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Old 08-28-2013, 10:13 AM   #1
Carrie
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Arimidex

Hello everyone, I was just wondering if anyone out there was put on a 5 year regiment of Arimidex. If so I am having bad bone aches and severe headaches, which I believe are due to the medication. If you have been on it and had side effects, do they decrease over time or should I talk to my onc about changing to Tamoxifin? Thanks.
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11/7/12-Found lump in left breast.
11/15/12-ultra sound core biopsy on left breast
11/16/12-diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. w/mass of 4.5x3.1x3.3 cm
11/21/12-met with surgeon who ordered MRI
11/26/12-Went for MRI, 2 additional masses found in left breast. the smaller of the 2 measuring 1.6x1.4x1.6 cm
11/30/12-Left breast mastectomy performed with 2/12 nodes positive and staged 3a.
12/16/12-Bone scan (clean)
12/17/12-PET scan showing active lymph node up by collar bone.
12/20/12-met with oncologist.
1/7/13-Muga scan
1/09/13-Power port installed
1/11/13-Chemo training
1/14/13-Start TCH Chemo 6 cycles with 52 weeks of Herceptin
4/29/13 last Chemo
6/3/13 Started Radiation
7/29/13 Last Radiation
8/16/13 Started 5 yr regiment of Arimidex
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Old 08-28-2013, 03:57 PM   #2
tricia keegan
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Re: Arimidex

Hi Carrie,

I don't know how long you've been taking it but would stay on it for a few months before switching. I've been taking it for seven years now, I do have bone aches but take glucosamine/chondroitin for that daily on the advice of my Onc and exercise usually helps too so I walk a lot. I finished my five years but as my Onc said the newer studies for ten years are showing promise I decided to stick with it only because the side effects I have are preferable to a recurrance.
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Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 08-31-2013, 07:55 AM   #3
Jean
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Re: Arimidex

Hi Carrie,
I had started treatment on Arimdex - had headaches also, bone pain was present but doable.
But the headaches were constant...so after a month my dr. switched me to Femara. While it is an AI treatment like Arimdex (tomaxfin is not an AI) and is usually not given to women who are post menopausal. Also AI 's have been showing better treatment than Tomaxfin for us.
Ask your onc. about switiching over to Femara. It is not uncommon for some to have headaches with one AI and when switching - no headaches. It worked for me.
I also have been on the Femara for over 5 yrs. as the current releases are presenting longer treatment. As this is a newer treatment the final trials are not in yet.
I would recommend switching after 2 to 3 wks if the headaches continue...
Best Wishes,
Jean
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Old 09-01-2013, 03:45 PM   #4
suzan w
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Re: Arimidex

I was on a 5 yr regimen of arimidex. For the first year the side effects of joint pain were pretty severe...ignorance was bliss as I just thought it was the next in series of feeling crappy!! Then when it started to dissipate and I was feeling better I realized how badly I had felt. Duh!!! The first few months were the worst. I am glad I did all the treatments I did...even with horrid side effects because, today, I feel GREAT!!! Hoping you will too!!!
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age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
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10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
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8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
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7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
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2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
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Old 09-06-2013, 12:08 AM   #5
starwishn2
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Re: Arimidex

I started Arimidex in January and have had a constant headache since. In April I was ready to call it quits but decided to give it 6 months. The past few months have gotten better. I still get a headache almost every day about an hour after I take Arimidex but it's not too bad and seems to go away after a little while. It seems on the days I drink more water I don't really notice a headache. I don't know if that's related or not but seems to make sense The body aches didn't last as long. Seems like they were gone in a couple of months.

oh the joys.....
Jeri
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Splenectomy 11Nov2009
Rituxen May2011
ITP playing nice
Diagnosed 3Jul2012 BC

2 cm - Grade 2 - Stage IIB
HER2+++

ER+/PR+
bilateral mastectomy 20Jul2012
Metastasized cancer found 1 lymph node
expanders placed during surgery
TCH chemo "cocktail" started 24Aug2012
every 3 weeks - 6 treatments
Herceptin - 18 treatments
LAST treatment Taxotere & Carboplatin 7Dec2012 -yay!
Continue with Herceptin 26Dec2012

Started Arimidex 01Jan2013 (for 5 years)
Surgery to remove expanders/reconstruction 18Jan2013
Infection in left breast from reconstruction/infection in most nails - SO many meds! 22Feb2013
Left implant not playing nice.... might need to remove and try again - blah! 04Apr2013
3Jul2013 - one year since diagnosis - booo cancer!

15Aug2013 LAST chemo infusion!! YIPPPEEE!!!
13Sep2013 2nd reconstructive surgery.. the FOOBs are looking good!



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Old 09-06-2013, 08:46 AM   #6
sarah
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Re: Arimidex

Hello,
Have you tried taking it at night?
There was an article in the London Telegraph about women dying because they stopped taking their drugs because of the side effects. Doctors are becoming really worried.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...cer-drugs.html
I hope the side effects improve or you doctor finds a good alternative drug but keep taking it.
hugs
sarah
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