How Long Did Arimidex Work for Stage 4?

CamilleL

I have been on Arimidex for 7 months, stage 4 from the get go with a small met in the lung and a rather large met on the pancreas.  Initially (Jan. 2011) the tumor on the pancreas was thought to be a primary with a metastasis to the lung, but in May they discovered ILC, highly estrogen receptive.  Everything has been stable and I've had no cancer symptoms, but my recent CT scan showed that, although the mets still haven't grown at all, there is a tiny new nodule in the lung (less than 1/4").  My oncologist says I should stay on Arimidex and I'll get another scan in two months.  This is the only standard treatment I've had, but am doing a lot of adjunct treatment with integrative medical doctors as well. Wondering how long others who are stage 4 have been on Arimidex without progression and any ideas why this new nodule doesn't suggest the Arimidex is no longer working. 

chrissyb

Hi Camille, your doc is probably watching to see if the new nodule grows.  It's possible that it has been there all along but too small to see or measure as sometimes happens so he's just making sure before possibly changing your meds.  As with all the meds given when stage IV, sometimes they work for a long time sometimes they work for a little and sometimes they don't work at all.  For me, Arimidex worked for eighteen months before I had a progression and really bad SE's so was changed to Femara which has been fine so far and I have been on it for fourteen months now.

Good luck!

Love n hugs.  Chrissy