For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Absolutely. From what they said, there is no scatter and even if there were, the rads would just laugh at a little lead shield. The guy was pretty clear that I didn't want or need a three-foot concrete shield. Once that was cleared up, I was way more worried about my very fair, very delicate skin, which, as it turns out, did just fine. Again, don't worry, but also don't hesitate to give your RO or their head tech a call and get clarification.
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I was just curious. I finished rads a couple yrs ago, they refused the shield. I went forward without. All the time thinking I should have insisted. I now have cough issues that are subsiding two yrs later.
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IamNancy, it seems de Quervain's tenosynovitis is a known side effect of Arimidex. They will try the corticosteroid injections on me next.
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sweetandspecial - I am 63 and I forget how long ago I started with the injections - I think it was about 5-6 yrs ago..I suffered with the pain as long as I could before going for the injections ..once I did, I couldn't believe the relief! I was getting them about every 6 months - I always waited till I couldn't stand the pain. My doctor told me if I'd get the surgery, I'd never have the pain again but I am not sure I'm ready for surgery. The whole time I was going through chemo and radiation I never had the thumb pain, how weird is that? Now its back with a vengeance and even the injection hurt..and it took at least a week before I got relief..if it happens like that again, I might be ready for surgery.
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I've had/have deQuevain's tendonitis in both hands/wrists, but I can't blame it on the AI as I had it 3-5 years before the breast cancer diagnosis.
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I had trigger thumb, wasn't going to put up with it. Got the shot, been a year now it's still ok.
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iamnancy - I have a friend at church who had the surgery on one hand and while it was a long recovery she is very happy with the results. I'm with you, though, I'm not sure I'm ready to voluntarily give up the use of one of my hands for weeks and weeks. Not yet, anyway. I'll probably give the shots a try at some point when I have a bad day and decide I'm just too effing sick of dealing with it. Thanks for the info!
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Started Arimidex in Feb 2009 so I've passed the 5-year mark. Saw MO for 6-month follow-up today and really thought, from his past comments, that I would be done - Nope! Another 2 years. Guess he read the studies that came out this past year(?) about 7-10 years. He says since I had low Oncotype score (11), no chemo and few SE's probably good idea to continue. I really thought he was going to let me stop.
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Man, it is weird (and disturbing) how all-over-the-place doctors are on this. Just today I was talking to a Stage IIb friend who just finished her 5 years. Her doctor never even mentioned the possibility of continuing.
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ruthbru my MO never mentioned it but my MO's NP mentioned that it was a possibility last year. Will find out what they say tomorrow but they are going to have a hard time convincing me to stay on it. (Note I too am at IIB but I do believe the HER2+ so far doesn't show any benefit in more years... probably because when we reoccur it's usually in the first 5 years even more than those who aren't HER2+. But that is just my hypothosis. I don't know if this is true).
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Well, no studies have yet said that it DOES reduce recurrence risk beyond 5 years. Another friend's doctor commented to her that if studies were leaning that way, it would have been leaked out by now. I was very glad to do the 5 years, but it would take some pretty heavy evidence for me to ever think of going back on.
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This will be posted on several threads so sorry if you see it more than once:
Good news
at the onc today. I had them measure me because one
place says I'm 5' 5.5" another place 5' 5" and a 3rd place has said I'm
either one depending on who is measuring. At the chemo place it needs to
be accurate because your chemo is based on height/weight (to calculate
skin surface area). I'm 5' 6"! I did not lose any height!I talked to my onc about 5 more years after I finish this 5. She said she is still waiting to see the study results. At that point we will see if its something I should consider. I told her no way given that I now have osteoporosis and who knows what else this drug is doing to me. She said her recommendation will depend on how much benefit.
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Great news about magically gaining that half inch back Lago! I hope when the time comes your MO can tell you no more Arimidex!
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I will be starting Arimidex after I return from vacation the first week in May. I have concerns about SE, but my major concern is high cholesterol. I had a test last fall and it came up high. My regular doctor said we would redo the test in May. I'm trying to decide if I should delay beginning Arimidex until after my May 22 appointment.
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I would get started on it. My doctor wanted me on it the DAY after I was done with radiation.
