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08-11-2007, 01:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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arimidex side effects
I recently asked my onc. if I could switch to a different aromatase
inhibitor to see if I would have less or no joint pain. I was told that
because I have this side-effect from Arimidex, I would probably have
it on all A.I.'s. Has anyone switched to another one and had less
joint pain?
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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08-11-2007, 05:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Many women on this board have switched to Femara or Aromosin and not experienced joint pain when they had pain with Arimidex.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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08-12-2007, 10:12 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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I also have terrible joint pain from Arimidex and have thought about
asking to try another. I don't complain too much because I certainly
don't want to not take anything. I keep thinking my body will get used
to the arimidex and it won't be as bad.
patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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08-12-2007, 11:57 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 476
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There is no harm to try Femara. Just tell your doctor that you want at least try for a few weeks. The change made a big difference for me.
__________________
Ann
Stage 1 dx Sept 05
ER/PR positive HER2 +++ Grade 3
Invasive carcinoma 1 cm, no node involvement
Mastec Sept 05
Annual scans all negative, Oct 06
Postmenopause. Arimidex only since Sept 06, bone or muscle ache after 3 month
Off Arimidex, change to Femara 1/12-07, ache stopped
Sept 07 all tests negative, pass 2 year mark
Feb 08 continue doing well.
Sep 09 four year NED still on Femara.
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08-12-2007, 12:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Viva La Differance!
Yes, I was in joint pain...made the switch over to Femara and I am
feeling 80% better. Small amount (very small) of some joint sitffness
first thing in the morning, but as soon as I am up and about I am pain
free...exercise is important...good luck!
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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08-13-2007, 09:41 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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I was on Femara and had no joint pain but switched to Arimidex due to ringing in the ears. I now have some joint pain I didn't before, particularly in the thumbs, which I read is common. There is a difference.
Hopeful
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08-13-2007, 01:25 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 15
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I had to complain to my onc. about my joint pain from the Arimedex. It seemed to progressively get worse to the point where I could hardly go up and down the stairs. He took me off the Arimedex for two months to see if the pain went away...it did. So now I am on Femera. I am having a lot of joing stiffness, but it is better than the joint pain. The stiffness also seems to progressively get worse. I am wondering if it hurts to take a few weeks off the AI once in a while to let your body recoup. ...???
I would definately have your onc switch you.
__________________
1/05 Diagnosed at 31 years old
2/05 Partial Mast, 8/18 nodes positive
Stage IIIA,her2, er/pr+, 9/9 Richardson scale
3/05 Chemo Ad/Cytox
6/05 Weekly Taxol/Herceptin
Continued Herceptin for 1yr
9/05 33 rads
5/06 Hyst. and bilat oph. due to susp. cyst on ovary
Tamox then Arimidex now Femara
NED scans every 6 months
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08-14-2007, 09:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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cholesterol
I have joint pain, but it is bearable. My good cholesterol is falling and my bad cholesterol is rising. I don't eat much fat. Has anyone had cholesterol problems on arimidex? I'm now on an extremely low-fat diet and I will discuss this with my onc at my appointment in late August.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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06-22-2008, 05:49 AM
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#9
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Guest
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Reply
My onocologist said that Arimidex interefers with your cholestral
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06-22-2008, 06:33 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 221
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switching, in either direction, works for many
Hi,
There was a poster at SABCS (last year, 2007) that showed that in their study, a good number (if memory serves, something like 40%) of women got relief from AI side effects (again, if memory serves I think it was specific to musculoskeletal pain) by switching. And it did not make a difference what they switched from nor to. Femara to Arimidex brought as much relief as Arimidex to Femara. I can't remember if Aromasin was in the study also.
I've just looked for the poster and cannot find it in a quick look (but was almost sucked in by other interesting posters - I'd forgotten how many!). Maybe it was 2006. But I don't have time right now to look more.
Debbie Laxague
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06-22-2008, 09:24 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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MJo
I have had to go on cholesterol medicine since BC.
I am taking arimidex and have joint pain also.
My Dr. stopped the cholesterol meds and it went
back up so I am taking Vytorin now.
patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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06-22-2008, 10:58 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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I tried arimidex, aromasin and tamoxifen, had severe joint pain from all 3. Now am on femera, just have mild stiffness in the morning. I have also read that all the AI's can increase the cholesterol levels and most recently read an article that if you were her2 positive, the AI's were ineffective. Anyone else read this? I have an appt. in August with my onc and will ask here about it. If it is not effective when her2 positive what's the point of taking it?
