Arimidex

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hazelmarie
hazelmarie Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
No change in the ca tumors, but alot of bone and joint pain. How is everyone dealing with it, and what is the prognosis?

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  • Kathy1108
    Kathy1108 Member Posts: 62
    #2
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    I recently went to my oncologist and I told him that I have a lot of joint pain and stiffness, that I have a hard time getting up and down from a chair, stairs and in and out of the car. I also have problems with my hands. I was on Arimidex and he switched me to Femara it is a little better but this drug gives you back pain and they weren't kidding. My doctor also put me on ultracet for the join pain. That works so so, it puts me asleep. So, I only take it at bedtime. I can take it 3 to 4 times as needed. I used to take Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra but I stopped them when I heard the bad side effects they have. Maybe you should ask your oncologist to switch you to Femara.

    Kathy
  • roxanne53
    roxanne53 Member Posts: 154
    #3
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    Kathy1108 said:

    I recently went to my oncologist and I told him that I have a lot of joint pain and stiffness, that I have a hard time getting up and down from a chair, stairs and in and out of the car. I also have problems with my hands. I was on Arimidex and he switched me to Femara it is a little better but this drug gives you back pain and they weren't kidding. My doctor also put me on ultracet for the join pain. That works so so, it puts me asleep. So, I only take it at bedtime. I can take it 3 to 4 times as needed. I used to take Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra but I stopped them when I heard the bad side effects they have. Maybe you should ask your oncologist to switch you to Femara.

    Kathy

    I am on arimidex. I have some of the joint pain and stiffness. Some numbness in hands and joint problems in my hands. Also have something called a trigger finger in my right thumb. That has just started recently.

    I am beginning to feel the effects in my legs and feet, especially when I get up in the morning. I have not indicated to my oncologist that it is unbearable so that he will switch my medication,too. I don't think it is unbearable yet but can cause some slowing down.
    I have not heard of the ultracet before. May have to ask about that for my joints. I am told this is or may be also arthritis, too.
    How do you like the femara? Are the back pains real bad? are there any other side effects to watch for?

    You know, it just seems like there is always something happening with the body now and since being on arimidex.

    Roxanne
  • coralrose
    coralrose Member Posts: 9
    #4
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    roxanne53 said:

    I am on arimidex. I have some of the joint pain and stiffness. Some numbness in hands and joint problems in my hands. Also have something called a trigger finger in my right thumb. That has just started recently.

    I am beginning to feel the effects in my legs and feet, especially when I get up in the morning. I have not indicated to my oncologist that it is unbearable so that he will switch my medication,too. I don't think it is unbearable yet but can cause some slowing down.
    I have not heard of the ultracet before. May have to ask about that for my joints. I am told this is or may be also arthritis, too.
    How do you like the femara? Are the back pains real bad? are there any other side effects to watch for?

    You know, it just seems like there is always something happening with the body now and since being on arimidex.

    Roxanne

    I am taking Femara, and have been for one year now, I also have been on Herceptin for 52 weeks and I am not sure which one if not both are causing my severe bone/joint pain. It started Feb of 2003, but I was also having rad at the time to, so I thought it was from the rad and didn't say anything, but it got to the point if I lost my balance and fell (often happened)I couldn't get up from the floor, and the pain, oh my..it doesn't go away for me, I take a few different types of pain meds, I do take the bextra because it helps...I refuse to go off of it right now. I get MUGA scans every 3 months..and I take Percocet every 4-6 hours. Only 1 tab as I want to be awake as much as I can, but if the pain is too much I take more. I feel like when I get out of a chair that I am pregnant, because can't get up without leaning back...I also have it in my hips and legs. I can't take anything else but the Femara now, and the Herceptin is done as of last week but stays in the body for a long period of time..a wait and see time...
  • hazelmarie
    hazelmarie Member Posts: 6
    #5
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    Kathy1108 said:

    I recently went to my oncologist and I told him that I have a lot of joint pain and stiffness, that I have a hard time getting up and down from a chair, stairs and in and out of the car. I also have problems with my hands. I was on Arimidex and he switched me to Femara it is a little better but this drug gives you back pain and they weren't kidding. My doctor also put me on ultracet for the join pain. That works so so, it puts me asleep. So, I only take it at bedtime. I can take it 3 to 4 times as needed. I used to take Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra but I stopped them when I heard the bad side effects they have. Maybe you should ask your oncologist to switch you to Femara.

