stage 1 breast cancer need support and help please !!

Hi lifeisprecious, and welcome to BCO.

In the main Breastcancer.org site information about Armidex (chemical name anastrozole), both nausea and vomiting are listed among the common side effects. 

Hi Lifeisprecious. I'm a year ahead of your mother in her treatment. Already been on Arimidex for 3 years and have to say your mums nausea and armpit pain doesnt sound like arimidex s/e's to me simply because she's been on it for 2 years already and hasnt had them in the past. I just wouldnt have thought those 2 would pop out of the blue after she's been having the meds for so long already. Thats probably why the oncologist isnt concerned at the moment.

Your mum may well have picked up an intestinal bug or food poisoning and I would urge her to go to her gp and get some blood tests, stool tests etc. Had a friend recently who had severe undiagnosed food poisoning go on for 6 weeks before her dr finally authorised a stool test, she was diagnosed with salmonella and cured pretty quickly with the correct meds. Her lymphs may be swollen in her arms and perhaps her neck if she's fighting an infection so that could explain the armpit pain, but Im not a dr and dont know for sure.

I cant guarantee its not a s/e or a recurrance ( I know thats what your concerned about as we all are when something pops up that is unusual after our dx's), but before you really start worrying, get her to a gp and get some tests happening and if the tests come back negative, and she's still sick, it could be time to get back onto the oncologist and request mri's and scans.

Hope your mum feels better soon and that it is just something simple that is easily cured with some pills. 

lifeisprecious - Sorry you're both going through this.  I agree that if she's been on Arimidex for several years it would be strange that it would suddenly be making your mom nauseated...but, nothing is impossible.  After being diagnosed with breast cancer and going through treatment we naturally are on high alert and often our minds naturally go there when any problem crops up.  If just her armpit on the cancer side was sore I would think that would be more concerning that both being sore.  As someone else mentioned, could just be temporarily swollen glands from an infection or something else going on.  I suggest you not let your mind jump to the worst case scenario that her recent illness is caused by her breast cancer or the medication, that seems pretty unlikely.

Since her oncologist doesn't seem concerned your mom could see her primary MD or even go back to the breast surgeon to have the arm pain checked out.

Hang in there and try not to worry!!!

I sure hope so mate, seeing as Im stage 1b with lymph involvement . With luck I will get the all clear again in December which will make it 4 years since dx with no signs of further cancer. There are never any guarantees of course, but in the lottery of life, theres no reason we cant live to be 90 and equally we could be dx with something else tomorrow or get hit by a bus or trip and break a toe. You and your mum cant live your lives worrying about what might happen at some nebulous time in the future, specially as the worst may never happen.

Its been 2 weeks, is your mum still nauseated and having the armpit pain? Has she seen more doctors yet?