Arimidex For Hormone Therapy, Anyone On It?

After I have my second surgery, margine not clear, I will start six weeks of radiation and then hormome therapy.

I've been told I will be on Arimidex (anastrizole) for five years.

Wondering if anyone here is on Arimidex and will share their experience also tell me if they are having any side effects and how they cope with them.

I have stage IIA  HER2minus, Estrogen+  Progesterone+  breast cancer. 

Had the Oncotype test and my score is 15

Scores range from 0 to 100  I'm told 15 is good.

Jane

Thanks for your reply JUJU

I have read about side effects and wondered if anyone on Arimidex was having any other than hot flashes.
What worries me is fatigue, nausea and depression.

I won't mind the hot flashes too much, recently recovered from Lyme Disease and am cold all the time...so heat will be welcome.

As for depression I cannot handle anti drugs.
When I had Lyme I was given Paxil and in just a few days I thought I was losing my mind. I wasn't really depressed, just down about being so sick don't even know why it was prescribed and that drug almost pushed me over the edge. Also tried Wellbutrin, same thing happened.

As for dry skin you may be right about thyroid, common problem it seems.

The stinging of nerves and numbness in your little finger is not mentioned in side effects of Arimidex, but who knows it could be a rare one. We surely don't all have the same reactions.

I so glad you shared your hormome therapy experience with me it took away a lot of my anxiety. I kept thinking how was I going to take a pill everyday for five years if it made me sick I was sure I would give up and take my chances. Even my doctor said the only side effect I will have is hot flashes. I can handle that........

Jane

Alcie, I read about joint and bone pain as being a side effect.
I don't have arthritis or if I do I have no pain from it.
I guess after menopause we all have some osteoarthritis.

Thanks for the information will make note of it in case I develope joint pain.

Every bit of information helps......thank you.

Jane

Kathy, so glad to hear your almost finished Arimidex and that it has less side effects than Femara. Did you have MRI's and mammograms done while under treatment?

I'm through menopause and didn't have much trouble with hot flashes so maybe I won't with Arimidex. The body aches I have no idea about that. Will all this stop when you go off hormone therapy? and do they ever extend therapy? How about a scan for osteoporosis, did they do that?

Didn't have any dryness anywhere during menopause. Haven't started radiation, but will be scheduling tomorrow. Did you have a problem burning and/or blistering?

Good luck to you too and congrats for getting to your five year anniversary.

Jane

Hi All,
I am usually on the fibro site but noticed your posting about estrogen suppliments.
I tried the estrogen patch many years ago and found the glue from it ate my skin. It
started itching so I took off the patch and my skin went with it. I have found blue or
black cohash work well for the menopose things. Soy isoflavens work well too. Vit E
helps with the hot flashes.
For your dry skin I have found a God Send.....Colostrum and Hylaronic Acid. I use these
together everyday. Colostrum is bovine breast milk in a pill (also comes in goats for those
lactose intollerent) and Hylaronic Acid is a trace mineral found in Japanese food. I've been
using these for years and no longer are plagued by dry skin. It becomes thicker, more
elastic, and heals quickly. I also noticed a real nice shine to it. I've had quite a few comments
over the years how nice my skin looks. I'm 55 and have to admit I don't look it.
I do Super Cissus RX, Malic Acid and Bio-Sil for my arthritis and fibro. I can now work
an 8 hour day without problems. 8 months ago I could barely hobble through.
There are herbs to help counter-act the effects of chemo. I don't remember offhand but
check it out. Good Luck to all of you...
Nana Monster