I want to quit Aromasin

Sometimes you have to consider the quality of your life.  First I took Arimidex but after a year developed severe sores in my mouth and on my jaw.  Onc switched me to Aromasin. Lasted about a year & then developed bone aches and pains and bone density test  showed I had osteoporosis.   Onc said Aromasin & other AIs are hard on the bones. About 2 months ago I switched to Tamoxifen. The hot flashes are worse than what I had with Aromasin & I thought those were bad.  Seems like were in a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation. Frustrating!

I have stopped taking Arimidex for side effects listed below.  I have not told my family.  I was miserable on it.  I feel guilty and scared, but I have been off for about f2 1/2 months.

I suggest considering taking tamoxifen instead.  It has a different side effect profile and may be more tolerable for you while still providing very good protection against recurrence.  Its certainly better than nothing.

vickyb361 Have you spoken to your Onc?  Why not go back on Tamoxifen?

I too have taken a break as suggested by my Onc. and honestly it has been the best month I have had in a while.  You are right the side effects make this hard to deal with.  He has suggested I go on Tamox.  I am going to try it as being stage III I too don't want to put family, friends etc... thru another Cancer ordeal.  I am not willing to risk it.  I read something recently somewhere on the Internet by a doctor who said that patient compliance was much greater when the side effects were properly managed. 

Can you not talk to your Onc. and get him/her to help solve your issues?  AI's are hell.  I get the whole quality of life issue, trust me Arimidex and Aromasin have created a life for me that isn't fun, pain even with meds is very painful.  

Anyway (((((((((Big Hug)))))))) wishing you the best.  

S

I took AI's for 3 1/2 years and struggled the whole time.  Finally in mid March, my onc gave me a 2 month break....when I saw my onc a week ago, the first question he asked me was how ws I doing off the Aromasin...we talked about all the positives.....long story short, for now (and maybe for the long hall), I'm not going back on AI's.  QOL has to count for something.  I am 54; its been 4 years since Dx and my kids are 12, 21 and 24 (newly married).....I will write more later...Karen

I'm recovering from trigger finger surgery last week on three fingers, which I suddenly got after taking only three pills of Aromasin. (Typing's really hard with hand heavily bandaged.)  I had previously taken Arimidex which I couldn't tolerate after only a month.  Femara was better.  I lasted half a year on that one before feeling so arthritic and in such pain that I had to quit it.  Aromasin was far worse for me.

Some people do just fine on one or another of the aromatase inhibitors.  Some just live with the pain.  I don't have a great expectation of living more than a few more years and prefer to actually LIVE. 

to continue my previous post.......I did my best for 3 1/2 years to tolerate the AI's....I've tried all 3 as well as tamox....thanks to Arimidex I developed bilat CTS....had surgery on one hand and while waiting for the other hand went off AI's and tried tamox and low and behold the CTS went away....On Aromasin developed severe deQuervanes tendonitis and had surgery on both wrists....Thanks to AI's, joint pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, cognitive functioning issues, memory concerns and the list goes on.....I have now been off the AI's (Aromasin) and so many of the side effects are resolving or lessened.....Am I the same person as before BC....no, but I am better than when on the AI's.  Of course my onc would prefer that I go back on the AI's (or tamox) but he is supporting my decision to not take AI's at this point in time.  I am still on a 3 month schedule with my onc. I do not feel guilty at all about stopping AI's.....I know people who have recurred on AI's....so there is no guarantee....yes, they do increase disease free survival, but they do not guarantee it....For now, QOL is quite an important issue for me....I have given this a great deal of thought and I want to LIVE, not just go through the motions....I want to enjoy life even if it means a few less means (and maybe no less years)....we all have to make the best decision we can....I think the key is feeling good about the decision we make.  Vickib361...I wish you peace and comfort in your decision.   Karen

Just another perspective.  I have been on Tamoxifen for 1-1/2 years. When I started, I was still getting my periods, but now I am in active menopause.  I asked the oncologist whether I should switch to Aromasin, but she said she will keep me on Tamoxifen for the full 5 years, because I have had minimal side effects.