    Kathy

    Kathy, I appreciate your comments. I too have trouble getting in and out of chairs and the car is especially bad. I need an SUV! Does Femara work basically the same as Arimidex? I know that they're both Aromatase Inhibitors. I, too was on the Vioxx and Celebrex but had to go off. Now I take Tylonol Arthritis, which really doesn't help much. Do you know if we quit taking the meds altogether if the joint pain and stiffness would go away? I already have the back pain which is no fun, so I will talk to the oncologist in March. I see him every three months. My breast ca was diagnosed in 1999 and I had a Left mast. and then in 2002 it mastastised in both lungs. I have never smoked, which is what everyone wonders. The lesions were removed from my left lung as they were the worst, and my right lung has been left as a marker, so they can see with CT's if they growing or shrinking. I've only been on the Arimidex for 7 months, but my oncologist was disappointed they haven't shrunk. (so was I) :o(
    Well, that's about it, the short version! I've actually had 5 surgeries in five years, that's enuff for now! Thank you for your response!
    hazelmarie PS: I just turned 57
  • hazelmarie
    hazelmarie Member Posts: 6
    #6
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    roxanne53 said:

    I am on arimidex. I have some of the joint pain and stiffness. Some numbness in hands and joint problems in my hands. Also have something called a trigger finger in my right thumb. That has just started recently.

    I am beginning to feel the effects in my legs and feet, especially when I get up in the morning. I have not indicated to my oncologist that it is unbearable so that he will switch my medication,too. I don't think it is unbearable yet but can cause some slowing down.
    I have not heard of the ultracet before. May have to ask about that for my joints. I am told this is or may be also arthritis, too.
    How do you like the femara? Are the back pains real bad? are there any other side effects to watch for?

    You know, it just seems like there is always something happening with the body now and since being on arimidex.

    Roxanne

    Roxanne, Thank you for your comments too, and you know, we wouldn't mind the pain and stiffness so much if we knew it was really knocking out the ca., right? well, it would make it seem bearable.
    I have experienced some numbness in my toes and thought it was the new winter boots! Do you think the Arimidex causes the arthritis? Have you had the bone density test, and are you on anything for osteoporsis? Another side affect of Arimidex. :o(
    Boy, you're right, it's always something, but it beats the alternative! How long have you been on treatment?
    hazelmarie
  • hazelmarie
    hazelmarie Member Posts: 6
    #7
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    coralrose said:

    I am taking Femara, and have been for one year now, I also have been on Herceptin for 52 weeks and I am not sure which one if not both are causing my severe bone/joint pain. It started Feb of 2003, but I was also having rad at the time to, so I thought it was from the rad and didn't say anything, but it got to the point if I lost my balance and fell (often happened)I couldn't get up from the floor, and the pain, oh my..it doesn't go away for me, I take a few different types of pain meds, I do take the bextra because it helps...I refuse to go off of it right now. I get MUGA scans every 3 months..and I take Percocet every 4-6 hours. Only 1 tab as I want to be awake as much as I can, but if the pain is too much I take more. I feel like when I get out of a chair that I am pregnant, because can't get up without leaning back...I also have it in my hips and legs. I can't take anything else but the Femara now, and the Herceptin is done as of last week but stays in the body for a long period of time..a wait and see time...

    Thank you Coralrose for replying! It sounds like you're coping, and hanging in there pretty well! I guess in the long run we all need to count our blessings, it could always be worse! By the grace of God we are here and no where else! The world is in rough shape right now. I'm sure you're glad that you're done with the Herceptin and maybe that will help with your pain and stiffness too. I believe in the power of prayer and I will surely keep you, Roxanne, and Kathy in my prayers. Thank you greatly,
    hazelmarie
  • donnar
    donnar Member Posts: 2
    #8
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    roxanne53 said:

    I am on arimidex. I have some of the joint pain and stiffness. Some numbness in hands and joint problems in my hands. Also have something called a trigger finger in my right thumb. That has just started recently.

    I am beginning to feel the effects in my legs and feet, especially when I get up in the morning. I have not indicated to my oncologist that it is unbearable so that he will switch my medication,too. I don't think it is unbearable yet but can cause some slowing down.
    I have not heard of the ultracet before. May have to ask about that for my joints. I am told this is or may be also arthritis, too.
    How do you like the femara? Are the back pains real bad? are there any other side effects to watch for?

