The purpose of arimidex (an other aromatase inhibitors) is to try to prevent cancer recurrence – not only for the duration that the drug is used but in years beyond. The purpose of the clinical trial is to ask the question if 10 years is better than 5. While there are recurrences in people who are taking arimidex and other medications, the data is looked at not individually but in large numbers to see if overall, 10 years would be better than 5.
I am also taking Arimidex and of course I am very interested in knowing more about this medication.My breast surgeon told me also that by taking Arimidex reduces the development of new breast cancers by 50 per cent.
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Arimidex most effective in breast cancer study.
I just stopped taking Arimidex after 10 years (stage 3A, ER positive, 5 positive nodes in 2003. Had Mastectomy/chemo/rads.)
Has anyone out there also stopped Arimidex after many years? What was your experience after stopping? The doctors don't seem to know what to expect after longterm Arimidex yet!
I don't know of anything unless you would reduce the caloric intake although it might not be totally due to food. It might also depend on what those calories are coming from. Good Luck....
My wife is losing the battle. She was treated aggressively seven years ago and then placed on Tamoxifin. With HER2 cancer why are CT scans not required every six months? By the time there was any physical indications, after five years of Tamoxifin, the cancer had metastasized throughout body. But it never came back in the breast. It attacked the muscle behind the breast, the left lung, liver and bones.
I would seem odd to have this type of reaction since you've been on Arimidex for over 2 years but I suppose anything is possible. Since the Oncologist thinks your symptoms may be caused by something other than the drug you might want to ck. with a Neurologist regarding this numbness OR perhaps an Internist, since this may even be a circulatory issue.Sounds like it's going to be a process of elimination in order to find the cause. Regards ....
, locoregional or distant recurrence or contralateral breast cancer), postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer should consider an AI, either as primary adjuvant therapy for 5 years or sequentially after 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen to yield a total of 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Women who discontinue initial AI therapy before 5 years should consider using tamoxifen to bring the total duration of adjuvant therapy to 5 years.
I found that every time I pity myself and get stressed out, things get worse.My sister had radiation and is taking Arimidex (2 years now) and the side effects have considerably lessened.I hope it will happen to us also.I tend to be a bit irritable lately,but I try my best not to frustrate people around me especially my husband....LOL. who is really very patient with me and supported me throughout all my hard times.
I had tolerated the Tamoxifen very well for two years - few side effects. I was switched to Arimidex in late 2008 and have been on it since. I am a pretty healthy (other than the BC) - 52 year old. I am physically active and appropriate weight for my body type and size.
I have stiffness in the morning mostly - or if I sit at my desk for a long time. Once I am up and about it takes a couple of minutes - but I am pretty unaffected once I get rolling.
My friend has been taking Arimidex for two years and has all the usual side effects--hot flashes, muscle aches, lack of sleep but, in spite of all her exercising and walking and careful eating, all of the weight gain has been in her stomach and she is at a loss of what to do to lose it. Nothing seems to work and she's very unhappy with that particular location? Anyone else know of weight gain from the drug at that spot specifically?
Hi Kelsey:
Thank you for your response, it is much appreciated. I will see my family doctor on Tuesday to get my dexa score. But for now I'm concerned with my reaction to the Arimidex. I took my first dose last Tuesday morning at 9:30am, at 12:30p I went to bed for a few hours. Long story, short....I've been feeling horrible since last Tuesday. No energy, very tired and shaky, MENTAL FOG, very emotional, I've cried at least one time everyday since.
Did you first try Arimidex or Femara? My Onco. mentioned that Aromasin is somewhat different in chemical composition than Arimidex & Femara, and thinks that is the drug that may work for me. However, I am going to try Arimidex first; whenever my trigger thumb & Carpel Tunnel improve to 100%. Did you have any problem with numbness to your hands at night?
God Bless.
This time it mastisized to my right femur which was treated with 10 treatments of radiation. The breast was removed. I have been on Arimidex 6 years now. I have gradually gained 40 pounds, continually have hot flashes and night sweats, have joint pain and now starting to retain water/have diarreah. I had a 135 IQ but after being on Arimidex lost the ability to do math and have problems with simple addition and subtraction. Also I have directional issues.
My son will be 15 years old next week. His pediatrician feels he should be further along in puberty (he's stage 2). He is 5'7 and weighs 180lbs. After seeing an endocrinologist who ran all types of blood work which came back normal with the exception of his estrogen level a bit higher then normal and had an X-ray of his hand which showed bones of a 13 half to 14 half yr old (I was told was good ) want to give my son arimidex. My question is......is this safe for teen boys.
But women are much more plagued by that than men. In fact, Precocious puberty is much more common in girls in general so a lot of what you read about it is geared toward girls. If you are wanting your child to grow more, prolonging full puberty could work for you. But yes, I'd expect some side effects. Hard decision.
2. When I had a blood test more than 2 weeks ago (April 8), my WBC count was 3.3. Could this be a side effect of arimidex?
FYI -- I was diagnosed in May 2007: IDC, stage 1, 1cm., e.r. +, grade 3, negative lymph nodes. I had chemo (1 infusion TC, 6 infusions CMF) Aug. 2007 to Jan. 2008, radiation for 7 weeks from Feb. to mid March 2008. I had a severe reaction to Neulasta, so I had to stop taking it and my WBC count was a major issue throughout the chemo.
I just finished my two years of tamoxifen and start my arimidex this week. I recently developed severe stomach pains with cramps, diarrhea and what feels like acid indigestion that has lasted for almost a week. Everything I swallow with the exception of water, makes me hurt terribly. We were in Costa Rica when it started so my G.P. thinks it's either a parasite or a staff infection. I wondered if it could be from my chemo and radiation treatments.
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