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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06-22-2008, 07:41 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Terrace, Southern California
Posts: 114
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Pretty much I had joint pain on all. Pain from neck to the bottom of my feet. Exericise help. Keep your joints busy.
__________________
04/97- breast bx. diagnosis breast cancer.
05/97- radical mastectomy; 5cm tumor & 11 lymph nodes.
10/97- City of Hope, high dose chemotherapy.
11/97- 36 radiation therapy.
01/98- NED; tamoxifen.
02/02- breast reconstruction.
08/04- recurrence; mets to rt lung; thoracentesis; femara.
09/04- thoracentesis; ER/PR +, Her2+++.
10/04- total abdominal hysterectomy.
02/06- mets to 9th rib; monthly zometa; arimidex.
06/06- medi port insert; weekly herceptin.
10/06- 3 weeks herceptin treatment.
02/07- mets to liver; arimidex
11/07-liver clear
02/08-chemo taxol/herceptin weekly treatment
12/08-taxol not working
01/09-navelbine/herceptin weelky
03/09-navelbine not working
04/09-xeloda/tykerb
09/09-30 radation to neck; xeloda/tykerb not working
11/09-Gemzar/herceptin weekly
04/10-tykerb/herceptin weekly
06/10-cancer spread to left lung;stop treatment; tap
07/10-right lung collasps; TDM1
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06-22-2008, 07:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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PinkGirl,
I switched from Arimadex to Femara a few months ago. I still get joint stiffness when I am not moving. It goes away as soon as I get moving again. I am crossing my fingers it does not get worse because I have not been on it that long.
I believe Femara is in the same family as Arimadex so if I need to switch again, it will be to Aromasin.
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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06-23-2008, 11:09 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Not True - I had pretty severe pain with Arimidex
switched to Femara and while it is not 100% it sure
is about 90%....which i will gladly take.
Good Luck,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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06-28-2008, 08:55 PM
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#17
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Guest
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My thumbs are killing me on Arimidex. If i get relief, after my Aug visit, I'll let you know. Bev
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06-29-2008, 10:35 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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I had really stiff joints, especially right hand and thumb on Arimidex until my GP put me on Lasix. Not really sure why this worked, but I feel like a new person and have very little stiffness now. One of the other ladies had the same response, but had also changed another medication at the time so she was not sure the improvement was all from lasix.
I'd really be interesed to hear if anyone else tries this. I recommend giving it a try.
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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06-29-2008, 01:42 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shingle Springs, CA - near Sacramento
Posts: 295
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Yes, Absolutely!
Hi Pink Girl,
I was on Arimidex first and I had terrible joint pain in my hands and my fingers were locking more and more - it got pretty bad. I switched to Femara and it is soooo much better. I have to say my knees are worse, but not as bad as my hands had been on Arimidex, so it is a bit of a trade off, but a good one for me.
Arimidex also led to an unnessary surgery due to the side effect of thickening the uterine wall - had to have the surgery to make sure it wasn't something else - but it was concluded it was due to the Arimidex.
Switch, try them all, hopefully one will work better for you than another. Good Luck!
Donna
__________________
Donna in the Sierra Foothills of California
Diagnosed 6/7/06 invasive ductal carcinoma/ductal carcinoma in situ
Lumpectomy 6/21/06
Pathology: Er 99% Pr 10% Her2/neu 3+
DNA Index 1.0
S-Phase 3/High
Primary Tumor 2.4 cm Sentinel Node Tumor 2.1cm
A/C/T+ Herceptin + rads + Arimidex
stopped Herceptin after 7 mos. due to low MUGA
Surgery for thickened uterine tissue May 2008 - conclusion: side effect of Arimidex
Switched from Arimidex to Femara - joint/tendon problems significantly better!
2 year mark Pet scan and Echo shows all clear!
5 year mammogram with ultrasound shows no sign of cancer - yay!
11 years, 11 months new breast cancer - found lump
Mastectomy 4/30/2018
Pathology: Er99%, PR 28%, Her2 negative! (new type)
Faslodex
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06-29-2008, 11:02 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Bev, ARimidex and Femara both seem to impact my thumbs more then any other joint.
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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