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Carol Ann · 12-12-2016, 01:31 PM

Hi Hadit,

Can you call his office and ask his nurse to ask him for you? I think you really should, for your own peace of mind.

I have read that overall, Arimidex decreases the risk of recurrence by 50%. Again, as we've discussed on other posts, it is each patient's individual risk that matters in the end, and that is very dependent on the stage/histologic grade, etc.

For example ... one person's risk of recurrence at Stage 3 might be 40%, another at Stage 1 only 20% (I am randomly picking numbers here, I really don't know) ... so the Arimidex would decrease it to 20 and 10 % respectively.

There is no one answer. Different women also experience different side effects which may or may not be tolerable to them. Again, based on their own individual risks.

For example ... joint pain is one of the most often described and experienced side effects of Arimidex, along with hot flashes.

I have been taking Arimidex since April 2014 and have had ZERO joint pain. Hot flashes, yes ... and extreme fatigue, which is a documented side effect but one only experienced by 10% of the women taking the drug.

Are you on Arimidex or Tamoxifen now? Your history doesn't say that you are.

I wish I could stop taking it ... but with TWO estrogen positive tumors, one in each breast, I just don't dare.

Carol Ann

12-12-2016, 01:31 PM	#2
Carol Ann Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,045	Re: Effectiveness of Estrogen blockers Hi Hadit, Can you call his office and ask his nurse to ask him for you? I think you really should, for your own peace of mind. I have read that overall, Arimidex decreases the risk of recurrence by 50%. Again, as we've discussed on other posts, it is each patient's individual risk that matters in the end, and that is very dependent on the stage/histologic grade, etc. For example ... one person's risk of recurrence at Stage 3 might be 40%, another at Stage 1 only 20% (I am randomly picking numbers here, I really don't know) ... so the Arimidex would decrease it to 20 and 10 % respectively. There is no one answer. Different women also experience different side effects which may or may not be tolerable to them. Again, based on their own individual risks. For example ... joint pain is one of the most often described and experienced side effects of Arimidex, along with hot flashes. I have been taking Arimidex since April 2014 and have had ZERO joint pain. Hot flashes, yes ... and extreme fatigue, which is a documented side effect but one only experienced by 10% of the women taking the drug. Are you on Arimidex or Tamoxifen now? Your history doesn't say that you are. I wish I could stop taking it ... but with TWO estrogen positive tumors, one in each breast, I just don't dare. Carol Ann __________________ July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts. Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies". Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow. Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed. Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed. Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH. March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY! March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks. March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :) April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :) June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin! Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy. Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend. Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT! January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)