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I'd say go ahead and start the med, so you have some familiarity with it when you see your doc. You might ask him/her to retest your cholesterol after you've been on it a few months. S/he will know whether this should be three months out, six months, or a year. We (me!) tend to pick and choose which side effects we think we're most vulnerable too, and how quickly, and how strongly, they will affect us, but the docs know a wait and see approach can hold some very nice surprises.
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My oncologist gave me a few weeks for a much needed vacation before she said to start Arimidex. She didn't want me to be hundreds of miles away from home in case I did get a reaction. I have a lot of allergies and some of the inactive ingredients in medications can cause me a severe reaction. Thanks for the information. I will begin Arimidex when I return which will be three weeks before I see my internal medicine doctor regarding cholesterol. I guess my cholesterol wouldn't go up in that short of timeframe, and you are correct in saying she would know best. This is all scary stuff, but breast cancer reoccurrence is even worse.
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Does this sound right? Insurance WILL cover yearly DEXA scans if a patient is in full-blown osteoporosis and NOT taking a bone-building drug, but they will NOT cover it every year if a patient IS on a bone-building drug? I just received a call that the scan my MO ordered and which is scheduled for next week has been denied by my insurance because I am Fosamax. I went from baseline osteopenia in the lumbar spine prior to Arimidex to full-blown osteoporosis with "moderate increased risk for non-traumatic fracture of the lumbar spine" after two years. I don't like assuming that the changes made in the past year (Fosamax, decrease in calcium and Vit D supplements by my docs due to warnings on supplements, and changes in my activities and exercise program) are leading me in the right direction and I'm uncomfortable waiting another year for an update.
Has anyone successfully challenged this with their insurer? I'm waiting to hear back from my MO, but so far I've been told that the first appeal was denied. Suck it up and pay out of pocket???
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TinaT my Rhuematologist told me that it takes about 2 years to see if the Fosamax is working. I have been getting scans every year due to osteopenia, on Arimidex and family history as well as many other risk factors. I haven't had one ordered this year but my Rhuematologist doesn't seem to think I should get on till a year from this October. What insurance do you have. I have Aetna.
Typically they recommend scanning every 2 years because you don't lose that much each year. Granted I dropped from -2.3 to -2.6 in one year... but they don't think that's a lot.
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Hi lago - My insurance is administered by UMR. I'm not expecting a dramatic turnaround in the bone density, but since my MO ordered the scan to be done this year I've been anticipating at least the reassurance that it hasn't continued to get worse. For me there have been quality of life changes made because of the osteoporosis and I'd just like reassurance that it's not all for naught. Have had my calcium and Vit D doses reduced and also have had to quit dairy as a trial for allergies so it's been a little more difficult to get the dietary calcium. Exercising daily, but not doing everything I'd like to do the way I'd like to do it. On more GI meds due to the Fosamax and one of the side effects of the GI med is bone loss. Argh! It was just kind of a surprise to get this news within a few days of having the scan and as I'm gearing up for my next MO appointment.
I try to go with the flow with most things, but it hasn't been as easy these past few years to switch gears when it comes to my health. I feel like I have to be on guard all the time even though I really do have a great healthcare team looking after me. I had a very bad "fall through the cracks" medical experience a few years back with a different group of doctors and I will deal with the medical consequences of that for the rest of my life. I've done really well with my BC by listening to my gut and asking questions if things don't sound right. I've learned not to assume anything and it's been working better that way
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Call your MO and ask him to code it a different way and resubmit it. If he/she feels it is important, there should be a way to get it paid for by insurance.
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ruthbru - I sent an email to my MO a few days back and already put in a followup phone call today. Thanks to you and lago and so many others on these boards for your sage advice and support!!! I'm not able to keep up here as much as I used to, but I always read through "my" threads even if I don't always have time to write.
You are all in my thoughts...thanks again!
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Good, keep on them!
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Seems I remember seeing a bill for my DEXA, wasn't all that expensive compared to some of the tests. Maybe around $200?
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News Flash!
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Spookiesmom - Thanks! I was quoted $380 today. Waiting to hear back from MO's office.
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Ruth,
Now only if chcolate had as few calories as salad w/o dressing.
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But then it would taste like salad without dressing......but by that reasoning, coffee would be a no calorie vegetable option
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this gets better and better! course, good thing for me that my scale broke....I probably don't need to replace it~~
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ooooh, I like this, guess I really do not need to replace my broken scale?
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