For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
-
My oncologist is saving chemo for last. I don't know why. It seems to me we need to seriously shrink these lymph nodes. However, I'm just going along with her now since I didn't do it her way in the beginning. Oh well. I'll just wait until after the PET scan Tuesday. By then the biopsy should be scheduled. I guess we just really need a lot more information at this point.
0 -
my MO put me on Venlafaxine when I took Tamoxifen, and it still works well for me with Arimidex. I take it with breakfast.
The only side effect I've noticed with Arimidex is insomnia. I am taking the pill at late afternoon and the sleeplessness is a lot better.
0 -
dunesleeper if the Aromasin is keeping your cancer at bay then there isn't any need to use anything else. Cancer mutate and build a resistance to treatment. That's why you don't want to use them all at once. If one treatment is working then great. When or if it stops then they will move onto something else. You might be on Aromasin for years and not need anything else for a long time.
0 -
Thank you lago. That's kind of what she said, but the reminder is good. I think I'm getting a little depressed about it all right now, but I guess that is to be expected, part of the course.
To whoever asked about my initial refusal of treatment. I didn't really want to talk about it but here goes. I come from a background of acupuncture. EVERYONE I know (or at least knew at the time) who got treatment died of the treatment. It didn't make sense to me to crash the immune system. Nothing about it made sense. I changed my diet, exercised, and lost a lot of weight. I stayed cancer-free for a while, and I don't know whether the things I did helped at all or not. I put that it failed so that others would know that. Since there is so little information out there for people like me who choose alternative, I was keeping a record so that there would be evidence. My experiment failed. HOWEVER, 2 major factors, in my opinion, screwed it up. First and foremost, my anxiety was out of control. My PCP retired and my new doctor screwed with my head about taking me off the xanax I have been on since 1981. My neighbor moved his girlfriend in and they were using meth and there was so much noise coming from the other side of that wall it was driving me crazy. I developed hyperacussis, which made the noises even more disturbing. Hurricane Sandy damaged my house, and because I had taken early retirement (because of a male boss who told me I had to watch my sick time -- of which I had a remaining >1000 hours of accrued time), I was bringing home barely enough to pay just the mortgage. I sold much of my stuff to get by. Then someone broke into my car -- a small thing, but it was piling up. I broke my wrist, and the bandage they put me in prohibited me from cutting up all that nice organic raw food or washing dishes or lots of things. None of my neighbors would help. Now .. . . I was really looking forward to becoming more involved in the neighborhood community association since I retired. I had done a lot to help my neighbors already. So I ended up having a nervous breakdown and being hospitalized for that. Afterwards I started the process of selling my house to move back with mom. I finally short-saled the house, so that got rid of that stress. Unfortunately, my mother thinks that organic food is a luxury. It is her house. She is a control-freak, especially in the kitchen. She insisted on making my food for me. So, I lost control of my diet. I hadn't touched candy or cookies for 2 years, but they are all over her house. Once I started, I haven't been able to stop. Cancer loves sugar.
Ultimately, I think it was the constant stress that brought the cancer back; but I can't know for sure.
I'm glad they aren't going for chemo right away, but these nodes hurt so bad. They get red and hot and make my neck very stiff. I was preparing everything for getting chemo (and dying from it). I got my mom's name on my bank account. I gave my brother my facebook logon information so he could inform my friends. I've been trying to get my desk area straightened up so things will be easier for my mother to find. There are still a few more things I need to do. I need to do this because I don't know what they will do when they see the PET scan results. I think it is in my bones and possibly my lungs. I basically think it is all through me. They say my liver enzymes look good, so maybe it isn't there yet.
End of life history.
0 -
dunsleeper, please don't ever feel pressured to share more than you want, here it's all about YOU and what we can do for YOU. Not the other way around, if in the process we are benefitted by your sharing as is often the case it is icing in the cake. As far as your "failed" experiment I wish you wouldn't blame yourself. I wouldn't call it a failure if it kept you cancer free for two years, that's about how long I was cancer free before developing mets. Another thing, chemo is not a death sentence! Neither is metastasis, I know it's hard to think positive since you've witnessed people dying from this disease and treatment, but I've read these threads (you might want to peruse the bone thread or the if you have questions about stage IV thread and be reassured that many of these women get to live 10, 16, even 20 years after diagnosis with stage IV. Sending ((((hugs)))) and thoughts for strength and well being.
Aurora
0 -
Thank you Aurora. I will do that. I think I'm just going through one of those phases we probably have to go through. I definitely plan on coming out the other side thinking and behaving positively. Gonna go burn some calories, then do some MLD, then shower now.
