1. < Breast Cancer

Arimidex and side effects

Posted by jayne1959 @jayne1959, Jan 26 6:26pm

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

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dyevooshka | @dyevooshka | Jan 28 6:58pm

I was prescribed 10 mcg Estradiol vaginal insert tablet 2x weekly. This After my doctor saying, dryness is not usually a side effect (!)

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1 reply
dyevooshka | @dyevooshka | Jan 28 8:46pm
In reply to @dyevooshka "Yes to the low dose vaginal tablet. Cancer research finally agreed that since any vaginal use..." + (show)
@dyevooshka

Yes to the low dose vaginal tablet. Cancer research finally agreed that since any vaginal use stays LOCALIZED and poses no risks. Anything taken by mouth would be SYSTEMIC, traveling throughout your body, and would increase risks for anyone taking aromatase inhibitors to treat ER+ breast cancer.(I will look up this research source and get back to you!) ♥

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Breastcancer.org had research. My doctor prescribed 10mcg Estradiol vaginal insert tablet 2x a week.

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jayne1959 | @jayne1959 | Jan 29 5:30am

My Oncologist does not take my concerns seriously.
After April of this year will be my 5 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had my Lumpectomy and then I had 5 weeks of Radiation that started the middle of June 2019.
I see my Oncologist every 6 months.
I have my annual Mammogram on 2-28-24 and then see my Oncologist on 3-4-24.

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jayne1959 | @jayne1959 | Jan 29 5:32am
In reply to @dyevooshka "I was prescribed 10 mcg Estradiol vaginal insert tablet 2x weekly. This After my doctor saying,..." + (show)
@dyevooshka

I was prescribed 10 mcg Estradiol vaginal insert tablet 2x weekly. This After my doctor saying, dryness is not usually a side effect (!)

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Well the doctor is wrong, just like my doctor not taking my concerns seriously.

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celestebradham | @celestebradham | Jan 29 7:26am
In reply to @celestebradham "I use coconut oil- but not because of UTIs - for moisturizer - seems to help." + (show)
@celestebradham

I use coconut oil- but not because of UTIs - for moisturizer - seems to help.

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Doctor recommended

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saraabrooks | @saraabrooks | Jan 31 5:06am

Dosage of Anastrozole changed: One tablet every OTHER day. Why? Side effects from fatigue, depression, achiness, weakness, no energy to even take a walk. Went off pill Dec 13 to Dec 29 for family Christmas, back on Dec 30, then off again Jan 14. I was done with this S!?t!!!!
On Jan 30 went in for my 3rd round (every 3 mo) of mam/USound/consult. Lo and behold my left breast tumor was almost untraceable this time. It shrank big time. The right breast, the bigger tumor, was there but now splotchy and a little smaller. My surgeon, et al, were shocked at the difference. I was thrilled, but now, decision time? In talking I reminded my doctor what I had read (reliable source). There is a half-life of 50 hours for the drug. SOOO, I'm taking pill every other day. My dr. wouldn't go 3 days apart, but we both agreed on every other day. Going to see if I lose all my energy again.

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2 replies
jayne1959 | @jayne1959 | Jan 31 6:22am
In reply to @saraabrooks "Dosage of Anastrozole changed: One tablet every OTHER day. Why? Side effects from fatigue, depression, achiness,..." + (show)
@saraabrooks

Dosage of Anastrozole changed: One tablet every OTHER day. Why? Side effects from fatigue, depression, achiness, weakness, no energy to even take a walk. Went off pill Dec 13 to Dec 29 for family Christmas, back on Dec 30, then off again Jan 14. I was done with this S!?t!!!!
On Jan 30 went in for my 3rd round (every 3 mo) of mam/USound/consult. Lo and behold my left breast tumor was almost untraceable this time. It shrank big time. The right breast, the bigger tumor, was there but now splotchy and a little smaller. My surgeon, et al, were shocked at the difference. I was thrilled, but now, decision time? In talking I reminded my doctor what I had read (reliable source). There is a half-life of 50 hours for the drug. SOOO, I'm taking pill every other day. My dr. wouldn't go 3 days apart, but we both agreed on every other day. Going to see if I lose all my energy again.

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I am so glad that you had great mammogram results after changing your dosage to every other day.
My oncologist just won’t listen.
This July will be my 5th year and so far all my mammograms have been good, which I am thankful.
My left breast was the one that the cancer was found in and I had a Lumpectomy. Now my right breast is so much bigger and finding a bra has been unsuccessful. I mentioned this to my oncologist and he said the option he had was to get a breast reduction and I said I would be thinking about that.

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1 reply
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jan 31 8:45am
In reply to @saraabrooks "Dosage of Anastrozole changed: One tablet every OTHER day. Why? Side effects from fatigue, depression, achiness,..." + (show)
@saraabrooks

Dosage of Anastrozole changed: One tablet every OTHER day. Why? Side effects from fatigue, depression, achiness, weakness, no energy to even take a walk. Went off pill Dec 13 to Dec 29 for family Christmas, back on Dec 30, then off again Jan 14. I was done with this S!?t!!!!
On Jan 30 went in for my 3rd round (every 3 mo) of mam/USound/consult. Lo and behold my left breast tumor was almost untraceable this time. It shrank big time. The right breast, the bigger tumor, was there but now splotchy and a little smaller. My surgeon, et al, were shocked at the difference. I was thrilled, but now, decision time? In talking I reminded my doctor what I had read (reliable source). There is a half-life of 50 hours for the drug. SOOO, I'm taking pill every other day. My dr. wouldn't go 3 days apart, but we both agreed on every other day. Going to see if I lose all my energy again.

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I read an article that they have some research that show taking an AI 9 months of the year with 3 months off was as effective as everyday. I was jealous because I’m on tamoxifen. I didn’t spend much time reading through the article or following up on the research it references - which you’d want to do if you were considering this option.
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)02492-3/fulltext

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2 replies
jayne1959 | @jayne1959 | Jan 31 10:02am
In reply to @triciaot "I read an article that they have some research that show taking an AI 9 months..." + (show)
@triciaot

I read an article that they have some research that show taking an AI 9 months of the year with 3 months off was as effective as everyday. I was jealous because I’m on tamoxifen. I didn’t spend much time reading through the article or following up on the research it references - which you’d want to do if you were considering this option.
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)02492-3/fulltext

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Thank you so much for sending this to me.

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saraabrooks | @saraabrooks | Feb 1 8:59am
In reply to @triciaot "I read an article that they have some research that show taking an AI 9 months..." + (show)
@triciaot

I read an article that they have some research that show taking an AI 9 months of the year with 3 months off was as effective as everyday. I was jealous because I’m on tamoxifen. I didn’t spend much time reading through the article or following up on the research it references - which you’d want to do if you were considering this option.
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)02492-3/fulltext

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Thanx for the info. Personally I believe most women are being overdosed, especially since the drug stays in your system for 50 hours. Taking the drug EVERY DAY? I believe it's overdosing. Does cutting back to dosing every OTHER day still prove effective? That's what I'm doing - testing out that theory. Now your statement about AI intrigues me. OMG, how wonderful is that!!??

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