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Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?

Posted by nanato6 @nanato6, Oct 12, 2018

Nanaloves: I’m about to start arimidex and just feel that the contraindications , bone issues etc. are overwhelming. I’m 70 years old, dodged a bullet I feel with zero stage DCIS but the follow up is pretty much no different then if it was more aggressive. I’ve just done 33 treatments of radiation and now they advise arimidex as a preventative. I’m not sure with the beginnings of arthritis and lower back. sensitivity already that I should take it. Anyone not take it and not have a recurrence within the 5 years.

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oilermama | @oilermama | Oct 20, 2020

jeannie, thanks for sharing this. I, too, am 66 and wonder what it would be like to forsake the Ibrance and anastrazole. However, with MBC, what are the risks?

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1 reply
jeannie53 | @jeannie53 | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @oilermama "jeannie, thanks for sharing this. I, too, am 66 and wonder what it would be like..." + (show)
@oilermama

jeannie, thanks for sharing this. I, too, am 66 and wonder what it would be like to forsake the Ibrance and anastrazole. However, with MBC, what are the risks?

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@oilermama In my case I'm low risk without MBC so for me the decision is easier. I'm sure if my circumstances were different I may have gone another route. It's different for everyone so many variables good luck with whatever you choose.

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lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @jeannie53 "@crazydaisy I was on Anastrozole for 6 months it was terrible for me and I had..." + (show)
@jeannie53

@crazydaisy I was on Anastrozole for 6 months it was terrible for me and I had horrible body aches. My doctor had me take a break and switched to Tamoxifen after a while I felt aches again. I have opted to take nothing as I am considered low risk. The doctor told me taking Tamoxifen would cut my risk in half. I have a feeling a lot of women wrestle with this decision I know I do but also know at 66 years old my quality of life is important to me. I was diagnosed April 2018 so far so good.

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Jeannie53, I too had many problems with Anastrozole! It was the first medication my doctor had me on following surgery and radiation. I had horrible memory problems from it. There is evidence that cognitive function can indeed be affected by lowering estrogen. This issue is still being researched and I don’t know if the studies are conclusive or not. Many women have trouble with scattered thinking during menopause when our estrogen levels naturally lower. Those of us who need to take drugs following breast cancer to lower our estrogen levels also can have that side effect. My doctor switched me to Tomoxifin from Anastrozole and my cognitive function was much better. Unfortunately I had some sort of allergic reaction to the Tomoxifin and broke out in itching hives all over my body! I was miserable, and needed to take cortisone for several days to clear up the hives. My oncologist gave me a break for about 8 weeks from meds. to restart over again with Exemestane. I’ve been on that for a little over a year and it seems to be much better for me. It’s far from perfect, but I can tolerate it.

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2 replies
jeannie53 | @jeannie53 | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @lisman1408 "Jeannie53, I too had many problems with Anastrozole! It was the first medication my doctor had..." + (show)
@lisman1408

Jeannie53, I too had many problems with Anastrozole! It was the first medication my doctor had me on following surgery and radiation. I had horrible memory problems from it. There is evidence that cognitive function can indeed be affected by lowering estrogen. This issue is still being researched and I don’t know if the studies are conclusive or not. Many women have trouble with scattered thinking during menopause when our estrogen levels naturally lower. Those of us who need to take drugs following breast cancer to lower our estrogen levels also can have that side effect. My doctor switched me to Tomoxifin from Anastrozole and my cognitive function was much better. Unfortunately I had some sort of allergic reaction to the Tomoxifin and broke out in itching hives all over my body! I was miserable, and needed to take cortisone for several days to clear up the hives. My oncologist gave me a break for about 8 weeks from meds. to restart over again with Exemestane. I’ve been on that for a little over a year and it seems to be much better for me. It’s far from perfect, but I can tolerate it.

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@lisman1408 One of the other reasons my doctor took me off Anastrozole is because it accelerates bone loss. I'm small framed and she felt Tamoxifen would be better because it helps preserve bone strength. Neither drug agreed with me. Glad that Exemestane is a better fit for you.

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trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @lisman1408 "Jeannie53, I too had many problems with Anastrozole! It was the first medication my doctor had..." + (show)
@lisman1408

Jeannie53, I too had many problems with Anastrozole! It was the first medication my doctor had me on following surgery and radiation. I had horrible memory problems from it. There is evidence that cognitive function can indeed be affected by lowering estrogen. This issue is still being researched and I don’t know if the studies are conclusive or not. Many women have trouble with scattered thinking during menopause when our estrogen levels naturally lower. Those of us who need to take drugs following breast cancer to lower our estrogen levels also can have that side effect. My doctor switched me to Tomoxifin from Anastrozole and my cognitive function was much better. Unfortunately I had some sort of allergic reaction to the Tomoxifin and broke out in itching hives all over my body! I was miserable, and needed to take cortisone for several days to clear up the hives. My oncologist gave me a break for about 8 weeks from meds. to restart over again with Exemestane. I’ve been on that for a little over a year and it seems to be much better for me. It’s far from perfect, but I can tolerate it.