0 -
dunesleeper, What Aurora said. You can't look back. I know many who did treatment and got mets 2 years later. Stress… we all have it in our life. It really is a hard thing to control. Cancer needs many triggers. Like you I believe stress is one of them but in my case I just feel that was the final switch. I must have had other switches turned on too. You can only do what you can do at the time.
So don't look back. Look forward. Like Aurora says you do have a future. I remember meeting this local gal (from bc.org) after my 3rd chemo. She too was diagnosed about the same time as me but has mets. She is still alive and doing quite well enjoying watching her kids grow up.
0 -
Hi ladies, I'm new to this thread, but not new to cancer and the many treatments. I just finished rads on Thursday and I picked up my Arimedex yesterday, but am so afraid to take it. I did Tamoxifen for 5 years, starting 13 years ago and did pretty well except for the hair loss and hot flashes. Just finally got rid of hot flashes and hate to have them start again. I also have fibromyalgia and hate the thought of adding more pain on top of that. I know I have to start soon. Thanks for this thread and for letting me vent. Stephanie
0 -
Hey 3! I've been on this about a year and a half. I have fibro too, and don't think it's messed me up there. But we are all different. I started with the generic from India, had hot flashes. Was rx'd Effexor and that helped. Switched to the generic from Israel no hot flashes. A few warm flushes. Stopped the Effexor. Now the bone pain is back, may try tomoxafin.
0 -
3rdtime, lots of people who have done both find Arimidex much easier on them than Tamoxifin (one of my friends noticed especially that she had way less, and less severe, hot flashes), so hopefully that will be your experience as well.
Dune, hopefully the Arimidex will work for you (and for a LONG time!), but also know that they have really refined chemo to the patient (and have very effective anti-nausea drugs as well), so it is certainly NOT a death sentence & many people can carry on pretty much with their lives while on it (which was the case for me). For encouragement, I want to tell you about a friend of mine who 2 years ago was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. She did chemo for a year (working full time, being a mom, everything you do in 'normal life') with really no side effects (except losing her hair). I was amazed! When they would do scans every couple months, they could see the cancer shrinking, and at the end of that year, they found.....NOTHING. No evidence of disease! She has not had to do any treatments at all this whole last year (of course, she is monitored very closely), so in her case, chemo was a god-send!
0 -
Hello all I'm new to this thread I am suppose to start Arimidex today, but I have a three day weekend planned to go to Tahoe next weekend and don't want to deal with new SE..but was wondering if ayone knows if you get your hair back while on Arimidex, forgot to as my ONC. Okay thanks ladies.0 -
Yes, you get your hair back. The year I did treatments, I had my last chemo the first week of June, did rads until late August, started Arimidex the next day, and ditched the wig in December.
Just take it like you take any other pill/vitamin/supplement and go about your life. Don't anticipate that you will have bad SEs!
0 -
Thank you Ruth...Great attitude is what counts, right?0 -
Well said, Ruth! I have been on Arimidex for almost a year, and my hair is growing back. Not like it was.... Before chemo it was long, straight, and blonde. Now it's mostly black with a few grays, and CURLY! Lots of ladies get new hair that is entirely different than what fell out. It's interesting. I'm just glad to have some hair back, and the curls are kind of fun! Birdlady0 -
Hello all,
New to arimedex, just started yesterday. Did ok on 4 months of Tamoxifen. Reading thread now, hoping to avoid side effects if I can.
Vivian
0 -
Viv, you will be fine, stay positive and do try to exercise
0 -
Dune, I'm sorry if it bothered you if I asked. Please know I apologize for being nosey. I just know I fiddled with thoughts about "did I do too much?" "did I do enough?" since finishing chemo. It's so hard to know if you made the right choices. Don't blame yourself. You tried something and I think that is brave and a very personal choice.
Don't think chemo will kill you. It is not fun at all, but your MO won't give it to you if they think it will be that hard on you. My Dad was diagnosed with advanced adenoma 3 years ago. It was all through his body. We were there when his MO told him he wanted to put him in hospice and not treat him. He said he felt the first chemo treatment would probably kill him. So they know when they can and can't give treatment.
Many good wishes for the PET scan. Don't think the worst. And I love what Auroaya said, Stage IV is not a death sentence.
0 -
No problems Pbrain. I guess I was a little testy.
I will try not to think the worst. I look forward to knowing.0 -
birdlady222--this hair thing is so interesting! I did not have chemo but my hair has completely changed! I used to have dark blond, totally straight hair. Now I have light blond, very curly hair! All the perms I had in the past and all I needed was cancer!
