Arimidex success stories??

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oaklandmama
oaklandmama Member Posts: 24
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
Hi Ladies-
Im a 38 year old mother of 2 young kids and scared of what Arimidex will do to my youthful, active energy level and body.

After being diagnosed with a 6 cm, ER+/PR+, stage IIIc tumor in Nov 2010, Ive undergone a BMX with reconstruction, 6 months of A/C and Taxol chemotherapy (last one this week!!!) and will have my ovaries out on July 5th (I have BRCA 2). Then I will do daily rads for 6 weeks and finally begin Arimidex which I have been recommended to take for 5 years.

I am very anxious about the side effects of Arimidex because I have found nothing but horror stories online. I've read about severe joint pain, chronic fatigue, bone loss, cartilage loss, tooth decay, and depression. Can any of you shed some light on this subject? Most reports I have read are by the 50year old and over crowd. How many of you had an oophorectomy and are on Arimidex? How is it going for you? Have any of you finished 5 years yet?

Desperate for positive stories....Tell me something good!
Thanks for reading
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Comments

  • gardenbird
    gardenbird Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2011

    Hi, I have been on Arimidex for 2.5 years.  Initially i had some bone pain, but now I have hardly any side effects - great energy, in fact feeling quite normal.  I really hope you will be the same.  By the way I am 55, so maybe getting a bit creaky anyway.  Wishing you the very best of luck, you have done everything to be well.

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  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited June 2011

    My best friend (who is 66) has been on Arimidex for over five years and has NO se's - NONE.

    Sandy

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    I started Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) March 1st. No SE that I can see. Even my hot flashes (very mild at night only) that I had on chemo are now gone. I turned 50 right after I ended chemo.

    Remember more people will post about negative SE than post about feeling great. I was scared to start this drug because of what I read. I finally realized that if it were that bad I could always stop. I would never know unless I tried. I also heard that many of the SE go away or are reduced after the first 3 months.

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  • alex56
    alex56 Member Posts: 136
    edited June 2011

    I was started on Arimidex after my mastectomy, radiation and hysterectomy last year.  No side effects to speak of and my tumor markers have been under 30 for many months.  I plan to stay on it as long as it's effective.  I also take effexor to squash the hot flashes and ease the mood swings, and that has been wonderful as well.  I'm doing core strengthening exercises and feel better than I have in years.  You're going through a rough process and some days will be bad, no doubt about it, but give yourself permission to use every weapon available to live your life.  Don't be afraid of the meds, the right ones make the difference between misery and normalcy (or as close as we can get to it!)

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited June 2011

    Very, very minor ones.  Again, realize I am a lot older.  So a very slight metallic taste in my mouth, and a bit of achiness.  However, this morning, it's my butt I feel, and that is from the 35 miles of cycling I did yesterday training for the summer's major cycling events.

    I never have any achiness that ibuprofen doesn't correct.  The only meds I take are anastrazole, Vitamin D and calcium supplements, a multi, and aspirin.  I sleep fine.  My bone density is normal.  This is after year 1 of 5.

    The rest of my hair is growing in, so have a full hairline now, and will end up with the thick, lush hair I had prior to this experience.  My skin looks great once again.

    I think that getting a lot of exercise is critical here, and I eat a reasonable, but not perfect diet.

    So go ahead and try the med, if that is what is on the horizon for you.

    I also had six months of AC+T therapy and about the same amount of rads.  You need to know that I spent about 6 months of being about 95% and finally, about 11 months after my final zap, have my full energy back.  It's so great to finally be there.

    However, I worked, cycled, and skied throughout treatment and during the recovery period.

    Very, very critical for you to do hormonal therapy if you are ER+.  Good luck with everything. - Claire

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  • oaklandmama
    oaklandmama Member Posts: 24
    edited June 2011

    Thank you so much ladies for all your positive stories. They help tremendously and Im so glad I  asked for help from you because i feel a lot better now. Keep posting. Others needs to see this too!

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  • kerri72
    kerri72 Member Posts: 69
    edited June 2011

    Hi oaklandmama, I'm curious, did any doctors suggest you take Tamoxifen instead of Arimidex for the first few years, then switch over? I have a lot of similarities to you - I'm 38, BRCA2+ and had my ovaries out in November. My onc is recommending Tamoxifen for two years, then switching to an AI. I'm going to do some testing before I decide what to do, but I'm just curious if you've heard that recommendation.

