Doing Well on Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)

Hi, guys, I don’t comment often on this thread for some reason, but just wanted to share something with you. I started taking Anastrozole in December of last year and was constantly troubled by side effects like hot flushes (up to 10 times a day), joint pain and vaginal dryness. The pill was manufactured by Accord. Then I spoke to my pharmacist and begged her to order Teva for me because I read that it produces fewer side effects. There were problems getting it, but she persevered and I got my first Teva bottle about a month and a half ago.

Well, I have to say that I didn’t expect that much of a difference! Now I am down to about one hot flash a day, usually in the evening and my joint pain is gone! Not sure about vaginal dryness, because I still use coconut oil moisturizer just in case, but maybe will give it a rest one of these days.

My pharmacist said that if she gets prescription, she can get Teva for anyone who needs it. It’s a private pharmacy, so I am guaranteed personal attention. She also made me great scar creams for my mastectomy scars. Here’s the pharmacy info, if anybody is interested. It’s licensed day in many states.

exvellent idea. As it stands- i have tucked my

tamoxifen into a drawer because i cant

bare the thought of uterine cancer.

AI’s will worsen my already compromised

bones- so with cancer, itsa crapshoot

in SOME womens cases... NOT ALL.

( weighing a wee benefit of tamoxifen with the very real risk of uterine cancer in post menopausal women is near impossible “ would you rather

ajbclan--My niece would die with envy if I told her you spent all day at a K-Pop band concert! She is totally obsessed with BTS. It's all I can do to keep her in cheap BTS gifts for her birthday and Christmas....much to my sister's dismay. But that's what aunts are for!!

Thank you very much for sharing this article. It’s from 2006. Standards of research-based practice don’t usually include research that old in medicine these days..,but still, it raises an important question for me. My OBGYN says that recent studies haven’t confirmed this study, and that the cream type of Estradiol isn’t exactly studied, whereas the ring type is. My MO says that his research on this doesn’t confirm this 2006 study, and that his information and guidelines aren’t changing to contraindication. My girlfriend who’s an OBGYN wonders: “does an AI actually impede the uptake and efficacy of topical Estradiol?” So, does it even work, when we’re on an AI, she wondered aloud in a conversation I had with her about this recently. In her practice, she’s seen coconut oil do the trick. I feel completely bewildered by all this. In two weeks I see my MO again and will ask more questions....Estradiol has another Quality of Life addition for me——it has helped with urinary urgency and has generally made mytissue less fragile. I will continue to research this.....

I went and had a DEXA Scan. Everything is good, and the bones are the same as 2 years ago.

I was put on an every other day regimen for the AI six months ago to reduce SEs, and it helped.

The oncologist is suggesting to stay on the AI for 7 years. It sounds like a long time, but I will do it.

• Gyno is completely against hormonal creams for me. I do pelvic floor therapy and use coconut oil.

cassiecanada, I totally get you. My MO is concerned about me taking Tamoxifen b/c I had uterine CA during my BC treatment. My MO says "what if there are uterine cells running around your body and they get activated from the tamoxifen" Gyno Onco says you cant have any more uterine cancers b/c you have no uterine cells. And all the drs say "you decide what you want to do and let me know" I think that's a crappy attitude.

Hi all, new to this topic, just starting anastrozole this week, done with chemo and radiation, still on Herceptin.

Wondering if anyone here has tried Rogaine to keep hair from thinning?

Also Vitamin D? I am taking 5000 IU daily with the anastrozole, hoping that will decrease amount of bone loss.

Appreciating all the advice on this topic! Thanks!

I’m knocking all over the place. Starting anastrozole 6/16. Will ask MO in July how much Ca and D to take. Thank you for reminding me. Since I worry about everything , now about estrogen loss and subsequent altzheimers.

Ingerp, I had not heard of the estrogen/alzheimers correlation either until I saw this posted this morning on another link. It's a lengthy read; I got the impression more research needs to be done. But the article did have other good information, ie, xenoestrogens v phytoestrogens in our diet. Also might be plug for the author's new book coming out in 2020.

https://medium.com/neurotrack/menopause-and-alzheimers-1c455f29fe16

Hello, Everyone!

Tonight I finally took my first AI (Anastrozole). Day Zero.

Confession: I procrastinated for 6 days after picking up the prescription. According to my MO, I will need to be on an AI for the rest of my life, so I needed some extra time to bring myself around to acceptance of this fact.

Gratitude: Thank you all for posting here about SE and how you manage them, which gave me the confidence to get going with my treatment program.

***

Dx: 3/2019, de novo stage IV
metastatic breast cancer with metastases to 3 central lymph nodes in neck
following complete thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer WITH NO PRIMARY
BREAST CANCER IDENTIFIED and NO OTHER METS (so far); diagnosed at age 65

ER+ (88%), PGR+(2%),
HER2-equivocal (not enough remaining surgical lymph node tissue for FISH), KI67
borderline (15%)

Type
of Breast Cancer: Possibly lobular (ILC)

Surgery: None

Radiation Therapy:
None

Chemotherapy: None

Targeted
Therapy: None

Hormonal Therapy: 6/04/2019
Anastrozole

Other
Cancer Treatment: Radioiodine Treatment (RAI)
for papillary thyroid cancer scheduled for June 19, 2019

Glad you took the plunge, GlobalGal. May they work with few (if any) SEs for many, many, many years.

GlobalGal Keep us updated! Wishing you a smooth ride.

One more part of our profile creation on this site is the decision about which info you want to have be Public and which part Private, and you set each part of that, as well.

Although I managed to write my profile and share my DX and TX, I've never figured out how to add a little personal clarifying note or statement, as I see that some people do.... I never found those on the profile-creating drop-down menus....

While we’re at it, somebody recently posted how to hotlink a username (or whatever you’d call it) and I’ve already forgotten. Anyone?

Maverick that's a great question. I hope someone with more knowledge will chime in. My husband was just asking recently why we're all on the same dosage. One thing I think pertains to some of us is that we didn't have much estrogen in our bodies when we started the AI. I've noticed some SEs but never had hot flashes or anything—I went through all that ten years ago. I don't think there's any rush but that would be a good thing to ask next time you have a check-in with your MO. In the meantime, consider yourself lucky!!

Interesting question Maverick. I also wonder why everybody needs the same dosage. There seems to be some evidence that being overweight makes aromatase inhibitors less effective compared to Tamoxifen. Worth checking the literature and discussing with your MO if you are overweight -see below. That being said, the SE are not fun and I wish I didnt have any.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11912-019-0787-1