things to add to the mix? Both are gentle but great for the core.
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ruth it has to do with bending the spine forward in a curved motion. Even bending to touch toes is a no no although I haven't been able to do that in decades.
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Well, Lago,my PT said there are better ab exercises than crunches. She had me do one where you put your legs in the air and just wiggle your feet. I'm happy to pass it on, but I prefer crunches. I do understand about the stress on the spine, but isn't that also what keeps it strong(ish)? Or is the compression a whole different process?Today just happens to be my one-year anniversary on arimidex (generic version). For the most part, it's been OK and my onc assures me that within the next six months the side effects (hip pain, mostly, but generalized stiffness as well) will subside considerably. Four more years looks pretty doable from here, and, as of now, the onc is inclined toward five and done.
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Brookside I posted this response in another thread but it seems to answer your question. The concern is that the spine will break because it is not as strong if it bends.
She showed me a model that looked very much like the illustration
below. You can see how the osteoporatic spine would be more at risk for
breaking if it were bending or had more weight on it since the structure becomes more thread-like. :
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lago - good illustration. Don'tcha wish they could just inject something in there to fill in the gaps? I experienced back pain for a full year a while back. And, while it wasn't caused by osteoporosis (and magically resolved itself just prior to BC diagnosis), I can certainly sympathize with the frustration of the pain and lack of mobility you experience on a daily basis.
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sweetandspecial I don't lack mobility nor is the pain in my back all that bad... it is my doctor that is recommending I don't do these exercises and I know from 10 years ago that if I don't have a strong core I will have back pain. I just want to do what I have always done to stay healthy and pain free but now I have to worry about breaking my spine if I do this. My doctor just shrugged when I experessed my concern.
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Could you see someone else with a more sports medicine background? It seems like your doctor does not 'get' where you are coming from.
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ruthbru I do think my MD gets it but doesn't know what to tell me to do. Right now more doctor visits are not in my budget. Still need to pay for this one, the endocrinologist (who charged a fortune for nothing IMO) as well as appointments next week: Onc, Gastroenterologist, Ophthalmologist and gyno next month. I have a high deductible so this is killing me. Shingles shot still on hold too.
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