Arimidex Question - Please help

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Dogsneverlie
Dogsneverlie Member Posts: 278
edited January 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I posted on Sex Matters Forum - I want my mojo back but wanted to add to the Arimidex forum and ask - PLEASE HELP ME.

Can you ladies provide some input on my question below?  I am going to ask MO during appointment but would really value your opinion.

At 38, full hysterectomy (everything gone due to ovarian pre-cancer).  Surgical menopause - no fun and I didn't like taking estrogen pills so stopped cold turkey after about 3 years.  Now at 49 diagnosed with BC and did the run (biopsies, lumpectomies, rads, and now Arimidex).

DO I NEED ARIMIDEX?   I mean, my estrogen was low anyway due to hysterectomy/menopause since 38.....I am going to ask her if she thinks I can stop, wait until it is out of my system, have bloodwork done to see what my estrogen level REALLY is and see if it is safe to not take Arimidex.

Anyone ever do that?

I'd like to know if anyone stopped and had any issues.  Before Arimidex, I had to use lubricants most times so I am thinking I must have been pretty low anyway......please give me your opinion, I know I have to speak with MO about it but would really like to know what your thoughts are.

THANK YOU!


 

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited January 2015

    You do understand that your body continues to make estrogen despite ovaries being gone? Found most often in fat tissue, the enzyme that catalyzes the transformation of other "pre-hormone" molecules is aromatase. If your cancer was ER+, you'd want to inhibit the production of anything that would 'feed' the mutant cells. That is why the AI drugs were approved. We have 3 to choose between.

    There is probably no need to check blood levels - you knew menopause was a reality which made Arimidex OK to take (instead of tamoxifen which works differently, by blocking receptors). No one can say if it is safe to stop the med. New tumors could develop at any time. Hopefully a strong immune system is poised to recognize & destroy abnormal growth otherwise we'd all have cancers everywhere.

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