Life on aromasin

corky60

One other thing: Is Aromasin considered to be chemotherapy?  On the package inserts with my prescription there is a warning to avoid coming into contact with my own body fluids.  Caregivers have to wear rubber gloves, etc.  Wash soiled laundry and linens separately from other laundry.

My MO never said anything to me about this.

corky60

Marianne, a beautiful bouquet of prayers and warm thought are coming your way.

pupmom

Corky, I have NEVER heard anything about that! I have never done any of those things, never avoided coming into my bodily fluids, and neither has anybody else I have ever talked with. But, if that is on your insert you definitely should ask your MO and/or pharmacist about what's going on. Oh, and Aromasin is not chemo.

corky60

I see my MO on Monday so I will try to remember to ask her.

Chinneymae

Corky, I've never heard of that either. There are Chemo pills, but the AIs are not Chemo pills. They are Hormone drugs that inhibit estrogen. Estrogen is what some breast cancers need to grow. Like Yorkie said, I would definitely ask my MO about this.

proudtospin

I think it might be as the aromasin is used at times in combo with chemo meds

seems that way to me when you read folks tag lines

camillegal

Marianne,it's funny all these people mentioned that didn't have chemo or rads--My mom had BMX  with no chemo or rads or meds--lived another 50 yrs, my aunt had one breast taken no chemo, rads ormeds in her 50's lived another 35 yrs., my other aunt had tumor take out she was in her late 70's no nothing she lived til almost 90 and died of a heart attack--I don't have a clue what any answers are, but I do know we're always looking over our shoulder and most of the time never feel good and my family felt fine??????I'm not saying not to do chemo or rads I've done all of it but I look back and think why did they feel fine and that was the end of it. I just get curious.

dogsandjogs

I had my first cancer in 1982, had a mastectomy and 17 nodes taken. No other treatment. 28 years later I found a NEW cancer in the other breast.

So now, no recurrence in 31 years - of course it could still happen, but chances are good that it won't after all those years.

Chinneymae

I had a small tumor, but chose to have double mastectomy instead of lumpectomy and rads. I see too many recurrences and I didn't want to go through this again if at all possible. My MO recommended chemo, but I refused. I had no nodes involved so I said no to chemo. I am trying the AIs but if SEs get too bad I'm stopping those as well.

corky60

Here's another Aromasin fact.  It contains methylparaben as an inactive ingredient.  And the generic version by Greenstone contains the exact same ingredients as the name brand by Pfizer, so the Exemestane too has methylparaben.  Aren't we supposed to avoid parabens?  Sheesh.

pupmom

Another question for your oncologist! 

Ginger48

Corky60- interesting questions; be sure to come back and tell us what your onc says.

camillegal

Corky that question got to me too so don't forget to ask it. I know parabens are in lots of skin products but I never thoight mch about in foods and now meds actually. And they are not considered cancer friendly (goofy choice of words) but u know what I mean so u are assigned to find out.

corky60

I sure hope I can remember to bring the paperwork with the info on this.

I have only been on this drug for four weeks and when my husband read the list of SEs he asked me to stop taking this.  My naturopath says there are supplements known in the naturopathic community that I could take instead.  I have started sprouting my own broccoli seeds.  Now that's crazy but those little things are supposed to be very healthy.  And I now eat raw garlic with olive oil.  That definitely qualifies as crazy, lol.  This is after reading the book "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schreiber.  I got it from the library and copied a food chart from it.

My SEs so far from Aromasin are occasional joint pain, unpredictable hot flashes, dryness you-know-where, fatigue and bad, bad insomnia.  I am also treating a diastasis recti, Achilles bursitis and tendonitis and am prone to small bowel obstruction.  But these other things started prior to introducing the little white pill into my life.  Main job right now seems to be coping while having a life.  Adapting to the new reality, this new body.  The new normal so to speak.  And my stat said 100% ER+ so estrogen is not my friend.  And here I wanted it to be my BFF....

pupmom

Corky, unfortunately, you seem to be one of the 20% taking Aromasin, who experience bad SEs. 80% have few to no SEs. Eating well is always a good idea. Not crazy at all! It of course is your decision whether to continue the drug or move on to alternative treatments. Best wishes whatever course you take.

Chinneymae

corky: If you get to the point you can't tolerate it anymore, check out DIM. I am considering that as well.

corky60

Thanks, I will consider DIM.

The thing is I don't consider the SEs to be bad because they are not constant except for the insomnia.  I have fibromyalgia so I am used to a life of pain.  I have to differentiate that pain from the Aromasin pain.  Pain at 4/10 is tolerable.  When it gets to a 5 then I get antsy.  I know pain can cause BP to rise so that has to be considered too.  My goal is to stay on this pill for three months and then do a re-evaluation.  In the meantime raw garlic is my new BFF...

camillegal

Good Luck Corky and keep up with the garlic and it will be u'r only BFF. (I"m tesing u)

corky60

Cami you are so funny!  Thanks for the laugh.

ohio4me

So - I had a hysterectomy in 2005 -  nothing cancer related. In 2011 I get breast cancer and start my journey with AI's and chemo. I have been on Aromasin since April 2012 and, outside of the knee pain, have tolerated any side effects that come my way.

Now... in the past 2-3 weeks HOT FLASHES has started. I mean the kind where I want to rip my clothes off even if I am standing in Starbucks, where my brow and body are beading with sweat. Oh - and my lymphedema are goes crazy when a hot flash occurs!

Just a new side effect? Probably. It's life.

corky60

How interesting! Are you now at the age when hot flashes would have started anyway if you hadn't had a hysterectomy? Not that it should matter. There's just no figuring these things out sometimes.

corky60

Here's an update.   I saw my MO today.  She said that the warning about Aromasin being chemotherapy is a mistake, that it is not chemotherapy.  And she said that the amount of methylparaben in the little while pill is so minscule that it shouldn't be a problem.  I agreed to try to stay on it until the end of year.  I am taking it one day at a time.

proudtospin

Corky, sounds like your doc is good at explaining things

thanks for the update, we do all get over the top nervous about stuff...

camillegal

Thanks Corky.

Ohio u know I know nothing, but to me as time goes on more SE's occur, just my experience.

Ariella

After taking Aromasin for five years, my oncologist told me that I did not have to take it anymore.  It has been two weeks since I stopped taking Aromasin and now I am extremely tired.  Has anyone had a similar experience?

camillegal

Hi Ariella, I don't know who has gotten off of it as far as the 5 yrs go--but It's great u did it. But I do know it takes a while to get out of u'r system so, if that helps.

ohio4me

Camillegal - yes, I am menopause age - pushing 60. I was surprised I didn't get hot flashes after a complete hyster - I was lucky.

I totally agree that every day is a new day with possible new SE's.

Whatever - - - - just enjoying each day and loving life. I may cause a stir if I rip my clothes off in publice! maybe I need to invest in those emergency icy thinks for sprains, etc. Just break open a packet of cold stuff and put it on my neck or brow to cool off. That would be too funny.

corky60

I forgot to say that I've lost five pounds in the six weeks since I had last seen my MO.  I have heard so much about AIs causing weight gain.  As someone who needs to lose not gain I have been trying to be observant of what I put in my mouth.

proudtospin

congrats on the weight loss, yeap the dang fork in the mouth will get you all the time

I have not gained on AL but then again, not lost so sticking where I am at

ohio4me

I would love to lose but re-gained everything I lost during chemo and rads. Argh..