Stopping Arimidex

Hi everyone--I have a question about my mom, who is Stage IV, HER2+++, with a malignant pleural effusion. She is currently on Herceptin/Taxol/carboplatin, as well as Arimidex. Since she was on Arimidex when she developed the pleural effusion, her onc wants to stop the Arimidex since it apparently didn't do much for her. That seems logical--I just wanted to see if anyone thought there was any reason for her to continue with the Armidex. She is ER+/PR+. Thanks in advance--

Stephanie

Hello everyone, I am new to this group but have been reading it for quite awhile. I have touched base with Lauren,(thanks Lauren) with a few questions about my wife who has liver mets and 2 spots on her hip. She is currently on Navelbine + Herceptine 1X week. There is also diffusion in her marrow but they arn't sure if that's cancer or from the Neupogen shots. She was on arimidex before the mets were found and the oncologist discontinued it. I just asked the same question today about stopping arimidex, from my wife's second (consulting)oncologist. She said that hormonal therapy may have the opposite effect on chemo we might expect. My non-professional interpretation: the chemo is supposed to target fast dividing cells. Arimidex will cause the (cancer)cells to slow-down or stop replicating. This may actually protect the cancer cells from the chemo by causing the cancer cells to act like normal ones. I hope this helps. I admire the strength and courage of everyone in the support group and encourage to keep fighting. Three months ago my wife was jaundiced, had mets in 80% of her liver and was given 2 weeks to live. Today she is full of life. Failure is not an option!

I LOVE the last part of your message! I, too, HAD major liver mets and was given a poor prognosis. I chased out the tumors and am NED for 2 years now. I want to see you wife in the same situation 2 years from now! She is truly a fighter if she has managed to do this well so far.

Stephanie,
My sister was also on Arimidex when her cancer spread. She has been take off it and is currently back on chemo (taxol/herceptin). She will need to go on some form of med to stop estrogen production when she has completed chemo...she, too, is ER+. Not sure what the doc will perscribe. Someone told me that if she didn't respond to Armidex then she probably won't respond to any other drug. I find this hard to believe. Does your doc suggest an alternative med.?

Steph,
Thany you for the kind words and encouragement. Yes, my wife Linda is a fighter; but what is even more important is that we both are. The husbands and families of the wives and moms are the hiddens casualties of the BC fight. Being almost suicidal at times since Linda's diagnosis in Oct/03, the only way I have been able going is from her resolve to beat this, and I know that her resolve is a result of my determination to reclaim our dreams before CA. Many times we have wondered outloud how CA patients survive this challenge without a strong family support system, because I'm sure many people face this alone. I want to thank the guardian of this support group for giving us not only a forum to exchange ideas, but probably even more important, for providing a place to find the encouragement to go on. It helps us stay focused as it is a reminder that we are not alone.

No, the doc didn't prescribe alternate meds. We are going to see three new docs in August, as she will be relocating out to CA to be near us and needs to set up care here, so it will be interesting to see what they all have to say.

That makes a lot of sense--thanks for the info.

So happy to hear your wife is doing so well. That is really remarkable, and it gives me hope for my mom as well.