Spring 2018 Starting Hormone Blockers

I had my last radiation treatment this morning - yay! The resident gave me the okay and asked me to schedule a follow up in 4 weeks (not sure I will, that seems really soon and unless I have issues, why?). She did tell me to begin taking the Tamoxifen any time now.

For those who take Tamoxifen, does morning or evening work best for you?

Streetglide201

So you had your first mammogram six months following removal. I was told the standard was to wait a year and that really bothers me. Not sure if it's an insurance issue or not. I do believe if the ADH shows up again I would make the same choice as you. Just still undecided on what to do. Thank you so much for sharing. If you don't mind could you keep me updated. Wishing you all the best.

Katchan,

I had an MRI 6 months after my first lumpectomy. That came back showing a small mass. They did an ultrasound to see if they could find it and then going to do a biopsy. The ultrasound did not show anything. So I had to have an MRI driven biopsy. Which concerned me that they didnt see the mass 6 months prior or on the ultasound but did with the MRI. I went yesterday for my 6 month mammogram follow up and my scans looked good. YAY!!! In 6 months I will have another MRI.

I'm 8 days in to Anastrazole and not much of any SE yet. Definitely noticed one or two mild hot flashes at random times during the day, which is new for me. But they are short and mild. Sleep is fine. I'm keeping a a fan aimed at me . I'm walking often, 100 core strength somethings, stretching (lumpectomy rads side is very stiff). Trying to keep up with the protein. Resting. So far so good!!!

lol, I am having the same problem with remembering if I took my tamoxofin! Mine are not in a daily blister pack, I have had to count them twice just to make sure, (I did take it). I haven’t had a lot of SE (um, maybe that is my SE, the memory is goingand I am almost done with the first month. I am drinking a lot of water, and trying to keep exercising each day. So far so good 😊.

I have looked into the Pallas study, it would add another medication for 2 years along with the tamoxifen. I go back in June to get started. You have a 50/50 shot at getting the medicine. I’m sure it will add to the SE, but figure it is with a try as long as I can stand it.

I do wonder about changing over to the AI’s eventually.

Hi Everybody! I saw my MO last week (3 months after chemo). She examined my other breast. She said it is "lumpy". My breasts have always been lumpy so I'm not concerned and neither was she. Prior to diagnosis my only symptom of BC was an indentation of the areola area.

I still feel fine on Anastrazole. I haven't had night sweats or hot flashes since surgery. The nights sweats were severe before my diagnosis. Someone told me night sweats can be a sign of cancer. I guess they were right.

Paco - Congratulations for making it through rads without much damage to your skin. You did it !!!!

Is anyone else worried about recurrence? Reading some of the stories on the Stage IV threads has me a bit concerned. There are also some inspirational stories on those threads which are good for the soul. I continue to be amazed at the strength and wisdom of those who walked this BC path prior to us. This is truly a character building experience.

I'm so thankful for all of you. I cannot imagine walking this path without your support here at BCO. I often lurk without posting, but try to get online at least once a day to see how everybody is doing. For those of you moving on with your lives, best of luck and good health. I will miss you.

I'm taking the anastrozole at night, too - just in case of the dizziness.

Meg - my left breast is still changing, from two lumpectomies and 21 rads. It looks pretty much the same as it did but the swelling is slowly abating and I think it will be smaller. It is definitely lumpy, though. I'm waiting for things to settle down so I can get accustomed to the new normal - it was always a dense breast (not in the stupid way), but now the hard places have been relocated. Hm. On the up side, the left breast was always bigger than the right anyway, so maybe they'll be even. Re the fear of recurrence: I can also feel anxious when I read some of the other threads - I think that regardless of our diagnosis, staging, etc., the word CANCER will always trouble me. But it's in my vocabulary now, so I try to concentrate on what I can control - diet, exercise, happiness, joy.... I acknowledge I will always have the risk of recurrence - I'll just need to be vigilant. That's how I deal with it. Anyone else?

I hear there are all kinds of new advances that are just on the horizon. My surgeon firmly believes that one day breast cancer will be cured in a non-surgical way with the amazing advancements in pharmaceutical treatments. Let's face it, they'll get their money either way - the new drugs will just cost as much as a surgery in the long run.

I figure I won't borrow trouble by worrying too much about what I can't control -though I'm sure I will each time I go for imaging until I get the "all clear". Other than that just hoping to put it out of my mind and live my life as best I can. I guess we'll see how well I do with that once this is behind me.

