Anastrozole instead of Tamoxifen ??????

cavediver

I just assumed my Onc would prescribe Tamoxifen for the 5 yrs....but the other day he said he preferred me to take Anastrozole for 5 yrs. since I am considered high risk! So, after pricing it (3 month supply w/o insurance is $977).....and this is a generic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fortunately, it is covered under my policy so I only had to pay $45 for the 3-months. But I was wondering if anyone else out there is taking this?
Have had 8 radiations so far/so good....no burning etc. But I can see going each day just wears you out!
Also have been going to lymphedema specialist each day to try to get the fluid moved out of hand and arm........taking longer than hoped.

Snowkitty

I started taking
I started taking Anastrozole, generic for Arimidex this past Monday. It's my understanding that this is for post-menopausal women. My onc said that Arimidex is better than chemo. I thought, "then why do chemo?"

Today is my 5th day of rads. I asked rads doc about being tired after awhile from rads. His answer is that rads kill alot of good cells along with the bad. Red blood cells (which give you energy) will go down because the reds are used to repair cells, ie., skin, boo boos, etc. Well, now because it's also used to repair the good cells effected by rads, there's not enough left to be used to give you energy.

Well, I know what I mean, but probably didn't explain it well.

Take care, Cindy

CypressCynthia

Armidex (anastazole)--an aromatase inhibitor
Yes I am on it. I took tamoxifen for 7 years, starting way back in 1987. In 2009, I had a recurrence and so I am now on arimidex. So far, so good as my markers are now down to nearly normal and my bone pain is vastly improved. I don't know whether you are post-menopausal, but the aromatase inhibitors (like anastrozole) are the usual treatment if you are.

cavediver

Snowkitty said:

I started taking
I started taking Anastrozole, generic for Arimidex this past Monday. It's my understanding that this is for post-menopausal women. My onc said that Arimidex is better than chemo. I thought, "then why do chemo?"

Today is my 5th day of rads. I asked rads doc about being tired after awhile from rads. His answer is that rads kill alot of good cells along with the bad. Red blood cells (which give you energy) will go down because the reds are used to repair cells, ie., skin, boo boos, etc. Well, now because it's also used to repair the good cells effected by rads, there's not enough left to be used to give you energy.

Well, I know what I mean, but probably didn't explain it well.

Take care, Cindy

similar paths
Cindy, sounds like we are on similar paths right now. Today they had a power surge at the radiology half way through my treatment!!! So, I came home....and in 1.5 hours have to drive back to finish the treatment :-) Hmmmm, I was looking forward to a nice nap! After reading possible side effects for anastrozole, I was concerned......hopefully it won't be a problem. Keep me posted how you are doing also........

cavediver

CypressCynthia said:

Armidex (anastazole)--an aromatase inhibitor
Yes I am on it. I took tamoxifen for 7 years, starting way back in 1987. In 2009, I had a recurrence and so I am now on arimidex. So far, so good as my markers are now down to nearly normal and my bone pain is vastly improved. I don't know whether you are post-menopausal, but the aromatase inhibitors (like anastrozole) are the usual treatment if you are.

thanks for reply
oh, I am quite definitely post-menopausal! I am hoping for minimum side effects with this drug....but after the 8 TAC chemos...I am thinking anything is more do-able :-) I hope all goes well for you....sorry you have had a reoccurence......good luck with treatment!

upnorthlive57

arimidex just started
Afternoon Cavediver, I just started Arimidex September 16th. I read the side effects and they sound like everything else I have taken in the last 10 months. I was diagnosed in November of 09, had a mastectomy and lumpectomy after discovering I was bilateral for Bc. So far so good though, the latest adventure is the toe nails, discolored and loose.

CypressCynthia

cavediver said:

thanks for reply
oh, I am quite definitely post-menopausal! I am hoping for minimum side effects with this drug....but after the 8 TAC chemos...I am thinking anything is more do-able :-) I hope all goes well for you....sorry you have had a reoccurence......good luck with treatment!

Compared to the chemo that I
Compared to the chemo that I had in 1987, arimidex and zometa (zometa is like a stronger boniva given iv) are a piece of cake! Hope it is the same for you. Oh, it was helpful for me to take the arimidex (anastrozole) in the evening as it made me too tired when I took it in the am. Ditto for my biological sisters who are on aromatase inhibitors.

cahjah75

Cavediver
so good to hear that you've gotten through 8 rads already. Sorry to hear the lympodema isn't responding as quickly as you'd hoped but hang in there. You are truly a warrior. One of my sisters took Tamoxifen and another took Arimidex but that was 9 & 8 years ago. My sister with recurrence hasn't found out what if anything she'll be taking. I still have 1-3 chemo treatments and don't know about rads yet or what pill I might take. My concern is osteoporosis because Arimidex can cause loss of bone density. I already have osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and some osteopenia in left hip. The last thing I want is more bone pain!
{{hugs}} Char

Jean 0609

hi cavediver,
Good luck with your meds. Haven't started mine yet. Glad to hear the radiation isn't bad for you. I can imagine the fatigue from going everyday. Hang in there! Hugs, Jean