    By the way, both my oophorectomy and rads were way easier than I thought they would be. Good luck with yours, and with your treatment in general!

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  • samedaynurseJan
    samedaynurseJan Member Posts: 192
    edited June 2011

    I too am a bit older but I have been on Arimidex for nearly 3 years and the side effects I have experienced IF ANY arent even worth talking about :)

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  • deborye
    deborye Member Posts: 7,002
    edited June 2011

    I have been on Arimidex for almost 4 years with very little SE.  Tylenol or Advil takes care of the aches.  It takes time for your body to get used to meds.  Follow your doctors advice please.

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  • jb34
    jb34 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2011

    I'm 35 years old and was diagnosed a year ago with ER+/PR+, stage II b tumor with lymph node involvement.  I went through chemo, radiation and surgery and I have been taking Arimidex since June.  First off, I feel like I am one of the only pre-menopausal people on this treatment!  Everything I read on young women with breast cancer mentions Tamoxifen.  I'm sure that this is because it is prescribed for post-menopausal women and I don't fall into this category.  Since I am pre-menopausal, I have to get Lupron injections once a month to put me into menopause in order for the Arimidex to work properly.  My Dr. recommended Arimidex since my cancer was ER and PR positive and Arimidex stops the estrogen production altogether.  I also have not ruled out having a baby and she said that Arimidex doesn't stay in your system as long as Tamoxifen does after you stop taking it. So far, I have had very minimal side effects.  I have a few hot flashes (could be due to the Lupron) which have been very insignificant.  I also have had some aches and pains but again, very minimal and they are relieved with Advil.  My main concern is that since I'm officially in menopause, this can lead to bone loss, which causes osteoporosis.  I feel like my bones crack a lot more when I walk or exercise but that could just be me over-analyzing!  I have been taking Vitamin D and Calcium so I'm hoping this will help.  All in all, my experience with Arimidex has been uneventful and there are days when I forget I even had cancer. 

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  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 2,163
    edited September 2011

    Hi I am a little bit older than you as well, I am in my mid 40's but I started out on Tamoxifen and was having terrible SE's from it and gaining weight after taking it for a year I talked my MO and together we decided to try Arimidex.  I have now been on it since March of this year.  The SE's from the Tamoxifen have all resolved and I haven't had any from the Arimidex.  I already had some mild arthritic pains from putting my body through all kinds of torment in jr. high and high school running and cheering, etc.  So that comes with the territory.  I just take some advil and for that anyway.  I hope all works out well for you.  FYI:  I am a nurse and I had heard stories about all the problems people had taking Arimidex and some of the others but you have to remember you are an individual and each person reacts to medications differently. 

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  • Kheng
    Kheng Member Posts: 26
    edited May 2014

    Dear Ms Oh

    Glad to hear that you completed 5 years of Arimidex 

    As your tumour grade is 3, you are wise to continue Arimidex despite the awful side effects like morning blues, dry eyes, insomnia, mood swing, stiff fingers, numbness of toes

    I take calcium with vitamin D3, glucosamine and lingzhi to fight loss of appetite

    Can you share about your diets

    Do you take soya products, milk, beef, mutton, seafood, pork and chicken?

    Do you abstain from deep-fried oily food, barbeque food, grilled food and foods rich in estrogen?

    Are you taking health supplement like lingzhi, barley green or  wheatgrass powder

    Do you do power walk 3 times a week for half an hour?

    Do you attend charismatic healing service and let the anointed gifted preacher pray for you?

    After you stop Arimidex, are you taking indole-3-carbinol as substitute insurance?

    Somebody known as optimistic traveller share that she don't eat deep-fried food, barbeque or grilled food, mutton or milk

    She take beef once a week and she is now 66 years old and is on her 9th year Arimidex with no side effects

    She is stage 3, grade 3 with lymph nodes removed but is very active

    She is still strong and travels a lot, that is why she has no side effects

    DX Aug 2011, ER+ Stage 3 Grade 3 ACX2 PACLITAXELX12 WEEKLY 19 Sept 2012 Arimidex

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