arimidex and heart disease

Based on information from a study in patients with early breast cancer, women with a history of blockages in heart arteries (ischemic heart disease) who take ARIMIDEX may have a slight increase in this type of heart disease compared to similar patients who take tamoxifen. ARIMIDEX can cause bone softening/weakening (osteoporosis) increasing the chance of fractures.

After an average of 68 months, women on Arimidex had a 15-percent greater disease-free survival and a 25-percent longer time to disease recurrence than women on tamoxifen. The time it took for the cancer to spread to distant regions of the body was approximately 16-percent longer and the development of new cancers was reduced by more than 50 percent with Arimidex.

Estrogen and progesterone positive. If anyone can tell me something about Arimidex and the above side effects and osteopenia and whether or not I need to start a bisphosphonates please let me know.

However, these side effects are offset by the major clinical benefit which is prevention of disease recurrence and may ultimately prolong survival. This will all depend on how you accept these risks. Since this already happened, you may want to confer with your doctor regarding shifting to other drugs like tamoxifen, or starting on bone therapy with pamidronate or zometa. Regards and God bless.

I learned that some weman experienced elevated blood pressure and blood clots while on Arimidex. And Arimidex is known to cause high blood pressure and blood clots. How do know for sure that Arimidex is the cause of my high blood pressure?

ve recently started Arimidex 5 days ago and again noticed dry eyes and my vision does not seem as clear once again. I have to believe that it's the Arimidex and Tamoxifin.

Hi Jim, I just want to say that I am so sorry about your wife. I read your post and it broke my heart and I am sorry for you both. I lost my mum to breast cancer that invaded her, and I have just had a mastectomy and its terrifying and so frustrating and it seems that everyone on these posts, myself included are not being told everything and not being given everything that we should be given to treat us.

I am 75 years old and live alone Yesterday I decided to quit taking the Arimidex. I phoned my oncologist and left a message on the nurse voice mail. No one has returned my call. What are the statistics of recurrance with / without Arimidex treatment? I have been told I am in the 2% range.. which to me is not worth the horrible side effects of Arimidex.

I have been on Arimidex for 3 years and I have the exact same problem with the weight gain in my stomach. I don't know if it will ever come off but all I can do is hope. I am cancer free since my surgery and the pills and hope to remain so. My oncologist seems to think every thing is going very well at this time. After all this is the most important part of it, remaining cancer free. I wish all well and hope you continue to remain cancer free.

I had a lumpectomy, radiation and now Arimidex. How likely is this tumour with no vessel or nodal invasion present, onco type dx score in low recurrence, to metastasis?

I learned that Aromasin and Arimidex are quite different. Aromasin permanently binds to the Aromatase and Arimidex is temporary. I'll have to do more research about what that means chemically.

Has anyone experienced a full face full of acne for a prolonged period after starting Arimidex? It is my friend who had breast cancer and she is blind and wants to write for her. She also has Lupus but she has seen a dermatologist and rheumatologist and they dismiss it as acne. She knows she is out of remission with discoid lupus. But they assured her the 'acne" is not lupus breakout.

I have been taking Arimidex for 2 years, and all symptoms increase, including CHF. Are these symptoms Arimedex related?

5 months later counts rising again and tumors on CT scan -- Started Doxil Feb 3 of 2008 and just finished 6 cycles -- tumors have shrunk significantly by CA125 up to 256 which is where I started in Feb (had gone down to 161 and then started climbing again) -- docs say I need a break and have started me on Arimidex two days ago to control the CA125 -- should i be continuing the Doxil to make the tumors continue to shrink, or stay on Arimidex until the tumors are growing again?

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

I have been on Arimidex for just over 3 years. I have had minimal obvious side effects, but some tough not so obvious side effects. It seems the longer I am on it, the side effects have been creeping in. I now have trigger thumb, hands are stiff. Had a bad fall in October, landing on my back and causing compression fractures in several vertebrae. I believe the anastrzole is complicating my recovery. Struggle with higher thought processes and memory issues. However, considering the alternatives.

For the past five weeks, I have been bleeding and appear to be having a period. Does anyone relate to this? I am overweight, stressed, and too busy to exercise in case there is a connection. Any experience out there with this?

Hi, I too was taking Tamoxifen and then was switched to Arimidex and then Aromasen. I am now back on Tamoxifen. I had so many problems with the other meds. I am very sensative to meds and the later 2 did not work. I have a few problems with Tamoxifen but it is better than the others for me. My Dr. said that it is not a problem being in "forced" menopause and the fact that I had a hysterectomy as well. One thing we always have to remember is that we are our own advocate...

Does Arimidex effect hair growth? I finished chemotherapy on August 24 and my hair has not quite grown in yet.

My cancer was somewhat smaller than those above (less than 1 cm) with clear margins , node negative,and was grade 2, with negative Herceptin Neu2, and no BRCA genes. I had a wide excision lumpectomy, radiation and am taking Arimidex. The possibility of permanent side effects of chemo, such as neuropathy and heart damage are also frightening to me in that the quality of my life would be impaired even beyond the usual maladies of aging, even if cancer never recurred.

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 am thinking of adding a supplement with the arimidex (broccoli seed extract - a natural aromatase inhibitor) and monitoring estradiol/estrone with blood tests after starting the supplement. If there were a negative interaction between the arimidex and the broccoli seed extract, how accurate would the blood test's estrogen results be?

With a family history of breast cancer, I opted for bilateral mastectomies with SN Biops. which were negative, and other breast was without disease. The tumor is ER pos, Pr neg. Her2/neu negative and was also evaluated by Oncotype DX. The recurrence score was 27 so I'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.

Arimidex and heart disease

Common Questions and Answers about Arimidex and heart disease

arimidex