Starting hormonal therapy next week

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pugsnotdrugs
pugsnotdrugs Member Posts: 14
edited February 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all.  I finally got staged as a IV.   My PET scan showed a cancer in my lung so my MO has decided to go with hormone therapy and follow up CT scan in 3 months.  I will be starting Arimadex and Zolodex next tuesday.   Any advice I need before I get injected??

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  • Imheretoo
    Imheretoo Member Posts: 217
    edited October 2014

    Hi Pugs, I just want to say that I'm very sorry to learn that you are getting hit with a stage IV diagnosis, and I wish you strength and calm and hope that the hormonal therapy will do darn well what it needs to do, without making you feel bad side effects.        I can't really offer advice about the therapy.   I'm taking Arimidex, but not the Zolodex, since I'm already post-menopausal.     Obviously, getting thrown into a drug-induced chemopause is a completely different thing.        I am glad that you are able to do a hormonal therapy, because I know that you strongly didn't want to do chemo.    

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited October 2014

    Oh pugs that is terrible news. I am so sorry. No advice here either except to say that I also take the lowest dose of Effexor and it helps with hot flashes and evens out my mood. 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2014

    Hi Pugs, 

    We too are sorry to hear this news! 

    You may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's pages on Arimidex and Zoledex for information about how the medications work and what side effects you can expect -- with links to pages with tips to help manage those side effects.

    We hope this helps and please keep us posted on how you're doing, once you start your therapy!

    --The Mods

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  • MemereL
    MemereL Member Posts: 44
    edited October 2014

    I am new here, so no advice for you, but my thoughts an prayers are with you.  Be a fighter!

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited October 2014

    pugs, I have been on Arimidex for 4-l/2 years.  It really works for me now--no side effects.  I had some bad muscle pain at first but it did go away so don't worry if you have a few side effects at first.

    Prayers going out to you.

    Liz

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  • Kroyaloak
    Kroyaloak Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2014

    Hello all. 

    Does anyone know when to begin AI after ovarian suppression. I just started hormonal therapy and received leuprolide 22.5mg inj last week, I was told to start aromasin after 7 days.  But obtained another MO opinion who recommends to begining aromasin after 21days…. Do you gals have any experience or advise

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  • raindeer1217
    raindeer1217 Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2015

    I just started Leuprolide 7.5mg two months, I get my 3rd injection tonight. So
    far the SE haven't been terrible. Certainly would prefer to not have to take
    anything but I guess the SE are doable-so far i have:

    Dry eyes, hot flashes, swollen fingers, some weight gain (but ive been struggling with that since after
    Chemo), depression (for 7 days about 14 days post the injection) then it goes
    away, insomnia from day 14-21 (then it goes away), hot flashes pretty regular,
    bone pain flair up in one hip that’s pretty bad around day 7-10 after the shot.
    The SE are like clockwork, now that I am in the 3rd month, I can be prepared
    for them and talk myself thru them.

    I was supposed to start the Exemestane last month after my 2nd injection but I didn't, as I was trying to
    adjust to the SE of the Lupron injection. Kind of worried what SE this drug
    will bring.

    This thread seems pretty old so I am not sure if anyone is still reading and replying to this, if so ? Is anyone
    else on these drugs and how are they handling them?

    Thank you,



     

    Raindeer1217

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