Arimidex

8929...unfortunatley there can be side effects from aromatase inhibitors. Everyone is different. Some have none, some have few and some have many and have to stop it or switch to another drug. As mentioned above some side effects such as joint issues can be permanent. I encourage you to work with your doctor and discuss any potential problems. Good luck. We are all here for you.

Hello, 8929! Welcome to Breastcancer.org!

You can learn more on the benefits and side effects of this drug at our main site, in the article Arimidex. Also, we think you might find the topic For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing helpful.

We hope that you will stay connected here. Thanks for joining, and we look forward to hearing more from you soon!

The Mods

8929-I had the same fears.  I already had aches and pains, why would I want to take something that could cause further problems?  Well, one visit with my surgeon helped me a lot-she said to give it a try and give it some time.  She also said if I don't do well on this AI that there are others to try.  My MO also listened to my concerns and she asked me to try and to return in 6 weeks to see how I was doing. I won't lie the 1st week I ached something awful, however- I was already walking and doing some weight bearing exercises so I kept at it and the aches got better.  I also think our bodies do adjust to the drop in estrogen over time.  MOVEMENT is the answer to the aches.  The longer you are still, the more aches.  Also, overall, cancer does not like exercise.  Now that's it's winter, I have slacked off a bit and I can tell you I ache more than usual. I try to walk at least 1/2 mile each day. It's something. I hope this helps, I did a lot of walking around my radiation treatment time too, and it greatly helped with the fatigue.  As you say, when you're not in a good mental spot, you are more aware of the physical effects all of this is doing to your body. You don't feel like doing anything, but I made myself do it and I truly do feel better getting up and moving (I do have a desk job), and not going home and sitting on the couch for too long a period. 

Now that's it's been 6+ months on the pill, it is OK.  It's working!  For me, the benefit outweighs the risk so I take it.  I also failed my DEXA scan right before being diagnosed, so next month I am starting Prolia shots.  Not happy about that, more medicine, possibly more side effects, BUT I don't want to be high risk of fractures.  That risk is too high, so I will take the shots.  

Best wishes to you, I hope sharing my experience helps you decide.

Hey 8929,

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. What a bear to have you and your daughter diagnosed so close together

I strongly encourage you to keep an open mind and have a good conversation with your MO. If that doesn't feel possible, try a different MO. She should be able to explain the risks and benefits and possibilities of hormone treatment.

You might decide to not start right away, but to take some time to address emotional/mental health stuff and set up an exercise routine to help ward against side effects. I've read of some women here doing that. I was able to see a psychiatrist through my cancer medical center who has been really helpful, and they also have integrative medicine support - maybe your center has that too that could help you?

You might also decide to first try tamoxifen instead of arimidex. It also has side effects but it has a different side effect profile, that you might be more comfortable with. (For example, not bone loss). Your MO should be able to present the pros and cons to you.

I think it's very healthy that you are thinking about your options and taking your mental/emotional health seriously.

--------------

I'm sharing this link because it helped me get perspective that was useful to me, not as pressure or anything. It's from this forum: Topic: Androgen Receptor Positive TNBC

Women with triple negative cancer generally don't have access to anything like Arimidex or tamoxifen to help prevent recurrence. Science found that some TNBC is positive for androgen hormone receptors, and there are some studies now for an androgen equivalent to arimidex. In this thread, our sisters are talking about trying to get into those studies, or scrambling (and paying through the nose for) that new drug outside the scope of the study. This is a drug that still hasn't been solidly proven to help, the way that arimidex has, and about which much much less is known about side effects and treating them. But our sisters are willing to take on the unknown for even the chance to somewhat decrease their recurrence risk. It made me feel really lucky to have access to the options I do, with an ER+ cancer.

--------------

Good luck!

Hello 8929

I too, am 69. I have been on Arimidex since May. I am struggling with joint and back pain more than I expected. I have found that stretching before I even get out of bed helps with the terrible morning stiffness. Ibuprofen helps when the pain is at it's worst. Exercise has helped as well. I was just diagnosed with glaucoma and my ophthalmologist told me it was directly caused by the AI. It is now under control and I will have it monitored closely.

I have several friends that have no side effects at all. Interesting that we could be so different. Women are living with BC these days and learning to tolerate the side effects of treatment by sharing information and suggestions with one another.

8929- I started on Anastrozole 1 week ago today. I too was VERY worried about the potential side effects. I read and re-read (probably too much) everything I could about the SE's. 3 Things convinced me to give the AI's a try. 1.) My cancer was 100% ER positive so there was a high likely hood of it coming back. If that happened, it wouldn't necessarily come back in my breasts. Liver, lungs and brain are also possible target areas for returning cancers. 2.) One thing my MO said stuck with me; Just because you swallow that 1st pill doesn't mean you're committed to it for 5 years. Plus, there are other drugs to try if one doesn't work. 3.) I have 2 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren. My oldest daughter just had a hysterectomy due to being BRCA positive and she's been told that mastectomy is most likely in her future. My youngest daughter hasn't yet been tested but considering the rest of the family, she has a good chance of getting cancer. I feel they need me around to help them, to be supportive, and to set a good example for them and for my grandchildren.

For all those reasons, I decided to swallow that 1st pill. I couldn't stand the what-if's that I knew would plague me if my cancer did come back and I hadn't tried everything I could to not only help my family but also to live my own life fully. Besides, I want to be HERE. In this world. There are all degrees of aches & pains & SE's. If I can manage them, I'm staying! But that's just me. If my situation changes, I can always make a new choice. I feel it's similar to anyone else living with any other issue; heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, etc. We all have our personal reasons for doing what we do and for the choices we make. No one will think any less of the other for the decisions made. Whatever you choose, it's going to be the right choice for YOU. Go easy on yourself.

And as for the Anastrozole, 1 week down and I'm still in - still here.

FaceForward I am very curious about your remark about your cancer being 100% ER and likely to return. Did your physician tell you that? I have very similar stats to yours with being grade 1 and having 100% ER and PR. My team told me that those numbers make it less likely to recur and usually indicate a low Onotype score which I had. Those high numbers also make Arimidex and similar drugs very effective, as I understand it.

Faceforward, I hope so as well. Sounds like you should do very well. Best wishes for a long and happy life!

Arimidex or another AI is part of most treatment plans. I also had 100% ER+ when they did the biopsy. One extra step that I took, since I was 49 years old, was ovary removal. No estrogen allowed. I missed how old you are, 8929...