I know that's not funny but I couldn't help myself...0 -
Dune----I don't think you screwed up with what you did either.. Actually, a lot of us adopted your eating regimine or are trying to do it now---so it is all good. and you should maintain what you can of that practice, probably.One of the biggest RULES I have is ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU THINK is RIGHT.......so you don't have regrets. And I think stress does play a role in cancer getting its toehold in us. I was killing myself trying to be a caregiver to both my parents the 2 years before I was diagnosed, then reeling from my mom's death and trying to care for my DAD.......missd meals, too much fast food, not sleeping, worry worry worry....... It takes a toll.....no doubt.
You hang tough, cause I think you got this. I'm going to PRAY HARD....
0 -
3rdtimenow----I have Fibro too, and the Arimidex hasn't made my pain worse... I have been doing walking almost every day to help with possible bone issues and had only a little pain where my toes come out of my foot, but it has passed. I did 2 months of the generic that is made by SUN (india manufactured) Then I called around and found the generic made by TEVA (Israel) at CVS and moved my script there. I have seen (in less than 30 days) a drop in the hot flashes with it, and I think my sleep has improved.
0 -
I am on anastrozole (6months so far), and the SE I am experiencing is a stiffness in my knee and foot joints. When I get up in the morning, it is difficult to walk to the bathroom. I do get exercise....I walk 90 minutes a day. Someone suggested vitamin B supplements which I am taking, but they don't seem to be doing much to address the problem. Is there anyone on this thread with similar problems? Any other suggestions?
0 -
I am a newbie to arimedex . I began to feel a bit nauseous , headachy and achy everywhere. Not sure if side effects or am coming down w something.
I already have neuropathy in hands and feet and stiff achy joints and muscles in leg plus tired from herceptin.
I feel stiff anytime I've been sleeping or sitting for awhile. In am I am trying to stretch in bed before getting up, just started.
V
0 -
Thimble and Vivian, give it some time. I was a mess at Christmas last year. I could barely climb the steps of the commuter trains in Philly. Now I'm a little stiff after sitting or sleeping. I have some warm flashes and some night sweats. But the massive stiffness and pain in my feet, hips, shoulders and legs has gone away. It took a little over 7 months to calm down, but it is gone now and I'm glad!
0 -
Thank you to all of the experienced ladies, for your replies, and to all the newbies, we can do this together. I will start tomorrow morning. Hugs, Stephanie
0 -
Thanks for the insight, Pbrain.....maybe there is hope at the end of this tunnel.
Naiviv, I noticed that you had a Diep reconstruction. I have a failed implant, and am trying to decide what my next move should be. What do you think of the Diep as opposed to the other forms of reconstruction?
0 -
Hi all. Just caught up on the last few pages so, Welcome, newbies to this next step. As someone who used to post often, JO-5 always said 'SE's are easier to combat then a new cancer' so try and hang in there and try all of your options as there are many.
I'm on Anastrozole now about 5-1/2 years (brand name then generic). Had bouts with carpal tunnel, went away; achy joints, gone for the most part. Had trigger thumb which was alleviated with a cortisone shot but it's back again. Trying to treat by immobilizing the finger from bending to give the painful bone time to rest. Also seem to flush now a few times a day and also get sleepy at the craziest times (10am; 6pm). Annual physical last week and labs show elevated cholesterol (known SE) and high blood sugar which concerns my doc re pre-diabetes. Good grief, I'm over 5 years in!!!! But, I'm still NED and will see my MO for 6-month check in 6-weeks and we'll take it from there.
0 -
I would say that it took about 6 months for my body to adjust to my estrogenless state.....and it was gradual, until one day it just dawned on me, "Hmmmm......I actually feel NORMAL today." If you keep moving, even when you are achy, it will really help a lot!
0 -
I had a lot of stiffness when not moving for an hour or more my first year as well as the duckwalk in the morning. Had some trigger fingers too. After the first year most of the stiffness went away except for the 30-60 second duckwalk when I first woke up and got out of bed in the morning.. I was also on Herceptin.
0 -
Thimble,
I have had a Diep ( left failed, right survived) and I just had a lat flap to left.
Thimble, the breast look and feel amazing after diep my lat flap still needs some work in phase 2. The DIEP recovery is tough but doable the lat flap is mostly upper body and back recovery. PM me if youd like to talk details. Also check both flap surgery threads, you will see a lot of opinions posted.
Vivian
0
