Arimidex and numbness

Posted by tc1 @tc1, Oct 5, 2022

Hi,
Have anyone taking Arimidex experienced numbness in their hands and feet? I feel fine otherwise, the numbness is just annoying. I have only been taking it for five months for a reoccurrence of DCIS.
Thanks!

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Hello @tc1 I took arimidex for 5 years, I do have some issues with hands and feet, but that has been attributed to chemotherapy since it started before I was on arimidex when I was still taking tamoxifen. That numb feeling is awful and probably a little scary if it just started happening. The chemo I took is well known for this and I have gone from numb to on fire and humming. Lol
I am curious if you have taken any other treatments that might be responsible? Is there a certain time when this happens, or does anything make it better or worse?

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@auntieoakley

Hello @tc1 I took arimidex for 5 years, I do have some issues with hands and feet, but that has been attributed to chemotherapy since it started before I was on arimidex when I was still taking tamoxifen. That numb feeling is awful and probably a little scary if it just started happening. The chemo I took is well known for this and I have gone from numb to on fire and humming. Lol
I am curious if you have taken any other treatments that might be responsible? Is there a certain time when this happens, or does anything make it better or worse?

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Hi @auntieoakley, thank you for your response. Luckily I didn’t require chemo only an excision and radiation treatment. Last go round, nine years ago, I was premenopausal so I took a five year course of tamoxifen. This time being post menopause the drug of choice is Arimidex. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced the same symptoms and had any tricks. There isn’t any specific times or activities that I can link to the numbness. I am increasing my water intake and my doc suggested taking the meds in the evening.
Take care,
TC1

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Hi @tc1, I posted something relevant under the Breast Cancer and Neuropathy thread. Here it is:
I've been on Anastrozole for 7 months. I started having numbness on my right ring finger about a month ago. It's not terrible but I feel it. It's worst in the mornings: when I close my fingers around a bar of soap for example it hurts. It becomes gradually fine during the day. Last week I went to see an occupational therapist.

Now, after several sessions, my finger is better but it is not completely gone. The occupational therapist applied a massage using an ultrasound machine which, I think, really helped. She also did a deep massage to my finger each session. Now I do that whenever I feel the numbness.

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@eku,
Thank you this is a big help. I will chat with my PCP and care team about OT.
Take care,
Terry

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