anyone having trouble taking aromatase inhibitors? - Page 3

karen raines hunt · 06-04-2009, 07:42 AM

I switched from Tamoxifen to Aromasin about 2 years ago. The joint pain was very bad with Aromasin, so my doctor prescribed Celebrex. It makes a huge difference for me. I stopped the Celebrex a couple of months ago for a week to see what would happen. The pain was bad again. I still have joint pain while on Celebrex, but it is tolerable. I remain NED, but am high risk for a recurrence, so will continue the Aromasin.
Karen

TSund · 06-04-2009, 11:40 AM

I tried to click the link to the article concerning AI's and autoimmune association.

Please repost...the link didn't work.

THanks!

Rich66 · 06-04-2009, 11:50 PM

I wonder if Fulvestrant has same side effects since it seems to work different from SERMs and AIs. My hunch is that based on recent studies showing it can synergize with chemos (search in Articles) it will keep moving up until it is an adjuvant tx.
Interestingly, I was just looking at some old visit notes where the previous onc couldn't see any possible connection between Arimidex and joint issues. A bit behind the curve as always..

Hopeful · 06-05-2009, 05:22 AM

Terri,

The link to the abstract about autoimmune disease and AI arthralgia was from the 2008 ASCO. Apparently, they do not archive abstracts from prior meetings on their website once the current meeting abstracts are added to the site. If I can locate another source for it, I will link it for you, but at the moment I am not sure where else to look for it.

Hopeful

TSund · 06-05-2009, 06:33 AM

Thanks Hopeful!

Laurel · 06-05-2009, 06:28 PM

I read somewhere that the aches and pains associated with both Tamoxifen and A.I.'s is lessened by taking large doses of Vit D. I take 2500 U daily with Calcium and I haven't had any serious stiffness with my Tamoxifen. I am hoping I will tolerate A.I.s as well when I switch over in another year.

Rich66 · 06-05-2009, 06:52 PM

1: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2009 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Links
Fulvestrant in the treatment of advanced breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Valachis A, Mauri D, Polyzos NP, Mavroudis D, Georgoulias V, Casazza G.
Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Greece.
PURPOSE: To compare efficacy and tolerability of fulvestrant with aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen that actually represent the standard of care in hormone-sensitive breast cancer. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of available trials. Primary outcomes were overall survival, time to progression, clinical outcome and objective response. Secondary outcome was the tolerability profile of the drugs. RESULTS: Four trials were identified with 2125 eligible patients. There was no statistically significant difference between fulvestrant and other hormonal agents in terms of overall survival (pooled HR: 1.047, 95% CI: 0.688-1.592), time to progression (pooled HR: 0.994, 95% CI: 0.691-1.431), clinical benefit (pooled OR: 1.044, 95% CI: 0.828-1.315) or objective response rate (pooled OR: 0.949, 95% CI: 0.736-1.224). A higher incidence of joint disorders (pooled OR: 0.621, 95% CI: 0.424-0.909; P=0.014) was noted in patients receiving hormonal agents other than fulvestrant. CONCLUSION: Fulvestrant was similar to other hormonal agents with respect to efficacy measures, with good tolerability profile.