aromasin

mjjporter

da with br ca June 2005, estrogen posative, lumpectomy July 28, with replacement of existing implant, which the orginal stopped the ca from binding to my chest wall it binded to the implant. Dense dose chemo through the last week of Nov 8 treatments in all 33 radiatiion treatments which ended the 8th of Feb, also had total hysterectomy 12-5-5 my dr put me on ariomasin this past week, no tamoxifin is this normal I thought you had to start tamoxifin for a few years before starting any other treatment, I just put my life in his hands any info would put my mind at ease, I am also going to contact the acc

krkath

Hey MJ,
I'm sure you'll get a lot of response from this question. I was put on Arimidex right after my Taxotere w A/C and radiation. I'm finding out the bone pain was possibly from the Taxotere. But, the Arimidex caused excruciating pain. So we waited a couple weeks and I took Tamoxifen, which also caused unbearable pain in my bones.
I get the idea since these drugs are all Aromatase Inhibitors (you guys who've been through it please correct me) that Aromasin was going to be my next attempt when the pain got under control.
Being estrogen pos. and years ago having a hysterectomy, I also asked the question of estrogen in the body. And I believe one of the women responded, which my doctor told me also, it is generated through your adrenals and pancreas.
Anyway, I'm interested in the "More Educated on the Fact" ladies.
Kathy

babs49242

I was dx in june 2005 being estrogen positive,stage3aw/ nodes taken,mastectomy in july 2005,4 treatments of a/c and 4 of taxol.25 radiations. I have had a radical hysterectomy OCT2005,I was on tamoxifin BEFORE the hystery then AFTER the hystery my doc put me on ARIMIDEX..I must have high pain tolerence...I do have pain more on some days than others..guess I figure it is part of the side effects...Hang in there.....

tlmac

Best possible outcome for postmenopausal women is an aromatase inhibitor. What the study found was that this group, already on Tamoxifen because it was the "gold standard" for all ER+ tumors, faired better if switched to one of the aromatase inhibitors. Pain is not a side effect for everyone and despite the same basis of function, some women have fewer side effects with one than another so don't be afraid to ask your doctor about switching between Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin. Recurrance rates are statistically lower on these than on Tamoxifen. That being said, quality of life is also important. You need to weigh your options and make a personal choice that's best for you. Good luck.
terri

DEBY

Hi, MJ Yes I am on aromasin, it happens to be the newest drug out there for us and it has alot of feedback from it all GOOD. They put me through menopause not happy but life must go on and im blessed to be here with my 3 small children. Its crazy what life has in store for us. I have no bad side effects from the drug just some weight gain that i cant seem to get off. I go next week for a pet scan i have a lump in my neck Please wish me luck and prayers Debby

krkath

DEBY said:

Hi, MJ Yes I am on aromasin, it happens to be the newest drug out there for us and it has alot of feedback from it all GOOD. They put me through menopause not happy but life must go on and im blessed to be here with my 3 small children. Its crazy what life has in store for us. I have no bad side effects from the drug just some weight gain that i cant seem to get off. I go next week for a pet scan i have a lump in my neck Please wish me luck and prayers Debby

Hi Debby,
That's good news to hear that Aromasin is the newest and maybe when I'm better I can start on that. I'm just so scared of the Tamoxifen and Arimidex from the intense side effects I had, but that was right after I was done with all the chemo and radiaton 6 months ago.
Please keep us informed on your PET Scan and the best of luck and all our prayers go out to you. There is a lot of support on this web site and I am so thankful to know we are not alone. And that even though we have to go through our "Miracle Cures" which sometimes is worse than the symptoms we had before we were diagnosed....There are so many advances, so hang in there.
Kathy

ClaudiaAnn

I was stage IIB no nodes and did A/C and Taxol followed by radiation. Had a mastectomy and was ER HER+. I've been on Arimidex for a year now and I do have some problems with my knees and some sleep problems, but otherwise nothing to speak of. I'm also on Herceptin for a year with six months to go. In Sept. I will be two years out cancer free. With results like that, I can put up with a little knee pain. I feel badly for the women who can't tolerate it, the numbers indicate good results. There's lots of information out on web on all the meds available including the trial results. Hugs and good wishes to you.

littleladi

I have a personal bias against tamoxifen, which I went on after my first br ca treatment: lumpectomy and radiation. I wanted off after one year because of a heart condition I was diagnosed with. They said no because I still had hormone levels that were not post-menopausal. After two years, the cancer came back. Now I am on arimidex and zolodex and fosamex after mastectomy. I did speak to one oncologist who said she avoids Tamoxifen whenever possible: considers it old technology.