Arimidex, Donna, and uterine thickening

[TSund]

Hi,

Donna mentioned in another thread that she had uterine thickening from arimidex. I had previously thought that this was only a side effect of tamoxifen.

Does anyone know how the AI's compare to tamoxifen in this regard?

Thanks

Terri

[dlaxague]

Hi Terri,

I was just starting a new thread for the same reason as you when I looked back and saw you'd beat me to it (smile). My understanding was as yours - that AI's do not have the same uterine effects.

If you google "aromatase inhibitor uterine thickening" you get many hits and they are almost all about studies that show that not only does an AI not cause uterine thickening (endometrial hyperplasia) but that an AI appears to reverse the thickening that was caused by longterm Tamoxifen use. I didn't find many articles that didn't discuss it in relation to Tamoxifen but still that seems pretty strong evidence.

Donna, do you think that your GP just got confused about the difference between Tamoxifen and an AI?

Debbie Laxague (can you tell I'm home with a cold so have lots of time to ramble?)

[Donna]

Nope, my GP specifically referred to AI's. She just mentioned it in passing. But the OB/GYN who performed the surgery and my Oncologist confirmed it was uterine wall thickening due to Armimidex usage.

It may be that this doesn't come up so often making it hard to find information on it. The only reason I ended up finding out about it and having unnecessary surgergy is because I mentioned a side effect that is listed for Vagifem to my Oncologist who then sent me to an OB/GYN to make sure it wasn't anything else. That led to an ultrasound that showed the wall at something like 9 times the usual thickness. That led to a D and C and finally to the confirmation that it was due to Arimidex.

I think alot of women could have this side effect but it wouldn't necessarily show up - it is usually asymptomatic.

Donna