Arimidex side effects kicked in on day three

bobcat

I can't take tamoxifen because of the increased risk of blood clots which I have a history.  Also, post menopause does not prescribe tamox.  You can't win any way you look at it!!

BerkeleyKim

Hi all: Had my last Taxol chemo today!!! (4 AC and 12 weekly Taxols), and my onc sent me home with a rx for Armidex. I skimmed through some of your posts, and it looks like some of us do ok with it and for others the ses are awful. I did fine with the chemos, and I'm not going to borrow trouble right now. I'm 53 and hit menopause at 49 (have had hot flashes now for at least 7 years--was just about to ask for hormone therapy when my lump was found). I'm taking mega rx Vit D (was 25 before chemo, dropped to 20 during), and have slightly below average bone density.

Here's my question. I asked my onc if I should start this right away, and he said I could (a bit vague). I'm thinking of waiting til at least next Friday so that my mild Taxol aches and pains are all gone. Have any of you started Armidex right after chemo? If not, how long did you wait? It seems like the AI might be better at preventing recurrence than chemo. And I'm starting radiation in a couple weeks.

Thanks, all!!

bobcat

Kim - my onc had me wait one month post chemo before starting the arimidex so all those toxins were well on there way out of my body.  Tooth/jaw ache today is tremendous - that's depressing on it's own let alone being depressed!  Trying to look on the bright side because I am exercising and getting stronger each day.

BerkeleyKim

Bobcat--It makes sense to wait a bit. I'm going to confirm the timeline with my onc. He was ready to give my an rx when I met him right after my dx in Sept, then decided to wait! So he's very positive about the drug in my case.

The tooth and jaw ache sound terrible. I'm hoping to go on the bisphosphonates trial or just get Zometa prescribed. I'm also going to up my calcium dosage and try the glucosamine. I just want to be able to keep moving! It's scary.

Thanks, Kim

BonnieK

Hi,

I've been on Arimidex since mid-March and feel like my body is adjusting to it as time goes by.  After taking the Arimidex just a few days, my emotions were out of control and I felt like some sort of vile, alien being had taken over my already beat-up mind and body.  The wild emotions didn't last more than a few days, but I still have the occasional emotional meltdown.  I do have joint pain and stiffness, but had that pre-Arimidex too so don't know what to blame.  The hot flashes are annoying, but I can live with them for now.  My onc told me before I started Arimidex that, if the drug had too many SEs, he would switch me to Tamoxifen which offers almost the same protection from recurrence -- he said there was about a 3% statistical difference between the two drugs.  I'll stay on Arimidex as long as the SEs don't get worse and as long as my insurance continues to pay for most of the cost -- it is an EXPENSIVE drug! 

Bonnie 

kathimdgd

I'm not on arimidex,but am on aromasin.My oncologist also had me wait a month between the last chemo and the start of the aromasin.

Kathi

Laea

I have tried aromasin first then Arimidex. With both within a week I was having extreme dizzines when I laid my head on the pillow....like I had 5 drinks without out the fun! Then a migraine would hit with vomiting in about 30 minutes. Didn't complain about the muscle pain because I deal with fibromyaglia but now that I think about it.... Anyone else dealing with these kind of SE's I stopped and guess what?....no dizzines or migraines or vomiting. This is a recurance of bc for me. Lumpectomy in 1999 with rad. & tamoxifen. This time right mastecomy with recon. & aromsin....then arimidex....now what to do??

wwjd

I am on day 2 of Arimidex. I am supposed to take it for 3 months to see if tumors shrink and then surgery. What I wondered, is anyone on this board over 75?  I am 79 and I wondered if age might have anything to do with side effects. None for me so far, but I have joint pains, sometimes, and I am tired sometimes, and I feel depressed, sometimes, so if I have these symptoms, hopefully they will only be sometimes too?  wwjd

sheila5859

i was glad to find this posting. I too have been on aromasin and had surgery on both hands in less than a year. I starting to have back problems too. i quit mine about 3 monyhs ago and I haven't told my doctor. i was wondering if you started taking it again. I am leaving it up to pray and God. i had rather live a good 5 years than 10  yrs. in a bed someone taking care of me.

mmm5

Sheila

What type of back problems did you have from the AI?

I am suffering with back issues as well.

OctoG

Hi all,

I'm 82, and just started Arimidex (generic) a week ago, after lumpectomy. The margins were clean. I am Stage 1, Grade 2, ER+ PR+ and HER-. Hope I got the terminology right!

I felt good when this all started, and had no risk factors. Anyway, I've considered doing no adjunctive treatment. Is there any evidence that I will live longer with hormone treatment than without? Or is it the other way around?

Is there any woman on this forum who didn't do treatment?

Beesie

OctoG,

How large was your tumor? Did you have the Oncotype test done, and of so, what was the score? And lastly, did your Oncologist tell you your risk to develop a metastatic recurrence?

At your age, the need for endocrine therapy is certainly less compelling than it would be for someone younger. The benefit you will get from endocrine therapy depends on your risk of recurrence, and you do have to balance this benefit against the risks. At your age, the risk from the meds themselves are likely greater than they would be for someone younger.

My mother was diagnosed at age 80. She was Stage I with a 1cm tumor, grade 1, ER+/PR-/HER2-. She had a lumpectomy, a re-excision to achieve wider surgical margins, and nothing more. She's 94 now and has had no further breast issues.