Just scared...

eihtak
eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
I'm so tired of reading everthing I can find about Arimidex until wee hours of the morning when I should be asleep only to find I found nothing I don't already know. 3wks ago I had what my surgeon calls a successful double mastectomy for a very rare secretory carcinoma. The margins are clear and pathology on 2 nodes also clear. The tumor was estrogen positive. I am also 1yr post treatment for Stage3 Anal cancer, PET in Feb. showed NED, tho have been told doc is concerned about future recurrence...but who really knows, there is just not nearly as much info on AC as BC. My fear on the Arimidex is concerning vascular problems. My mom had a heart attack during treatment for ovarian cancer and shortly after died. My dad has high BP. I have no known heart problems but do have exremely bad vericoise veins (the purple bubbly full leg kind) I am not overweight, eat fairly healthy, and exercise off and on. My oncology nurse said that vascular side effects are possible but rather uncommon. After lab work she says my chance for recurrence is 5-10%. I really want to do all I can, but feel I may be high risk for heart related issues and am scared. I guess what I'm looking for is anyone who has knowledge of vascular problems associated with Arimidex.......(while were on it any association to increasing risk to ovarian cancer too). I guess I just need to say a prayer, take the pill, and hope it is the best long term decision. I welcome any words of advice to calm my worries. As always, all in my prayers.

Comments

  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    scared
    Sorry that I have no additional info to give to you, as I have not had any experience
    in the areas that concern you. I just try to live as healthfully as I can each day--
    using as few additives in food/drink as possible, exercising, & watching my weight.
    (((Hugs))) and prayers sent your way.
  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    I don't think reading anything will help you at this point. Whatever you will see is based on groups and statistics and percentages. Each person is unique, and your situation especially so. Having taken Arimidex with proper monitoring since 2003,I do not feel it has affected me negatively to any extreme degree.

    For you, your best bet is voicing your concerns ardently to your docs until you feel they have answered you as best as they can. There will always be people that do not fit the statistics, as I was...happily.

    If you feel it's worth a shot, take care and watch yourself and let it go and move on as best you can.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    Just letting you know that
    Just letting you know that you're in my prayers.


    Hugs, Jan
  • Texasgirl10
    Texasgirl10 Member Posts: 668

    Just letting you know that
    Just letting you know that you're in my prayers.


    Hugs, Jan

    Afraid
    I think it's normal to have fears now. Our lives have changed and everyday we fight. While I do not know and will not tell you that I know how you are feeling, I will tell you that I do understand. Please take Tuffs advice and try to relax ( I know easier said than done) it sounds like you are doing all the right things and are taking a very active approach to staying healthy. Keep sharing your concerns & fears with your Dr & nurse & see what he/she says.

    I will keep you in my prayers. Take care of yourself and stay strong.

    Hugs and God Bless,

    Dawne
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    I am sorry that you
    are struggling with this so much. I can tell you what i have experienced with Arimidex. I havent heard of any vascular problems associated with this. I will tell you that i was on tamoxifen before and that is the med that has the high risk of ovarian/cervical cancer. I developed the cervical cancer from being on tamoxifen and had to have a total hysterectomy. That is what led me to be on Arimidex now. The biggest side effect that i have had from it has been pain in my legs. I was given gabepentin for this and it has helped. I am glad to know that you have a small chance of reoccurance. You are in my prayers as well. I know that is is easier said than done, but try not to worry so much about the medicine. I know that this one is so much better than tamoxifen. In fact i still have a hard time believing that they havent came up with a different hormone pill than tamoxifen because of the high risks of side effects.
    take care and god bless
    laura
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    Vascular Side Effects
    Hi,

    I used Arimidex and Femara for a long, long time. I remember when they came out as a hormonal therapy in addition to Tamoxifen. I've been reading online forums since 1997 and in that time, don't remember reading that anyone using AI's had problems in that way. As for ovarian cancer, I don't remember women using AI's having this problem. Tamoxifen does give some women endometrial (uterus lining) cancer.

    No one can predict what might come our way in the future. The best we can do is live and do everything possible to prevent having a recurrence.

    Best,

    Doris
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    SIROD said:

    Vascular Side Effects
    Hi,

    I used Arimidex and Femara for a long, long time. I remember when they came out as a hormonal therapy in addition to Tamoxifen. I've been reading online forums since 1997 and in that time, don't remember reading that anyone using AI's had problems in that way. As for ovarian cancer, I don't remember women using AI's having this problem. Tamoxifen does give some women endometrial (uterus lining) cancer.

