Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

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Nancy-loves-horses
Nancy-loves-horses Member Posts: 5
edited March 2016 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hello

I am new to this site. I was just recently diagnosed with Stage 1, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma which was Estrogen/Progestron positive. I underwent a Mastectomy on my right side 11/2/15. I just recently started Anastozole - A Hormone blocking therapy to prevent reoccurance of my breast cancer. I've been experiencing a lot of side effects to the point that I question if it is worth taking it or not. Has anyone taking this drug experienced any side effects and If so, did they subside? Any feedback or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Nancy

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2016

    Nancy, many women have SEs from the aromatese inhibitors such as Anastrazole. In some instances, the SEs happen with a particular generic brand, so switching sources sometimes helps, as different pharmacies may get their Anastrazole from different suppliers. Your RX bottle or pharmacy can tell you which one you're getting. You might also try taking it at a different time of day/night, to see if your SEs are any less. And sometimes just stopping it for a brief time and then restarting can help. Absolutely talk to your onc about your SEs. Some women also incorporate various supplements, such as curcumin, or other complementary txs to help with arthritis like pain.

    There's probably one or more threads here devoted to Anastrazole (or perhaps listed by the brand name Arimidex). Use the search feature or scan All Topics (both to the left here) to find them.

    Good luck! Deanna

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    Whatever AI you’re taking (Arimidex/anastrozole, Femara/letrozole or Aromasin/exemestane), if you’re getting side effects go to Drugs.com (or Dr. Google) and look up the “inactive ingredients” list for every manufacturer of the brand name or generic. You’re likelier to experience fewer or milder side effects with those mfrs.’ versions with the shortest lists (a lot of women have problems with dyes, metallic pigments, glycol-based binders and talc fillers).

    Here’s an example. Women on the Femara thread had mentioned worse side effects with generics rather than the brand name, and found that among Sun, Accord and Teva generics, Teva’s formulation was the least problematic. I was unable to order Teva, and my insurer wouldn’t pay diddly-squat for Femara, so I ordered Femara online from CanadaDrugs ($550/90 pills vs. $2100-2400 from domestic brick-and-mortars, even Costco!). The indie neighborhood pharmacy that tried and failed to order Teva got Roxane (subsidiary of Boehringer Ingleheim) instead. Looked up the inactive ingredient list and found to my surprise that of ALL versions of letrozole (even Femara!) it has the fewest--including NO dyes, pigments, glycols or talc! Wonder if Femara will cause me more side effects? I have very few (if any--they may be preexisting but I’m paying more attention now) from the Roxane version--which is $17 for 30 pills! (I may keep refilling the Roxane and switch to Femara if I run out of Roxane and it becomes unavailable).

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  • patty9999
    patty9999 Member Posts: 59
    edited January 2016

    So, how do I tell what inactive ingredients are in a specific brand of Arimidex on drugs.com? I seem to have more problems with tendons when I take the generic, so have been paying for name brand. It would be nice to be able to determine what might be causing it.

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited January 2016

    Patty, you can go to the specific drug maker's website & it will usually list all the inactive ingredients. It's a difficult process, I've had to do it for tamoxifen & then arimidex. I seem to have a terrible allergy to one of the ingredients but even my pharmacist & I can't figure out which one it is. Good luck. GG

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  • patty9999
    patty9999 Member Posts: 59
    edited January 2016

    Thanks, GG27. I'll try to remember to look tomorrow.

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  • strike3cc
    strike3cc Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2016

    I've been on every single one of these drugs at one time or another for the last 3 years. My last resort is Tamoxifen I am also having trouble with this one. The usual aches and pains or fatigue no problems but when it starts putting me into a depression that is so scary. I'l take quality over quantity any day. I am already on antidepressants for these drugs to no avail. I've nothing but my adrenal glands making any kind of hormone. I do believe the ESTROGEN (PREMARIN) taken in very high doses is the cause of the er positive. Obviously I don't know for sure but it is what it is. I'd like to see the data sheets on these drugs. I am also Her2 +

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  • 65andcounting
    65andcounting Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2016

    Been on Tamoxifen for 3 years, the side effects have been slight. I have a constant cough , thinning hair and of course aches and pains. My question does anyone else have chronic cough 24/7???

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