Arimidex

[call4cathy]

I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer and underwent a bilateral mastectomy eventhough my tumors were considered to be small--level1.  My mother had breast cancer twice, first time did a lumpectomy and tons of radiation and was pronounced cancer free after five years.  The next year the cancer was back and she had a mastectomy.  My question is since my tumors were small even if they were estrogen fed shouldn't the mastectomy have been enough.  I really don't want to take this medication as I already suffer with fibromyalgia and many of the other "side effects" of this drug.  I'm very confused and would appreciate anybody else giving my their opinion on this.
Thanks, Cathy

[zouzi]

No Sue,you are not wrong,my oncologist also mentioned fat.....you just reminded me LOL !!

[zouzi]

As SueYoung55 said in one of her previous comment,when the ovaries stop producing estrogen,the Adrenal gland start to produce the hormone converting androgens into estrogen.Arimidex stops this conversion thus inhibiting the estrogen circulating in the body.My Oncologist told me that estrogen can be also found in muscles,bones and skin.Your oncologist is right that even if you remove the ovaries,your body still produces estrogen.Take care..

[SueYoung55]

Keep in mind I am not a medical professional. Your adrenal gland produces estrogen and I believe if you have a lot of body fat that also contributes to the problem. I may be wrong about the body fat but I don't think so.

Maybe a medical professional will chime in here.

[call4cathy]

I have another question.  How many places in your body produce estrogen?  Instead of taking an estrogen blocker I asked my oncologist if I could just have my one remaining ovary removed.  He said it probably wouldn't make much of a difference. Without breasts and ovaries where else does estrogen come from?

[SueYoung55]

Hi,

I've had double mastectomy too. Unfortunately, they never get 100% breast tissue on a mastectomy ... it's impossible. So, though you and I have reduced our risk, we in no way are free and clear from recurrence.

I chose Tamoxifen instead of Arimidex.

Best wishes and good health to you :)

[zouzi]

Just a quick note to add that even though one has a mastectomy,that doesn't mean that we are "cancer free"and all precautions must be considered.

[zouzi]

It's been 9 months now since I started Arimidex and so far, the side effects are (Thank God) minimal.I too have arthritis and the pain is really not much worse than before.Each person reacts differently to certain medications and if you see that the Arimidex does give you too many problems,your oncologist can prescribe another one that will suit you better.I think we all prefer to do without all these anti estrogen pills,but personally I would be too afraid to stop taking it and run the risk of recurrence.I had only one little tumor that was invasive and estrogen receptive and I was reluctant to start Arimidex too... but my surgeon strongly suggested that it was better for me to take it for at least five years.Hoping that you will make the right decision after discussing it with your doctor.Best wishes and take care.