1. < Breast Cancer

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

whr | @whr | Nov 15, 2021
In reply to @laselidas "Please, regarding osteoporosis, talk to your oncologist about taking calcium and vitamin D, and referring you..." + (show)
@laselidas

Please, regarding osteoporosis, talk to your oncologist about taking calcium and vitamin D, and referring you to a physical therapist to recommend weight bearing exercises. My oncologist has ordered Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) which also has some slight anti-metastasis action. Stay here, do not give up.

Jump to this post

Thank you,vI already take calcium and D3, have been through PT several times.

REPLY
vivi1 | @vivi1 | Nov 15, 2021
In reply to @francine6829 "Any side effects from Tomixifen?" + (show)
@francine6829

Any side effects from Tomixifen?

Jump to this post

I have been taking a 5-10mg/day dose of tamoxifen for a bit over month. I take it before bed and find that I have low abdominal pressure, making me worry about endometrial thickening, and I have to urinate three or four times at night, which is inconvenient to say the least. No aches, pain, fatigue or brain fog.

REPLY
magmcdonah2 | @magmcdonah2 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @nanato6 "Thank you for your quick reply. I also had a lumpectomy with no node involvement. A..." + (show)
@nanato6

Thank you for your quick reply. I also had a lumpectomy with no node involvement. A protein beam wasn’t offered. I didn’t think tamoxifen was an option for us post menopausal gals. I’ll mention that if the other AIs are a problem. Best to you!

Jump to this post

AI’s are more effective in post menopausal women. I’m on the border so starting with Tamoxifen and following my hormones to switch over to AI. Reading the side effects is overwhelming.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @magmcdonah2 "AI’s are more effective in post menopausal women. I’m on the border so starting with Tamoxifen..." + (show)
@magmcdonah2

AI’s are more effective in post menopausal women. I’m on the border so starting with Tamoxifen and following my hormones to switch over to AI. Reading the side effects is overwhelming.

Jump to this post

Try not to overwhelm yourself with thinking about the side effects. Remember there are more people who have little to no side effects than there are people who have severe side effects. You know what they say about an unhappy customer telling more people than a happy customer does. Same is true here. I have always had hot flashes, sometimes excessive, but do able. I now have to deal with the inevitable bone loss from very early menopause. But my eye is firmly on the prize and I am still here to complain about it. I am one week shy of 18 years from original diagnosis. If you do start to have troubles, you can always come here and talk about it.
Can you say more about your cancer journey? It sounds like you might be younger than most, if you are just shy of menopause. Are you a young survivor?

REPLY
1 reply
magmcdonah2 | @magmcdonah2 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "Try not to overwhelm yourself with thinking about the side effects. Remember there are more people..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Try not to overwhelm yourself with thinking about the side effects. Remember there are more people who have little to no side effects than there are people who have severe side effects. You know what they say about an unhappy customer telling more people than a happy customer does. Same is true here. I have always had hot flashes, sometimes excessive, but do able. I now have to deal with the inevitable bone loss from very early menopause. But my eye is firmly on the prize and I am still here to complain about it. I am one week shy of 18 years from original diagnosis. If you do start to have troubles, you can always come here and talk about it.
Can you say more about your cancer journey? It sounds like you might be younger than most, if you are just shy of menopause. Are you a young survivor?

Jump to this post

I’m 58, but because of my exogenous hormone use they weren’t quite ready to declare me menopausal even though my labs look that way. So repeating labs in few months to confirm. I took my first dose of Tamoxifen this morning, I’m trying to not read all the negative side effects. Thank you.

REPLY
windyshores | @windyshores | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @magmcdonah2 "AI’s are more effective in post menopausal women. I’m on the border so starting with Tamoxifen..." + (show)
@magmcdonah2

AI’s are more effective in post menopausal women. I’m on the border so starting with Tamoxifen and following my hormones to switch over to AI. Reading the side effects is overwhelming.

Jump to this post

Reading the side effects of any medicine can be overwhelming. Many of us did fine on AI's. My only tip is to walk longer than 20 minutes. My doc said she heard that from many people. Pain at first and then it gets better if you walk longer. I finished my time on an AI and almost feel I felt better while on it! But honestly it just means I am that much older 🙂

REPLY
1 reply
brinacarmen | @brinacarmen | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @trixie1313 "@crazydaisy Five years? Nope...Unfortunately, I'm on the 10-year plan due to the neuroendocrine cancer of the..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@crazydaisy
Five years? Nope...Unfortunately, I'm on the 10-year plan due to the neuroendocrine cancer of the breast. What I have found though is not to settle for problems with AIs, but to move on to another one if the first or even the second don't work out for you. I was so depressed with the pain and all the other side effects of the first one that I have been pleasantly surprised by the third one I tried and have been doing fairly well on that for a year now.

Jump to this post

Can you tell me what the third one is ? Tamoxifen didn’t like me at all

REPLY
2 replies
brinacarmen | @brinacarmen | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @brinacarmen "Can you tell me what the third one is ? Tamoxifen didn’t like me at all" + (show)
@brinacarmen

Can you tell me what the third one is ? Tamoxifen didn’t like me at all

Jump to this post

I have another dumb question. What does Al stand for or is it A1?

REPLY
1 reply
Dee Chase | @deechase | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @brinacarmen "I have another dumb question. What does Al stand for or is it A1?" + (show)
@brinacarmen

I have another dumb question. What does Al stand for or is it A1?

Jump to this post

Aromatase inhibitor - essentially means it's a hormone blocker

REPLY
1 reply
brinacarmen | @brinacarmen | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @deechase "Aromatase inhibitor - essentially means it's a hormone blocker" + (show)
@deechase

Aromatase inhibitor - essentially means it's a hormone blocker

Jump to this post

Thank you !!!

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.