This topic is so near and dear to my heart. It's been 4.5 years. I know I'm almost to the 5 year mark, but I am deciding to stop. There are many times I've looked back and wondered what my life would have been like had I stopped earlier. As it stands, my onc and team have been great "keeping me on," the Arimidex (I tried Femera, also). I have pain meds (or I literally could not walk), I went to cancer counseling to help with feelings of anxiety, anti-depressants, etc. It is quite a regimen to keep up just to keep up the AI. And still, I'm just barely having decent QOL. I had to quit my job, I feel that I've lost a lot of my cognitive skills, flirting with depression, etc.

 I just visited with the Orthopedist yesterday because the knees are so bad I can't continue "vertical living " in our house. He believes it is mild arthritis and mostly a result of the AI. I think it is time for now. I've fought that good fight. It is what is right for you. Like I said I do wonder if life could have been much better had I not tried to last this long, but, as you all have said, it is important not to look back, just forward. I was stage IIIc. I guess that was part of the guilt.

If you would have asked me 3 years ago, I would most likely have told you to hang with it seeking alternative therapies (holistic meds, pain meds, and the other treatment I received), now, hmmm. Not sure my advice would be the exact same. Good luck whatever your decision. When you do decide, though, live it large - seek all the help you can get for your body on the AI, or go have great QOL if you've decided it is time for you to stop. Don't look back.

I'm taking Aromasin after trying Femara and Arimidex.  For me, Aromasin is better than the previous AI's but that's not really saying much.  Many of your comments hit so close to home.  It finally feels like validation to what I've been feeling for so long.  I'm miserable on Aromasin and plan to tell my oncologist that I'm going off.  My appt is Thursday - I can't wait to start living.  Oh - I have chronic nasal congestion, too!  Can't believe someone else mentioned that!

I have another very strange sympton and am now wondering if it could be a side effect of Aromasin, too.  I constantly smell cigarette smoke.  I don't smoke nor am I around people who smoke.  Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Ditto Gma...................my Femara is sitting on the counter since I finished Rads 1 week ago..........the MO said don't start Femara till Rads are done.........................I'm sure its because when I get the fu---ng SE's she will know what is causing them.

I am fed up sick and tired of the bullshit............at 76 I'm thinking of taking my chances and going without..........had a Estrogen/Progesterone test done today to see how much of this hormone shit I have left in my body ............lets face it at 76 what the hell could be there...............don't want to start this crap, yet who the hell wants to die......................although i think half the women who die while on this shit die from another cause instead of BC, but the cause of death was a SE from the frigging AI that they put you on.

Like I said on another thread.................Oh what a shame, she had a heart attack, or a stroke, or diabetes, which the AI caused, but........................hey she didn't die from a recurrance.........................sure makes the drug look better doesn't it...........almost makes you think it is working..........gotta love those pill pushing drug companies and their bullshit stories..............worked for one for 15 years, so I know all the lies they tell.

Hi Vicky,

I just wanted to tell you that I just switched back to tamoxifen after switching to Arimidex.  I didn't even last two weeks on it.  I felt that it was going to turn me into an old woman, when I'm not even 50.  I too, would like to quit taking all medications, but I have an 8 year-old and a 12 year-old, so, for them (and my husband) I will stick with it BUT I am not going to continue after my five years are through.

Even though you weren't asking for a reply, I wanted to comment on your question of taking advantage of a blessing from God - I've had this on my mind for quite awhile and I believe that we should do what we can to keep from having a recurrence - but I believe our outcome with BC is in God's hands and I don't think HE would want you to be miserable.

Blessings to you and your family.

Can I ask you how long you will be on Aromasin??? I am 6+years out....took 2 years of Tamoxifin and 3 years of Aromasin. I completed 5 years exactly one year ago.  I have asked my oncologist if he thought that I could resume Aromasin for a few more years as I want to make sure that I get all the protection that I possibly can...he said that there were no conclusive studies ane the decision wold be mine. I am  seriously thinking of restarting after a one year break. Any thoughts???