LCIS - Arimidex side effects

KathyK59

Hello!

I would like to ask for any input on side effects that you may have experienced while on this drug. I know each person is different when it comes to side affects but would like to hear more on this forum regarding Arimidex. I am highly susceptible to all drug side effects. Do they last for the whole time (5 years) that a person is taking it? What other pills did the dr. offer to help with the side affects? I am 56 years old and have had fibrocystic breast disease since 1985. My gynocologist says that my blood work still shows I am peri-menopausal even though I haven't had a period since I had uterian fibroid embolization surgery a year ago. My mother passed away 2 years ago, at the age of 72, after a courageous 3 year battle with breast cancer. I have had 5 breast biopsies/cysts removed over the years with all of them coming back as benign. I was just diagnosed last week with LCIS. I went for my yearly mammogram and it showed calcifications that were not there previously. The dr. followed up with a needle biopsy that came back abnormal and then a wide incision biopsy. I met with an oncologist and he suggested I take Arimidex for 5 years. I can not take Tamoxifex because I had a TIA/mini-stroke 4 years ago. Thank you in advance for your reply.

Moderators

KathyK59, welcome to our Breastcancer.org community. You may also want to use our search button on the left and type in Arimidex to find other threads discussing it, and the side effects. Also, here is a page from our site that you may find helpful: Arimidex. People really have different experiences with side effects. Please keep us up to date about what you decide!

614

Dear Kathy:

You have to be menopausal to take Arimidex.  If you are perimenopausal then you should ask your doctor questions.  You may have to have a test to see whether you are menopausal.  If you are not in menopause then the doctor may have to suppress your ovaries.

I have been taking Arimidex for 1 year and 2 months and I do not have side effects.  I had to be medically induced into menopause to take the Arimidex.

Good luck to you.  I am sorry for the loss of your mom.

Bambijello

I was diagnosed in 2013 at age 52 with LCIS and was immediately put on Tamoxifen. After less than 2 years, I had developed so many uterine fibroids and polyps that my onc took me off of Tamoxifen and recommended that I have a hysterectomy. When my blood test came back as peri-menopausal, she recommended that I have my ovaries removed too because she couldn't prescribe alternate therapies until I'm menopausal. I had my hysterectomy and oophorectomy last week. I'll see my onc in 5 weeks to discuss next steps, but I'm worried about Arimidex too because osteoporosis runs in my family. Good Luck and I'll be following your post