I just heard that a woman I work with - younger than me (probably mid-30's) was just diagnosed. Breaks my heart because her road will be so much longer and more challenging than mine. She starts chemo before surgery, then mastectomy and reconstruction. I always felt my situation was pretty manageable and never got too down about it but I really feel for her. She is a single Mom with a young son. Hoping to offer her the best support I can. Everyone's experience is different and certainly mine will never compare to hers but I can certainly listen, offer support and see what I can do to lighten her load.

I sure hope they cure this darn disease some day!

Question about aromatase inhibitors' side effects:

Can you develop side effects even after taking them for a while? Or do they mostly show up early in treatment? By early, I mean in the first weeks or months. And do early side effects resolve over time? Like, after six months or a year?

I've read a lot about anastrozole, which I've been taking for two months, and have yet to find definitive answers to these questions. I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences.

How long does it take to build up in your system to full efficacy? I have heard 10 days (so basically the half-life of the medication is 10 days)

I 'be been lurking here while waiting for my appointment with my BS who will be handling my follow up care. Met with her today and I will be starting on Tamoxifen as soon as we get the report back from the vaginal ultrasound scheduled for next Tuesday-- unless that report shows something unexpected! Hoping for fewer side effects as going into menopause was relatively ready for me, although having hot flashes won't be fun during a Texas summer--it's in the mid 80s here today with humidity in the 80s too.

You are all in my thoughts as we continue our travels down this unexpected road. Will post updates as I have new info. Am very glad (I think) to be facing annual ultrasounds rather than pelvic exams--it's been more than 10 years since I've had a pelvic exam and they weren't fun when I had moisture there! Anyone else who is post menopausal have a similar follow up plan?

Paco--

The half-life of anastrozole, from the FDA's Arimidex brochure:

"...anastrozole has a mean terminal elimination half-life of approximately 50 hours in postmenopausal women."

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/lab...

For tamoxifen:

"Following a single oral dose of 20 mg tamoxifen, an average peak plasma concentration of 40 ng/mL (range 35 to 45 ng/mL) occurred approximately 5 hours after dosing. The decline in plasma concentrations of tamoxifen is biphasic with a terminal elimination half-life of about 5 to 7 days."

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/1998/17970.pdf

Hi all!

I started on Letrozole on March 7th so far so good I haven't really noticed any side effects. I was concerned about my Vit D level since it was very low last summer so I asked my PCP if I could be retested .. well he sent me for a slew of blood work on March 19th. Including checking my estadiol and estrone levels .. both came back lower than the normal range .. they were even flagged as Low — so that made me feel great that the letrozole is doing its thing! My Vit D is better but still only 29 so I'm taking a weekly D2 and daily D3, calcium, magnesium for better absorption. Also taking zinc, ginger tablets, broccoli sprout extract, B12 and Biotin. I just ordered Frankincense essential oil for its anti inflammatory benefit! That's a ton of things to counteract one tiny pill but you gotta do what you gotta do .

Ohhh I'm also considering turmeric but the jury is still out on whether is acts like an estrogen when taken in large amounts .. anyone else trying that?

teaberry- I’m taking turmeric/curcumin to help with hot flashes and inflammation/joint pain. It does help. I had 2 different docs who know my history recommend it. I take the Solgar brand as it’s a softgel, formulated for faster absorption, and significantly higher bioavailability.

Veeder,

Your description of the vaginal ultrasound sounds like my prep but I'm not certain I would have been able to hold it that long! Good idea to not start drinking all that water too soon. I can't wait until I get there though as the lab is only about 15 minutes from my house and I can only drink so much at a time and I don't plan to get there too early for a morning appointment.

The dust is still settling on my follow up, at least in my mind. First post treatment mammogram has been ordered by my RO and then I'm to see him for one last time, I hope (he is a really nice person but I'm truly not wanting to have to meet him for any more treatment). My bone scans will continue to be ordered by my PCP who I see every six months anyway. Later mammograms, vaginal ultrasounds and physical checks by my BS as well as my annual ophthalmologist visit. The good part of the latter is that he said in all of his years of practice he has not seen a Tamoxifen ocular lesion so tamoxifen has his approval. I'm to see the BS again in 3 months but we haven't discussed a long term schedule yet.

Glad to learn your mother is doing better. Hope your mouth is healing well-- I had to have a root canal last week and am finally able to bite down with that tooth so I can identify with the dental issues too.