    You know, it just seems like there is always something happening with the body now and since being on arimidex.

    Roxanne

    I was on Femara and had lots of joint pain so the doctor switched me to Arimidex but it isn't any better, especially in my hands and legs. I wonder what we could try next. Sorry you have the problem too.
  • roxanne53
    roxanne53 Member Posts: 154
    #9
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    hazelmarie said:

    Roxanne, Thank you for your comments too, and you know, we wouldn't mind the pain and stiffness so much if we knew it was really knocking out the ca., right? well, it would make it seem bearable.
    I have experienced some numbness in my toes and thought it was the new winter boots! Do you think the Arimidex causes the arthritis? Have you had the bone density test, and are you on anything for osteoporsis? Another side affect of Arimidex. :o(
    Boy, you're right, it's always something, but it beats the alternative! How long have you been on treatment?
    hazelmarie

    Hi Hazelmarie.
    I had been out of town the weekend. Did not check this thread till this morning.

    I keep saying that it is better than the alternative. If I knew arimidex was a guarantee, I would not second guess it so much. My mind can get the best of me sometimes. Having ER & PR +, I have to be on this stuff or get switched to another drug.

    I want to stick with Arimidex as long as long as I can. From another entry in this thread Femora is not so great either. I do not have to be on the herceptin. Maybe in the future though has I have her2nu + too.

    I do not know if it can really cause the arthritis but maybe it acts like it. All I know, I did not have this much trouble before the treatments. It seems that if the symptoms do not match up perfectly to neuropathy or some other side effect it is not caused by the drugs we are on. Then I end up with all kinds of other trips to specialists, etc. get no farther than I ws when it started. . . :(

    I had a bone density test a the state fair byy the red cross, this last fall. I have some risk features. No I have not had one done a clinic. Not on anything for osteoporsis yet.

    Are you on a med for the osteoporsis? I am taking calcium, Do not always remember to take that each day. (sick of pills)

    Take care. and KCB(kick cancer butt)
    If you want to email me through this site, please feel free to do so.
    Roxanne
  • hazelmarie
    hazelmarie Member Posts: 6
    #10
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    Hi Roxanne!~

    It was good to hear from you, thank you!

    I too, want to stay on the Arimidex, I don't want them to run out of treatments for me! And I agree, the Femara is not without terrible side effects too.

    Glad that you had a bone density test, you need that base line. I'm on calcium with the Vitamin D and phosphorus, magnesium and Vitamin k, however, the Oncologist still prescribed Fasomax.
    You can lose bone mass in a hurry on Arimidex. We don't need broken bones besides everything else! It's important to remember your calcium, we should all be rattling when we walk we're so full of pills! It's hard to get those darn things down sometimes!

    I liked your KCB!

    hazelmarie
  • PJMP
    PJMP Member Posts: 9
    #11
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    hazelmarie said:

    Hi Roxanne!~

    It was good to hear from you, thank you!

    I too, want to stay on the Arimidex, I don't want them to run out of treatments for me! And I agree, the Femara is not without terrible side effects too.

    Glad that you had a bone density test, you need that base line. I'm on calcium with the Vitamin D and phosphorus, magnesium and Vitamin k, however, the Oncologist still prescribed Fasomax.
    You can lose bone mass in a hurry on Arimidex. We don't need broken bones besides everything else! It's important to remember your calcium, we should all be rattling when we walk we're so full of pills! It's hard to get those darn things down sometimes!

    I liked your KCB!

    hazelmarie

    Hi- I'm new to this and am glad I read all your messages. It's nice to know I'm not alone and not imagining the pain/stiffness. So far the pain has not slowed me down or stopped me from doing anything I like to do but it sure is tiring to live this way. I have been taking Arimidex for about 10 months. The side effects didn't show up right away (except for hot flashes but I can stand those) but they are here now. My question to any of you who have been on Arimidex for longer than I have- Does it get worse? I keep thinking I can stand it if this is as bad as it gets. I have an appt. with my oncologist this week and I will let her know that I'm in more pain than I was 6 months ago-it will be interesting to see what she suggests.
    Thanks for anything you can tell me.
    Paula

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