For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing

You're welcome, Magari. I had heard that Prilosec is hard on the bones but dumb me didn't put 2 and 2 together to realize that AIs and Prilosec are not good together. I find Pepcid works just fine for me.

HUGS!

Snickersmom - what about Prolia? I saw my PCP yesterday and he said because of the previous cancers I've had I can't take any of them except Prolia. He also said that there are several new ones coming in the near future that I should be able to take. Right now he’ prefer I wait unless DEXA comes back bad.

Lula - my MO says as long as my Dexa scans remain good, we will just leave things the way they are. Good to know they are coming out with some new options.

Cindy, congratulations on one year!🌷❤️🐾💐

I am 9 days today! Slow but sure but we have to celebrate our milestones! I hope you did something nice for yourself. ❤️❤️

Wow! Scary article I just read from American Cancer Society on research & the link between women taking Anastrozole & having a huge risk of getting diabetes! Now I know why my blood sugar level jumped up to 6.4 within a short time of being on this hormone. I started it in August & have severe joint pain & arthritis from it & hot flashes, mood swings & hair thinning! Not to mention now close to getting diabetes!! No sense in going off the hormones now & risking cancer again because they told me once I'm actually diagnosed with diabetes I'll always have diabetes & can never be cured of it. Breast cancer & it's horrible treatments are devastating! I kept telling myself that I'm going to beat this thing & live a long life ... after finding out that the Anastrozole will give me diabetes, I feel worthless, doomed & feel like giving up

BADLUCK - I quit anastrozole after a few months becasue of SEs. (Joint stiffness, trigger finger, worry about oesteoperosis etc). After several months of no hormonal treatment, I started Tamoxifen. DR. was not supportive of quitting anastrozole, but did support my decision to use Tamoxifen. Link to diabetes is new information, and scary. I worry about diabetes because of family history and eating habits when I was younger. So far fast blood sugar levels and prediabetes check have come out ok, but I wonder if 3-5 year check is enough. A week ago I heard a presentation for diabetes control from an ND. She really emphasized limiting all carbs, no/little sugar, fiber, exercise, stress levels. I think she was probably more conservative than most primary care givers on acceptable HbA1c, blood sugar at rising and 90 minutes after eating. She mentioned that the diet she advocates is harder for vegetarians, and that a good multi-vitamin, supplements are probably needed. I eat a lot of carbs, cutting back will be hard. I do not eat much meat. I like salads, but eating like a rabbit, does not sound fun.

Supplements: GAIA turmeric-joint; glucosamine-chondroitin; magnesium glycinate; biotin; potassium-iodine; low dose calcium; C; B-complex ; D; Fish oil. For a year or so after bi-lateral used Juven Nutritional therapy for wound healing with 7g arginine, 7g glutamine. Often add turmeric to meals. Ran out of fish oil supplement that I liked, other brand caused fish burps, so have not taken for a while

2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinal node removal, negative. – 1. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.

2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinal nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months do to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018

10/2018 noticed stiffness and some trigger finger again. Was eating meat a lot more (daily) than normal. Usually 1-2 /wk. Have cut way back on the meat, seems to help, but one finger still very prone to trigger finger. 2/2019, trigger finger and stiffness much better.

I haven't posted here since beginning my radiation in December, as life has just gone past in a blur since then. I am supposed to start taking the Anastrazole now, however I am pretty terrified. I know some people say they don't have any side effects, but it seems reading through this thread that most people do feel not too great on it.

The thing is we are booked to go away at the beginning of April for a one week holiday, and I really don't want to be feeling crappy while I'm away! My doctor was not very keen on my delaying the start for a month, but I am concerned about going to a foreign country and feeling sick/joint pains etc possibly?

I don't know if my delaying it is wise or not. I would much appreciate any thoughts or opinions on this.

I suggest just starting it. Just stop taking it and reassess, if it really affects enjoying your trip. Lots of people do just fine, and their side effects are very minimal.

I had a few things I noticed right away, but nothing that would have ruined going on a trip. Some stiffness. But, I already had some, and it's not a ton worse. I felt a little sleepy in the daytime for a few days, but who knows if that's why, and it definitely went away after a week or so. My sleep is a little disrupted, but it has been for years, so I don't think it's any different on Anastrozole. My thumbs sometimes get a little sore, and my fingers sometimes fall asleep. Slightly annoying, but not terrible.

For me, the anticipation and dread were way worse than the reality.

I started Anastrozole on October 26th. To date the SEs include, achy joints, especially when I first start moving and weight gain. I decided that I would start walking in 2019 to see if that helped. In January my steps totaled 152,000, last month over 200,000. Walking has helped so much! My joints stil hurt but once I get moving everything is fine - and I lost 6 pounds in those 2 months.

Not sure if I will last the 10 years but for now I'm good.

Good luck to all of us!

if your arm is numb talk to your dr and get a referral for PT

MACTAZ,

Here’s the thread you’re asking about.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topics/854403

Good for you, Phoenix. I've been doing less the last few months because of some gastric junk and the weather but I have found that 7500 steps (or 50,000 a week) is a reasonable goal for me. Even not meeting those goals recently, I am down a few pounds which I hope will continue as spring really arrives. I know I feel better when I exercise.

Thanks so much for the advice CindyNY, Taco1946 and Hikinglady, I'm so glad this forum exists as it really helps to ask people who are going through or gone through the same. I have decided to wait a few weeks to start, so I will feel less worried in the lead up to going overseas.