    No one can predict what might come our way in the future. The best we can do is live and do everything possible to prevent having a recurrence.

    Best,

    Doris

    Most all medications can have serious side effects
    Just watch the TV commercials! They scare the you know what outa me. I've been taking medications for high blood pressure for many years and I worry about those longterm effects as well. I've already been taken off hydrochlorothiazide because I developed gout (and potential kidney damage). I don't want to have a heart attack or stroke, so I keep taking my meds.

    In the case of Arimidex, I feel the side effects of metastatic breast cancer outweigh the risks of the Arimidex. My med onc told me that it was every bit as important as chemotherapy in my situation. I don't know about the type of breast cancer and risk of recurrence that you have. That would be a major deciding factor for me (and it was). I have no aches or pains from Arimidex that plagues so many women. Long-term I don't know what will happen. I didn't know about vascular effects from Arimidex. I don't know if I'd have a recurrence if I didn't take it or if I will when I stop taking it.

    I know I was as frightened as you about taking it given all the things I'd read about it. I put it off for about a month before I really made up my mind to swallow that first pill.

    Your decision has to be right for you. Do lots of research. Get a second opinion if you think that would help.

    Whatever you decide, we're here to support you

    Suzanne
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    Arimidex
    Hi,

    I have been on Arimidex for 3 years now. I will be on it for life. I have had BC twice and had already done 5 years of Tamoxafin before I got my recurrance. I have high blood pressure and high colesteral and my doctor has no problem with me taking it. I also take Lupron shots as mine is HR+. The benefits outweigh the risks as far as I'm concerned. I am stage IV with bone mets. JMO

    Terry
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    lolad said:

    I am sorry that you
    are struggling with this so much. I can tell you what i have experienced with Arimidex. I havent heard of any vascular problems associated with this. I will tell you that i was on tamoxifen before and that is the med that has the high risk of ovarian/cervical cancer. I developed the cervical cancer from being on tamoxifen and had to have a total hysterectomy. That is what led me to be on Arimidex now. The biggest side effect that i have had from it has been pain in my legs. I was given gabepentin for this and it has helped. I am glad to know that you have a small chance of reoccurance. You are in my prayers as well. I know that is is easier said than done, but try not to worry so much about the medicine. I know that this one is so much better than tamoxifen. In fact i still have a hard time believing that they havent came up with a different hormone pill than tamoxifen because of the high risks of side effects.
    take care and god bless
    laura

    Positive thoughts and
    Positive thoughts and prayers!
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    mom62 said:

    Arimidex
    Hi,

    I have been on Arimidex for 3 years now. I will be on it for life. I have had BC twice and had already done 5 years of Tamoxafin before I got my recurrance. I have high blood pressure and high colesteral and my doctor has no problem with me taking it. I also take Lupron shots as mine is HR+. The benefits outweigh the risks as far as I'm concerned. I am stage IV with bone mets. JMO

    Terry

    Thankyou all
    Thankyou all for the wonderful advice and prayers. After considering all, talking to my doc, and prayer for help in making a decision, I swallowed that first pill. Its weird, and maybe I was making too much of it, but until this whole cancer thing I barely took a tylenol so have a hard time with this kind of thing. Take cancer out of my life and I feel like I'm really healthy if that makes any sense and now the way I feel may all change, but at least I will be doing what I can to keep the cancer at bay. Again, you have all been there for me with concern like family...thankyou. As always,all in my prayers.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598

    Most all medications can have serious side effects
    Just watch the TV commercials! They scare the you know what outa me. I've been taking medications for high blood pressure for many years and I worry about those longterm effects as well. I've already been taken off hydrochlorothiazide because I developed gout (and potential kidney damage). I don't want to have a heart attack or stroke, so I keep taking my meds.

    In the case of Arimidex, I feel the side effects of metastatic breast cancer outweigh the risks of the Arimidex. My med onc told me that it was every bit as important as chemotherapy in my situation. I don't know about the type of breast cancer and risk of recurrence that you have. That would be a major deciding factor for me (and it was). I have no aches or pains from Arimidex that plagues so many women. Long-term I don't know what will happen. I didn't know about vascular effects from Arimidex. I don't know if I'd have a recurrence if I didn't take it or if I will when I stop taking it.

