Arimidex

[mooie]

Please inform me of side effects of Arimidex.  Also confirm whether clinical tests proved that arimidex  really prevent cancer from returning.    Recently I had a lumpectomy.  The cancer was confined to the lump in my breast and did not spread to the limph nodes.  I had a serie of  30 radiation treatments.  My bone density is deteriorating, thus I would like to know whether I have to take osteobond 70mg weekly.  Will arimidex contribute to loss of bone density?

Thank you very much.

Susan.


This discussion is related to arimedex.

[japdip]

I wouldn't say that any of those drugs "prevent" a recurrance but they certainly reduce the risk since the cancer evidently was found to be dependant upon hormones for growth. If you will visit   you can get a complete list of the side effects of Arimidex as well as all the Chemotherapy drugs in use today.   Regards .....

[bluebutterfly2222]

A Web site to visit for information about the side effects of Arimidex and the various chemotherapies is www.chemocare.com

Best wishes...

[SueYoung55]

This comes right from their own website:

Possible Side Effects of ARIMIDEX.

Based on information from a study in patients with early breast cancer, women with a history of blockages in heart arteries (ischemic heart disease) who take ARIMIDEX may have a slight increase in this type of heart disease compared to similar patients who take tamoxifen.

ARIMIDEX can cause bone softening/weakening (osteoporosis) increasing the chance of fractures. In a clinical study in early breast cancer, there were more fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) with ARIMIDEX (10%) than with tamoxifen (7%).

In a clinical study in early breast cancer, some patients taking ARIMIDEX had an increase in cholesterol. Skin reactions, allergic reactions, and changes in blood tests of liver function have also been reported.

In the early breast cancer clinical trial, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms (including arthritis and arthralgia), weakness, mood changes, pain, back pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, rash, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fractures, swelling of arms/legs, insomnia, and headache.

Patients taking ARIMIDEX were less likely than those taking tamoxifen to stop treatment because of side effects. See Important Safety Information below, and talk to your doctor to see if ARIMIDEX is right for you.

(Most people I know that take this have extreme joint pain)

Best wishes

[zouzi]

My case is very similar to yours,my bone density is not very good either.I've been taking arimidex for almost a year now and so far, I've been tolerating it pretty well . For my bones I take Calcium+vitamin D, and once weekly Novo Alendronate which is the equivalent of what you are taking now.My surgeon told me that it's very important for me to take Arimidex because it lessens considerably the estrogen that the body produces thus diminishing the chances of recurrence or developing a new tumor.Personally I would prefer not taking any drugs, but since I have very little side effects, I will continue taking this medication for the next 4 years.I would rather have some bone aches than a recurrence or a new tumor that scared me so much when I first learned about it.You can try the Arimidex and maybe you will be just fine like me,if not your Oncologist can always switch it to one that you can tolerate better.To me this drug is a necessary evil and if another tumor has to appear in the future then so be it...at least I won't be blaming myself not to have followed to the letter everything that I was instructed to do.I hope I've been of some help...Best wishes.

[ladysmith105]

Hi Sue,
I started Femara 2 days ago.  Day #1 after getting up off the sofa after watching tv and reclining I became dizzy.  Day #2 had mild strange pain in nipple area of affected breast and same in opposite breast. My bones are strong at this point, & Oncologist said if you start with strong bones you will most likely end with strong bones.  I was afraid of damage to my heart after 33 RT's so had an Echo Cardiogram done.  I found I have Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (upper normal) and Diastolic Dysfunction.  I am going to see a Cardiologist & have a stress test also, and will ask him about the safety of Femara.  I don't know why some MD's choose  Femara over Arimidex because they are the same class of medication with mostly same side effects.  I am also thinking it may be better to take a Estrogen receptor  blocker like Tamoxifen than Femara because it is not good to have Estrogen reduced to zero.  What are your thoughts?

[ladysmith105]

Forgot to mention I am 5 years post menopausal.

[SueYoung55]

Lady,

Each of the treatments has side effects. I will stay on tamoxifen now that I've got my side effects managed.

Aromatase inhibitors would be too much for my system with joint pain and the chance for ostopenia or worse, osteoporosis.

As much as I miss my estrogen, I do want it blocked because it fed my cancer and I do not want to have to deal with that again.

Best wishes~