anastrozole for pct

I have been on Anastrozole for year, 4 more to go (5 ys.) I have the worse Joint pain, stiffness, hurts to walk, get up from chair, I get out of bed hurting, I ache everyday. My skin and stays so dry, my hair grew back after chemo, but is lifeless, thin, etc. I do not like this Pill and want to discontinue, but my Oncologist said it is doing me more good, to keep taking it. This pill is really aging me, dry wrinkly skin, no energy, cant walk and move like I want to.

Have developed a heart rhythm disturbance, shortness of breath, edema of hands and legs/feet since being on Anastrozole. How worried should I be? Should I consider discontinuation discussions with my Dr.? This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/542261'>Can Arimidex Cause Skin Lesions?</a>.

I know this is used in breast cancer pts but what is it used for in ovca pts? My recent PET/CT scan did not show any recurrent disease.

Thanks for replying. Steroids is the worst thing for the PCT and they kept giving me that in the emergency room with all the misdiagnosis. Im waiting to get to a liver special but right now in limbo only treating the PCT with blood draws.

im on anastrozole.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question and we apologize for delay in response! We are glad you are on to maintenance therapy for your previous cancer! Typically, letrozole does have a favorable side effect profile in relation to toxicity. This doesn't mean it is side effect free, however. The trade off is that it does appear affective in terms of prolonging recurrence.

i. symptoms be a side effect of anastrozole (arimidex)? I have been taking it for 3 1/2 years, after 1 year on tamoxifen, following lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Thanks for any feedback, Laurie .

If you've had Hashimoto's for that long, have you also been on any replacement thyroid hormone medication? If so, what medication, dosage and for how long? Have you had Free T4 and Free T3 tested to determine actual thyroid hormone levels? If so, what are their results, with reference ranges? I've read that there's a connection between breast cancer and thyroid disease, but I'm not exactly sure what it is.

If HCV infection is found, it may not change the treatment of PCT (by phlebotomy or low-dose chloroquine). Treatment for PCT is highly successful even in patients with HCV. Therefore, it is reasonable to treat the PCT first and then look into treatment for HCV later. There are reasons not to treat the HCV infection before treating the PCT. HCV treatment with alpha-interferon and ribavirin is available but is often not effective.

This was the reason for the trial to see if people could remain UND doing tx for six months. Up until then people had to treat for a year. I must say those six months were the worst of my life. I had many issues while on tx. I had the rash from hell, thyroid problems, my liver enzymes were in the 300's almost the entire time on tx. Towards the end of tx I develop PCT which is a skin condition that's causes open sores and blisters, and lost half of my hair.

Hi, I am not Trin but I also have / had PCT. There are specific tests to diagnose PCT which my dermatologist did. AS far as myself and Trin the manifestations were large liquid filled blisters that made a mess nof our hands. The blisters were like a burn that filled with a clear liquid. In my case it did not start with a rash but only the blisters. The blisters hurt so bad, almost to the bone hurt. Trin will chime in here I am sure of that and she is better able to put into words tham me.

PCT is difficult to treat while the patient is also being treated for hepatitis C with interferon and ribavirin. Therefore, PCT is generally treated first in cases where the two diseases occur together. Patients with marked iron overload should be treated by phlebotomy rather than hydroxychloroquine. PCT is often more severe and difficult to treat in patients with end-stage renal disease.

If HCV infection is found, it may not change the treatment of PCT (by phlebotomy or low-dose chloroquine). Treatment for PCT is highly successful even in patients with HCV. Therefore, it is reasonable to treat the PCT first and then look into treatment for HCV later. There are reasons not to treat the HCV infection before treating the PCT. HCV treatment with alpha-interferon and ribavirin is available but is often not effective.

Sun exposure and alchohol cause the condition to become worse as well. The best form of treatment for PCT is phlebotomy (blood letting - 500 cc per session) I had a total of 13 prior to starting tx in March. My ferritin level started out at 783 and was reduced to 17 which is a good thing for those of us with hepc. Cholorquine is not the best solution because it can cause the iron levels to drop too quickly and you can become severely anemic. Blood levels must be checked frequently as well.

Hi there. I was just diagnosed with hep c about a month ago. Thank god my husband and kids are negative. I'm thinking that I contracted it about 12 to 15 years ago, when I was a IV drug user (been clen for about 11 years). Anyway I don't know what stage I am, go to see the specialist on 9/01. But I have this rash...little red bumps that were on my right arm. Went to my doc and he gave me a cream.

If you have PCT your ferritin level is high and phlebotomy reduces the ferritin and is the recommended treatment for controlling PCT regardless if you plan on treating the HCV anytime soon or not. It's very important you get the PCT under control. I did three months of phlebotomy treatment prior to starting tx and have been treating almost a year and the PCT has not returned.

Fyi - We are still taking the anastrozole. No problems. We have not gotten insurance approval for lupron. I am starting to worry that it maybe too late to start lupron because his puberty is progressing. How is your son doing? Is he growing?

Sounds like he also has PCT. I had this disorder and was given a series of phlebotomies prior to treatment for HCV. Your friend is in denial regarding his alcohol problem. If he would recognize at all he has a drinking problem then he would have to come to terms with the affects it is having on the liver as well. Very sad because smart people just don't respond with answers like "I didn't get told the results of my biopsy". I don't believe that for one minute.

My son is on GH for GHD. Also did 2.25 yrs anastrozole since bone age was slightly ahead. Now only on GH. Age 15.5, bone age 13.5-14. Has all the puberty markers for tanner 4: pubic hair now starting a line to navel. Has to shave a couple times per week but only few hairs in beard area, voice deeper but no prominent adams apple yet. A year ago at endo appt we were told he didnt have to endure anymore testicle size checks. I assume that means they are near adult in size.

From what you are describing it sounds like an extra hepatic manifestation associated with hepc called Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT). Essentially, what happens is because of the hepc the liver does not process iron properly. See your doctor and have phlebotomy sessions (blood letting) scheduled to treat the Porphyria. Phlebotomy reduces ferrtin levels and generally the Porphyria will subside. Here is a link which explains PCT. http://www.porphyriafoundation.

Dear river1980, Both Femara (letrozole) and Arimidex (anastrozole) are aromatase inhibitors used in the treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer in post menopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors block the enzyme aromatase (found in the body's muscle, skin, breast and fat), which is used to convert androgens (hormones produced by the adrenal glands) into estrogen. In the absence of estrogen, tumors dependent on this hormone for growth will shrink.

It sounds as if you may have porphryia Cutanea Tarda or PCT for short. This is a skin disease that often goes along with hep C. It is important that you avoid alcohol, stay out of the sun and avoid trauma to your skin. Many of these patients have excess iron. A dermatologist can diagnose this fairly easily.

Anastrozole for pct

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