    I know I was as frightened as you about taking it given all the things I'd read about it. I put it off for about a month before I really made up my mind to swallow that first pill.

    Your decision has to be right for you. Do lots of research. Get a second opinion if you think that would help.

    Whatever you decide, we're here to support you

    Suzanne

    What Suzanne says is true,
    What Suzanne says is true, most meds do have side effects and some can be quite serious. You just have to educate yourself and do what is best for you. It is your body, your life.


    We are here for you.


    Lex
  • beachmom
    beachmom Member Posts: 50
    eihtak said:

    Thankyou all
    Thankyou all for the wonderful advice and prayers. After considering all, talking to my doc, and prayer for help in making a decision, I swallowed that first pill. Its weird, and maybe I was making too much of it, but until this whole cancer thing I barely took a tylenol so have a hard time with this kind of thing. Take cancer out of my life and I feel like I'm really healthy if that makes any sense and now the way I feel may all change, but at least I will be doing what I can to keep the cancer at bay. Again, you have all been there for me with concern like family...thankyou. As always,all in my prayers.

    ditto
    I feel too that I'm a very healthy person except for this one little problem that we have! I had a hard time taking that first pill....i too don't take much in the form of medications. I don't really have any side effects that I know of. I tend not to read the info that comes with the script, just makes me look for those things to happen. I finally had to decide what I felt was most beneficial to me at this time in my life. Prayers to you always,
    Keely
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    on the other hand...
    First let me say that your fears are real and only you can decide what is right for you. I had life threatening side effects from tamoxifen but I'm still here and obnoxious.

    When it gets to be too much, watch Jeff Foxworthy and his routine on "anal leakage" as a side effect. It helps put it in perspective.

    Maureen
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member

    on the other hand...
    First let me say that your fears are real and only you can decide what is right for you. I had life threatening side effects from tamoxifen but I'm still here and obnoxious.

    When it gets to be too much, watch Jeff Foxworthy and his routine on "anal leakage" as a side effect. It helps put it in perspective.

    Maureen

    Thanks
    Glad you are still here and obnoxious...maybe thats what kept you here! Hopefully the Arimidex will not have the same as Tamoxifen. As far as laughing about "anal leakage" I'll skip it, I am also recovering from Anal Cancer and since I have a colostomy the whole anal thing is kinda messed up, tho that board can come up with some pretty good jokes of its own as one can imagine. Hope you are doing well and have control of any side effects now. As always,all in my prayers
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    beachmom said:

    ditto
    I feel too that I'm a very healthy person except for this one little problem that we have! I had a hard time taking that first pill....i too don't take much in the form of medications. I don't really have any side effects that I know of. I tend not to read the info that comes with the script, just makes me look for those things to happen. I finally had to decide what I felt was most beneficial to me at this time in my life. Prayers to you always,
    Keely

    Good idea??
    Maybe its a good idea not to read those labels, I've always been the kind that reads everthing and then looks up even more. I know a lot is listed just to save the company from legal issues, so am trying to stay calm about the whole thing. Today is day 2 on taking it and so far so good....long way to go. My prayers back to you...
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    eihtak said:

    Thankyou all
    Thankyou all for the wonderful advice and prayers. After considering all, talking to my doc, and prayer for help in making a decision, I swallowed that first pill. Its weird, and maybe I was making too much of it, but until this whole cancer thing I barely took a tylenol so have a hard time with this kind of thing. Take cancer out of my life and I feel like I'm really healthy if that makes any sense and now the way I feel may all change, but at least I will be doing what I can to keep the cancer at bay. Again, you have all been there for me with concern like family...thankyou. As always,all in my prayers.

    Wishing you the best eihtak
    Wishing you the best eihtak and praying for you!


    Hugs, Diane
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    eihtak said:

    Thankyou all
    Thankyou all for the wonderful advice and prayers. After considering all, talking to my doc, and prayer for help in making a decision, I swallowed that first pill. Its weird, and maybe I was making too much of it, but until this whole cancer thing I barely took a tylenol so have a hard time with this kind of thing. Take cancer out of my life and I feel like I'm really healthy if that makes any sense and now the way I feel may all change, but at least I will be doing what I can to keep the cancer at bay. Again, you have all been there for me with concern like family...thankyou. As always,all in my prayers.

    No, you didn't make too much
    No, you didn't make too much of it, not at all. I think we all feel the same. Good luck!