Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 07:46AM - edited Nov 15, 2017 02:07PM by moderators
Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 07:46AM - edited Nov 15, 2017 02:07PM by moderators
nancyjac wrote:
I found a couple of older threads about Arimidex, but they covered a large time span with a gazillion posts, so I thought I would start a new thread for Arimidex/Anastrozole users.
I am starting on Anastrozole today. Plan is to take it for 5 years, possibly longer. I already have osteopenia and osteoarthritis (limited to one knee at this point), so I am most concerned about the bone and joint side effects. I'm already frustrated by finally having some energy and stamina back after chemo and radiation, but now I have trouble exercising due to the bum knee. I'm concerned about that getting to be even more of a problem on the Anastrozole.
Please share you experiences, side effects, questions etc. about Armidex/Anastrozole here.
Edited by Mods to add content from the main Breastcancer.org site on Arimidex: Benefits, Side Effects and More
Jul 15, 2012 07:07PM Lee7 wrote:
I think I'll try arimidex for lunch and see what happens...I see my Med Onc later this summer and I may ask to try another AI. It sounds like just switching has helped a lot of women. Doesn't Aromasin works a little differently than the other two AI's?.
Jul 15, 2012 07:19PM nancyjac wrote:
I have some Prilosec left over from chemo. I didn't have nausea with chemo but I did get indigestion a lot. I haven't taken any since I started radiation and haven't really needed it. Haven't had any more nausea since this morning and even then it was very slight and only lasted for a few minutes.
Jul 15, 2012 11:20PM Trisha-Anne wrote:
Mini1 - then I hope I'm like you and have no se's on Aromasin. Interestingly though my bone density showed I had the bones of a 17 year old - a healthy well boned 17 year old lol.
Trish
Jul 16, 2012 10:44AM Mini1 wrote:
Trisha - my bone density showed I have bones worse than my 82 year old mother-in-law. 
I have found probiotics to work much better on my stomach than Rx meds. If you do dairy, kefir in drink form is good. It's in the dairy case with the yogurt. It comes in many flavors and have more probiotics than yogurt and supplements.
I hope you have good results with Aromasin too! If not, I believe there is one other you can try. Good Luck!
Jul 16, 2012 06:49PM - edited Jul 20, 2012 10:21AM by vacationbound
I have been doing extensive research on this very subject as I am ERPR + and I just had my Hysterectomy to rid my body of my estrogen as my Tamoxifen failed and started to cause Uterine Cancer as a result. The Onc wants me to take Arimidex, which is an aromatase inhibitor and will benefit you as well. Dropping the weight too will help as estrogen hides out in the adipose tissue's and this is my next plan of attack as my ER assay show's that I was a 99% estrogen status. If you have any type of cancer that is ER driven, the priority would be to rid your body of as much production as possible. The only bad thing about any AI is it cause's bone loss from lack of estrogen so taking Strontium or a calcium plan of mag, pot, Vit D and calcium glucarate will decrease the bone loss activity.Jul 17, 2012 10:46AM Allagashmaggie wrote:
Thank you nancyjac for starting this new thread on hormone blocking therapy. The other one was becoming somewhat overwhelming. I have been on Arimidex for almost 3 months now. At first I noticed some aching knees and my thumbs ache but for the most part, the joint pain is minimal. My tumor was 95% estrogen receptive which surprised me as I had a complete hysterectomy 10 years ago, plus I have always been thin. The breast surgeon told me I get estrogen in other ways, through fat and food. The one side effect that I have experienced that I don't see mentioned by others is tender breast, particulary in my good one. The literature I got on mine said that was a side effect but with my upcoming 6-month mammogram next week, I am getting anxious. Just in the last two days I have switched to decaf coffee (only drink 2 cups a day anyway) and I think I may notice a difference. I may have some enhanced fibromylagia pain in my right shoulder too but this is something I have lived with for years. Still......we cannot take these aches and pains for granted anymore. So now I need to get my butt off this computer chair and go for a walk. I find walking and being on the move does indeed help. Good luck one and all, Allagashmaggie
Jul 17, 2012 12:38PM nancyjac wrote:
A couple of people have mentioned that they ER+ even though they post menopausal, post hysterectomy, not overweight, etc. According to my MO, none of that has anything to do with being ER+. The measure of ER+ (i.e. % receptive) is the number of cells in the sample that had estogen receptors. It is based on the structure of those cells and is not affected by whether or how much estogen is available to those cells.
Jul 17, 2012 12:54PM exbrnxgrl wrote:
Nancyjac,
That is exactly how my mo explained it to me. It has nothing to do with having estrogen in your body. It is the estrogen receptivity of your tumor cells. Caryn
Jul 17, 2012 01:45PM blessings2011 wrote:
Yeah, I tried that "I don't have any estrogen in my body!" argument with my MO....it didn't work.....
Still in reprieve from starting the Anastrozole, but that's only gonna last another month or so, I think....
Jul 17, 2012 02:15PM SusannahW wrote:
I agree with Maggie, thank you for starting this thread nancyjac, and thank you for the encouraging report Maggie. I know that caffeine can make your breasts tender, hoping that's all it is.
Susannah
