Arimidex and bone density
Common Questions and Answers about Arimidex and bone density
arimidex
I have had increasing debilitating severe pain in left hip, left foot and both hands. DEXA scan showed increased bone density loss to that of a DEXA scan done before bc (ordered by gastro due to 30+ yrs of steroids). BC surgeon prescribed Fosamax and Calcichew/Vit.D3. A bone scan showed osteo arthritis in both hips, hands and feet. No meds prescribed. I am on weekly injections of 12.5 mg methotrexate for Crohn's.
I hate to tell you but I am on Arimidex and I have joint pain in my hips and knees and my fingers are stiff and swollen -- It started two weeks after I started the Arimidex --- It may be gentler than Femara but for me it hasn't been a walk in the part either -- Sorry your mom is feeling so poorly -- I hope they help her quickly -- maybe she should be taking Calcium with Vitamin D in the meantime
Hi - after I finished chemo and starting rads in 2003 I was prescribed tamoxifen, took it for 2 months and my Oncologist changed me to Arimidex (one of the aromatose inhibitors) which I think has a 50% better prognosis for non recurrence than the old "gold standard" tamoxifen. I was thrilled, as it had just come on to the market here in England.
However, 4 yrs down the line, I stopped it 4 weeks ago, due to severe bone pain (hips, hands and feet) and the pain has gone!
ve completed 4 cycles of Taxotere and Cytoxan. I have been on Arimidex for 4 months. What might be my chances of a distant metastasis? I have pre-osteopenia per a bone density. My oncologist said I might consider Zometa infusions which would be given every 6 months. Does it only help prevent bone metastasis or other mets as well? I know the research is still out on this but an early study indicated a greater than 30% reduction in risk of bone mets. That seems substantial.
My oncologist suggested Effexor which has not worked. She wants me to start Arimidix soon. I had a bone density scan and it came back -2.1 (osteopenia). Based on the bone density scan and the hot flashes, I do not want to take Arimidix. I want to start bio identical hormones. My onclogist is very much against this decision. I have looked for clincial trials for BHRT & breast cancer and found nothing. There seems to be no solution for hot flashes for breast cancer patients.
I only started off with stage 0 intraductal carcinoma which became a stage 1 due to the hospital losing my results, and have had lumpectomy, mastectomy, lymph node removal leading to lymphedema, abdominal hysterectomy, and am currently almost at the end of my reconstruction and now osteopenia of the spine and hips and liver polyps.
Sorry, had to vent, but need to try and make sense of all this, any advise, empathy will be appreciated..
In addition, when the lymph system has been compromised the breast and surrounding area, chest muscles and organs, need to have the same importance in assessment, scans can do that with bone, PET and CT. If affected and found early all these new trials and combinations can be tried. The promising note is new information and drugs are emerging daily in the fight against cancer.
This drug can cause decrease in bone density and bone mass leading to osteoporosis and sometimes increased tendency to have fractures. If standard pain medications are not helping with these symptoms, I believe that you may discuss with your doctor regarding shifting to a different drug class such as tamoxifen (though tamoxifen has a different side effect profile, mainly from cardiac and vascular side effects).
Lancet. 1992 Jul 4;340(8810):9-13.
Long-term thyroxine treatment and bone mineral density.
Franklyn JA1, Betteridge J, Daykin J, Holder R, Oates GD, Parle JV, Lilley J, Heath DA, Sheppard MC.
Abstract
Studies of the effect of thyroxine replacement therapy on bone mineral density have given conflicting results; the reductions in bone mass reported by some have prompted recommendations that prescribed doses of thyroxine should be reduced.
s, just one of those blips, and taking Arimidex, which does not protect the bones like tamoxifen does, the bone density and pain in my hips, hands and feet has got exponentially worse in the last 4 yrs. Steroids are not the best meds these days for long term remission but great in the short term for bringing a flare under control.
The sooner you can get off steroids, the better - they will bring a flare under control, but are not good for long term remission from Crohn's.
Dx Jan 2003 idc,+ DCIS, 2 cm tumour, stage/grade 2. 3/18 nodes+. WLE ,total axillary removal. 6 FEC chemo, 25 rads.Mondor's disease dx 2005. Arimidex 4 yrs, recently stopped due to bone pain, hips, hands,feet. Waiting to see Onc. for alternative AI adjuvant meds. Bisphosphs wkly,bone density loss ,as osteopenic.
Though there is a good theoretical basis for the use of arimidex on endometriosis, I believe that this is still an off-label indication for the drug and the clinical basis for its use is still from phase II clinical trials (studies with still low number of patients). Until such time that the indication of endometriosis can be demonstrated in large phase III clinical trials, the use of arimidex for endometriosis is still controversial.
Hi - don't let it continue - I have suffered for 4 yrs now with after chemo/rads and Arimidex,and stopped the Arimidex 4 weeks ago. Joint pains have miraculously gone. Seeing an Oncologist soon for alternarive meds, Aromasin or Femara. I could only sleep 2 hours before being woken up by the pain in my left hip - bone scan and DEXa scan showed osteo arthritis and bone density loss, but don't believe they could cause such debilitating pain...and I have been proved right.
Maybe we should see if any of the dots connect with the Growth Hormone deficiency studies on HCV, and the Osteoporosis study linked above. GH Deficiency seems to cause loss of bone density, and is highly correlated with HCV, and possibly could worsen with tx, if our post-tx symptoms are any clue.
This Osteoporosis article also connects treatment to the problems with bone density, so it seems both HCV and tx are linked in different studies, to potential bone loss.
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