Arimidex and immune system suppression

Well, jrp, CHEMO is immune surpressing.And Arimidex IS chemo.Oral chemo.

BUT I think your doc is thinking of cell-killing chemo.

I dont think your onc would classify Arimidex as an immune suppressing drug.

But having been on AI for over 3 and 1/2 years, I CAN tell you that AIs make us..delicate.Feeble.The way old ladies are.It is from estrogen depletion.There's no doubt about it, this is true!We're fatigued, we're always in need of rest, we tend to catch things much more easily., our skin is dry, our hair thins, our skin TEARS easily, we're arthrits..A real joy-ride, huh?.

So your doc was right.Maybe she just used the wrong words to describe it.

Myself, I WORK at strengthening my immune system constantly.From exercising daily to eating really supportative foods, to supplimenting.This is no small thing for me.It's a lot like work.And costly too.

But when I was in menopause, waaay before I got bc, I had pneumonia.It was awful!My doc wanted me in hospital for IV anitibiotics, but I had sole care of my brilliant black Labby, and wasnt about to put him in boarding.

Lots of drugs.LOTS of debilitating , breath-losing coughing.Weeks went by and I felt punk , lousy, weak, bad.

When it was finally over, I had CFS.I had to shop for my Xmas presents one at a time that year.That was all the stamina I had.

So this was my introduction to the wonderful world of estrogen deprivation.

I NEVER want to be that sick again.My Labby is gone, but I have another dog, live alone, and want to be strong and well.So I work at it (Back to my original premise.)

My doc aLso  gives me flu shots yearly, pneumonia shots every 10.

Sugar depletes my immune system and makes me susceptable to diseases.So I dont eat it.

I could go on and on (and I'm afraid I have.)Sorry!

HI Jrp,



I think Joan said it all .....



My white count never returned to "normal" and the docs simply tell me "don't worry about it". It took a long time for me to translate "don't worry about it", but essentially it means we are dong the best that we can for ourselves at this point in time. Taking care of your body is a full time job but there are lots of people here to support your efforts as you've just read.



The Alternative Holistic thread has lots of good ideas to help the immune system along.



Speaking for myself, I'm one "old lady" (from Arimidex or otherwise) who intends to keep on keeping on as they say. There seem to be many of "us" here.



Best wishes ....

I do not really see a reason why the lack of estrogen would suppress your immune system  I have never heard of this. Maybe you have something else going on that she is refering to. Did you have chemo before?

Hey All,

It doesn't make sense that AIs would suppress the immune system.  They interfere with the mechanism of estrogen production from testosterone (testosterone gets metabolized to estrogen via aromatase... AI's stop this process), they do not affect the immune system.  So, I believe this is just mis-information.  My onc recently told me that AIs prevent cancer cells from producing their own food supply (estrogen), so I guess in that regard you could think of AIs as an oral chemo.  But I think it's more accurate to refer to AI as a hormonal therapy rather than a chemo.

Hi Sara,

I used to be so healthy. Hardly ever went to Dr. Went for physicals and took herbs and supplements. I was so healthy. Then cancer hit, and now my immunity is shot.

I catch so many illnesses now. What a "new norm" to swallow.

I am trying to research what I can take to build my immune system back up.

This is no fun. These cancer treatments really "rocked my world".

I believe a lot in supplements. Cancer was a wake up call for me to get more heathier with exercise, not eating sweets ect,,, I am moving in this direction. I figure something is better than no change at all

Well, that's interesting. My white cells have been low ever since cancer treatment, but I've always blamed it on the chemo.

On the other hand, if it's really caused by the estrogen-blockers, then there's a good chance it won't be permanent, right? Something to look forward to.

I got a bout of diverticulitis shortly after starting Arimidex. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm thinking it could gave happened because of immune system suppression. The antibiotics given for that were barely tolerable. Also had an abdominal CT in the ER. I'm thinking it would be best to avoid the ER if it happens again. The problem is that it seems to be necessary in order to rule out colon perferation which I did not have. I think I've already had enough CTs for a lifetime