1. < Breast Cancer

Breast cancer treatment and kidney problems

Posted by pattykatty @crazyhazy, Oct 24, 2021

I've been on arimidex for 10 months for breast cancer, stage 2. Had lumpectomy, 30 rounds of radiation. Been on 2 other inhibitors, side effects were horrible. My onc switched me to arimidex. Besides all the side effects (joint pain, weakness, mood swings,etc) I now have problems with kidney functions. My creatinine levels and GFR scores have gone up, GFR decreased. Has anyone else have creatinine levels go up?

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vegada | @vegada | Sep 14, 2022
In reply to @leeann66 "Hello, I have been on Arimidex (Anastrozole) since July 2020 and yes my Creatinine level has..." + (show)
@leeann66

Hello, I have been on Arimidex (Anastrozole) since July 2020 and yes my Creatinine level has gone up. Doctor said it is not something I need to worry about but something they are keeping an eye on. I was the first patient she had that experienced that, I’m
Going to share your story with her, thanks for sharing! Is your doctor concerned about the changes?

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I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and my creatine levels have definitely increased and my gfr significantly decreased. I was stage 3 kidney disease and am now Stage 4. Does anyone know for sure if Arimidrex is impacting kidney function?

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 24, 2022
In reply to @vegada "I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and my creatine levels have definitely increased and..." + (show)
@vegada

I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and my creatine levels have definitely increased and my gfr significantly decreased. I was stage 3 kidney disease and am now Stage 4. Does anyone know for sure if Arimidrex is impacting kidney function?

Jump to this post

@vegada, is your oncologist working with your nephrologist to keep an eye on your kidney function? Might you discuss options with your oncologist? I might also suggest seeking a consult with a nutritionist to ask about good diet practices for kidney health, especially when on treatment for breast cancer.

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1 reply
vegada | @vegada | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@vegada, is your oncologist working with your nephrologist to keep an eye on your kidney function?..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@vegada, is your oncologist working with your nephrologist to keep an eye on your kidney function? Might you discuss options with your oncologist? I might also suggest seeking a consult with a nutritionist to ask about good diet practices for kidney health, especially when on treatment for breast cancer.

Jump to this post

Hi Colleen,
Thanks for replying. My oncologist and nephrologist have not drawn the possible connection with arimidex but I plan to talk to both of them. I have met with a kidney dietician and that was very helpful so I am also adjusting my diet. Ironically, none of my doctors have ever brought up any possible connection to arimidex, but I am sure going to have a conversation with both of them. Maybe another aromatase inhibitor might be better because I sure don't want to progress to stage 5 Kidney failure. I am not 100% sure that Arimidex has caused my creatine to increase and I haven't found any solid medical facts indicating that it is. But I am digging into it. If you have seen any medical research on this, please let me know.

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2 replies
cindyjoan | @cindyjoan | Sep 25, 2022

I have tnbc and have been receiving chemo and Keytruda for 11 weeks. My creatinine shot up to 5.87 after the 12th treatment. Drs determined it was the Keytruda that caused the kidney injury. Came very close to dialysis and treatment was stopped for 3 weeks.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @cindyjoan "I have tnbc and have been receiving chemo and Keytruda for 11 weeks. My creatinine shot..." + (show)
@cindyjoan

I have tnbc and have been receiving chemo and Keytruda for 11 weeks. My creatinine shot up to 5.87 after the 12th treatment. Drs determined it was the Keytruda that caused the kidney injury. Came very close to dialysis and treatment was stopped for 3 weeks.

Jump to this post

@cindyjoan, will you go back on Keytruda or is something else being considered?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @vegada "Hi Colleen, Thanks for replying. My oncologist and nephrologist have not drawn the possible connection with..." + (show)
@vegada

Hi Colleen,
Thanks for replying. My oncologist and nephrologist have not drawn the possible connection with arimidex but I plan to talk to both of them. I have met with a kidney dietician and that was very helpful so I am also adjusting my diet. Ironically, none of my doctors have ever brought up any possible connection to arimidex, but I am sure going to have a conversation with both of them. Maybe another aromatase inhibitor might be better because I sure don't want to progress to stage 5 Kidney failure. I am not 100% sure that Arimidex has caused my creatine to increase and I haven't found any solid medical facts indicating that it is. But I am digging into it. If you have seen any medical research on this, please let me know.

Jump to this post

@vegada, I found this recent paper that may help:
- Clinicopathologic Features of Acute Kidney Injury Associated With CDK4/6 Inhibitors (2021) https://www.kireports.org/article/S2468-0249(21)01558-8/fulltext

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lcr2017 | @lcr2017 | Sep 25, 2022

During my 4th year on Arimidex, I had 1 bloodwork that all the kidney numbers were out of wack and I started to research CKD. But my PCP said maybe it was just a blip. I figured he would check me every month to see, but at my next 6 month bloodwork with both onco and PCP all levels were normal as well as since then, so it was some kind of blip. Hope yours is too.

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deluga | @deluga | Sep 25, 2022

I have radiation burns after 6 weeks of radiation on my breast. I am using Xeriform Petroleum compresses with chest netting to help hold in place. But I'm not sure about how often to change, what to do about parts the compresses doesn't cover. Any advice would be welcome.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 30, 2022
In reply to @deluga "I have radiation burns after 6 weeks of radiation on my breast. I am using Xeriform..." + (show)
@deluga

I have radiation burns after 6 weeks of radiation on my breast. I am using Xeriform Petroleum compresses with chest netting to help hold in place. But I'm not sure about how often to change, what to do about parts the compresses doesn't cover. Any advice would be welcome.

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Deluga, you may find some helpful tips in this related discussion:
- My Dad has terrible burns from radiation. Any suggestions to help? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-burns

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lcm | @lcm | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@crazyhazy, kidney function is something that doctors keep a close eye on. There are many drugs..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@crazyhazy, kidney function is something that doctors keep a close eye on. There are many drugs that can have a temporary or permanent impact on the kidneys, even drugs like over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. The following breast cancer treatments can have an affect on the kidneys:
- Paraplatin (carboplatin)
- Afinitor (everolimus)
- Avastin (bevacizumab)

Whether Arimidex (anastrozole) is the culprit or not, it is good that your doctors are monitoring your creatine levels. Did you have kidney issues before breast cancer?

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I've been on Arimidex since 2019 and about 8months ago Kidney function hasn't been WNL but Oncology Dr. Keeping eye on it. He did refer me to a Nephrologist too.

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