Jump to this post

@lisman1408
I'm glad the exemestane has been tolerable for you. It has for me as well and I've been on it for about a year. I don't feel I have the memory problems as the anastrozole and the joint aches are not bad at all as well.

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queenmary25 | @queenmary25 | Dec 10, 2020

Has anyone with a low risk of cancer coming stopped taking the hormone blocker? Mine is a 19% chance of coming back. This hormone is killing me.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 10, 2020
In reply to @queenmary25 "Has anyone with a low risk of cancer coming stopped taking the hormone blocker? Mine is..." + (show)
@queenmary25

Has anyone with a low risk of cancer coming stopped taking the hormone blocker? Mine is a 19% chance of coming back. This hormone is killing me.

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Hi @queenmary25, Many women weigh the pros and cons of taking an aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole against the risk of recurrence. You are not alone with this difficult decision. For that reason, I moved your message to this existing discussion called "Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?" so that you can connect with other members like @mimi99 @cindylb @elvandi @mollyjbrown @buckimom @jeannie53 @lisman1408 @tessfair1 @trixie1313 and others. Click VIEW & REPLY to read a variety of choices women made to discontinue based on low risk, others who switched to a different AI and yet others who found strategies that worked for them to manage the side effects.

Everyone is different of course and the final decision is for you to make with counsel from your oncologist and perhaps your family too.

Queenmary, what type of breast cancer do you have? Have you tried any of the other aromatase inhibitors?

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2 replies
jana15 | @jana15 | Dec 11, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @queenmary25, Many women weigh the pros and cons of taking an aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @queenmary25, Many women weigh the pros and cons of taking an aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole against the risk of recurrence. You are not alone with this difficult decision. For that reason, I moved your message to this existing discussion called "Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?" so that you can connect with other members like @mimi99 @cindylb @elvandi @mollyjbrown @buckimom @jeannie53 @lisman1408 @tessfair1 @trixie1313 and others. Click VIEW & REPLY to read a variety of choices women made to discontinue based on low risk, others who switched to a different AI and yet others who found strategies that worked for them to manage the side effects.

Everyone is different of course and the final decision is for you to make with counsel from your oncologist and perhaps your family too.

Queenmary, what type of breast cancer do you have? Have you tried any of the other aromatase inhibitors?

Jump to this post

I have a 10 percent chance of recurrence if I did not take them and a 5 percent chance if I did take them. I never started. I figured those were not significant odds. I will just be alert to any changes in my body. Blessings in whatever you decide to do. It is not an easy decision.

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2 replies
jeannie53 | @jeannie53 | Dec 11, 2020
In reply to @jana15 "I have a 10 percent chance of recurrence if I did not take them and a..." + (show)
@jana15

I have a 10 percent chance of recurrence if I did not take them and a 5 percent chance if I did take them. I never started. I figured those were not significant odds. I will just be alert to any changes in my body. Blessings in whatever you decide to do. It is not an easy decision.

Jump to this post

@queenmary25 @jana15 Tried Anastrozole for 6 months it did not agree with me. Talked to my doctor about my risk numbers which were exactly like yours Jana15. I figured with the age of my diagnosis which was 65 I'll take my chances and go with quality of life. It's a difficult choice to make and one I always hope is the correct one. So far so good.

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queenmary25 | @queenmary25 | Dec 11, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @queenmary25, Many women weigh the pros and cons of taking an aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @queenmary25, Many women weigh the pros and cons of taking an aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole against the risk of recurrence. You are not alone with this difficult decision. For that reason, I moved your message to this existing discussion called "Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?" so that you can connect with other members like @mimi99 @cindylb @elvandi @mollyjbrown @buckimom @jeannie53 @lisman1408 @tessfair1 @trixie1313 and others. Click VIEW & REPLY to read a variety of choices women made to discontinue based on low risk, others who switched to a different AI and yet others who found strategies that worked for them to manage the side effects.

Everyone is different of course and the final decision is for you to make with counsel from your oncologist and perhaps your family too.

Queenmary, what type of breast cancer do you have? Have you tried any of the other aromatase inhibitors?

Jump to this post

I had left invasive with 18 lymph nodes removed. 2 centimeter tumor on left. 8 CM non-invasive with 2 lymph nodes removed. No radiation, no chemotherapy, clean margins. 1 neg 1 positive. Double mastectomy..getting ready to have reconstruction in Jan

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