Question on Aromotase Inhibitors

carkris
carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

hello, havent been here in a while. I havent really been much of anywhere as I have been in graduate school. I also unfortunately had a friend who died of oral cancer and was helping her. I started on femara and it made me feel like I was jumping out of my skin. I didnt have horrible side effects except that. Then I started aromasin and i have felt like i am a 90 year old woman. It changed my lipid profile. I have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis in my lower back. I need to strengthen it to advoid surgery but am so stiff. I have borderline blood sugar and need to exercise to fix that ... I can go back on tamoxifen as I tolerated it pretty well. Just wondered what your thoughts are. Oh yeah  I havent been dealing well with my friends death but htought it was normal etc.. but am now wondering if its the meds....I take lexapro so dont know but I definately dont feel like me.  

Comments

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #2
    Well, hi

    See my post on another thread about Tamoxifen.  While I had no side effects on Arimidex, I switched to Tamoxifen at 2 years for other reasons and my osteoporosis improved significantly on Tamoxifen.  If you have had a hysterectomy previously, there is no worry about developing endometrial cancer which is a known scarey side effect of Tamoxifen.   I was postmenopausal and took Tamoxifen with no side effects. Quality of life is important and the aromotase inhibitors really give some women a run for their money.  While tamoxifen works differently than the AIs, it is a drug that has been used for a long long time with good results.  I know the medical profession likes the AIs for postmenopausal women, but I sure had a good experience on tamoxifen.  And I'm done.

     Good luck with graduate school.  So sorry about the loss of your friend.

    Suzanne

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
    Hello...
    Hugs,
    Denise

    Hello...

    Hugs,

    Denise

  • Wabbitt
    Wabbitt Member Posts: 18
    #4
    Tamoxifen

    I had a dbl mastectomy in March and I require no further treatment however they suggest I go on tamoxifen for 5 yrs.  I have heard it can cause fatique and weight gain or loss.  Did you experience any of this?

     

     

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member
    #5
    AI's

    I did tamoxifen for 2 and a half years then had a hysterectomy so they switched me to Arimidex. I too felt like a 90 year old woman. The joint pain and stiffness were terrible. I then was switched to Aromasin and it was much better. I did find that exercise was the key to staying on the AI's for 2 and a half years. After the 5 years of tamoxifen and then Aromasin I am back on tamoxifen for another 5 years. For me, tamoxifen is easier to deal with. I did have about 4 months of taking nothing before they changed the recommendation to take the meds for 10 years. I felt like my old self again during that time, but then had to go back on. I look forward to not taking tamoxifen anymore in 3 years, but so very thankful that these drugs are available. There are many AI's out there. Maybe you can try a different one like I did. A different one might not have as many side effects. 

    Good luck and so sorry about your friend.

    Ginny

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