Anyone taking low dose aspirin with Arimidex?

Hi,

I also take low-dose aspirin (gastro-resistant), daily, to avoid thrombosis, I'm at high risk, because of Tamoxifen + chemo pills (I have to take them for leukemia), didn't even know it prevents breast cancer recurrence, where have you read/ear that?

Yes, I bruise very easily, everywhere, that's the main side effect I have. But taking low-dose aspirin as some other risks too, like gastrointestinal bleeding.

Sometimes (very rarely) I bleed when I'm with constipation. Nothing to report in my legs.

Annwalk- I am taking low dose too. This is my first month on that and tamoxifen. I've had some bruising too. Just an FYI...my MO said the benefit of low dose maximizes at 5 days a week. So I do that instead of 7.

Bruises are a very common side effect of taking aspirin. I even asked my hematologist about that, he confirmed. My coagulation values are also a little altered because of that, you can also test coagulation values.

How much aspirin are you taking? I hope no more than 100 mg?

I didn't have any easy bruising when I was diagnosed with leukemia (I'm ok now, in regression), the more relevant symptoms were low WBC that keep getting lower, swollen lymph nodes, and my platelets where also getting lower.

But it's always a good idea to get a blood test.

I follow the every other day regimen that my MO recommended and do not get much bruising although I have alway bruised very easily.

I've been taking an 81 mg. low dose aspirin for about 9 years or so at the recommendation of my Internist as a preventive for heart attack. I've never been told not to take one with Anastrazole and my MO and BS are aware I take it and said it's no problem. I've always bruised easily and am klutzy but I suppose I do bruise a little more easily now. I'll take the bruises over a heart condition or BC. I was surprised to read recently in the news that a low dose aspirin affects BC recurrence. Here's a quote from MD Anderson and you can check their website for the other types of cancers they feel prevents or helps cancer.

"The story is much the same for other common cancers. A study of recovering breast cancer patients found those who took a daily aspirin for three to five years were 60% less likely to suffer from a recurrence of the disease. The aspirin swallowers also were 71% less likely to die as a result of breast cancer."

My MO also has me taking low dose to prevent recurrent, along with tamoxifen. She mentioned a study, I think it had to do with nurses????

I take the chewable because I'm actually not supposed to take aspirin due to gastric bypass. But chewable and low dose seems to be ok.

The aspirin study came out just as I was in the middle of chemo. It was big news then, and since I am an aspirin taker anyway, no problem at all. But not until I was done with chemo. I do it before bed, and it may have helped with the Arimidex achiness.

Anyway, on top of completing whatever treatment protocol you are recommended, the three things to do post treatment are:

1. Exercise
2. Aspirin
3. Maintain a healthy weight (much easier to do if you are doing #1)

I don't find that I bruise particularly easily.

The good news is that the above are things you should be doing anyway to keep your heart healthy. The only downside is that clothing bills go up because you look fab in a lot more items. Admit to succumbing to this temptation.

Living in an apartment community for active adults, I see firsthand what happens if you don't exercise. It can make the difference between going on a 5k run after work or leaning on a shopping cart. I stop at the supermarket towards the end of my run and sling the groceries over my shoulder. Exercise is also important for preserving bone density, really important if taking an AI.

The study Anne referenced was conducted by Michelle Holmes and it is in fact the nurses' study. They were tracking aspirin as known to be protective for heart disease, and guess what else they found out? It's an observational study, so not quite the same thing as a clinical trial. Michelle Holmes has been trying to get a grant for that as well. Not sure what happened.

They have also noticed the same thing with colon cancer....lower mortality amongst aspirin takers.

So, my counsel would be: if you tolerate aspirin well, go for it!! - Claire