Original Comment:
| Diane | quality of life! | May 12th, 2008 | Rating: Not Rated |
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| I am off of Arimidex for one month, after taking it for 14 months. In January my Onc. wants to start me on femera or aromisin. After reading all side effects from this and many websites, I have decided that quality of life is more important for me at age 58, so I am opting to take my chances with good yearly checkups, AND NO MEDICATION! | |||
Replies:
| Lisa | No Subject | January 21st, 2008 |
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| Hi Diane I was on Tamoxifen for 3 1/2 years and then switched to Aromasin and have been on it for 1 year now. I am seeing my doctor next week. I have had all the side effects and am either going to go back to Tamoxifen for 1 more year or stop taking all medication. The lesser of the evils is the Tamoxifen. Aromasin caused me to develop tendonitis in both my wrists. I am always so tired like an 80 yr. old women. I have bouts of sadness and I thought I was going crazy until I realized it was the Aromasin. I had symptoms with the Tamoxifen but no where near as severe and no tendonitis. All the power to you for not taking the medication. I made decisions based on fear. I just want my life back. Thank you so much for your comments. I don't feel alone now. | ||
| Connie | AI's and Side Effects | February 7th, 2008 |
| Hi Diane, I hope you are doing well. I too, had bad side effects from Arimidex and Femara. The first side effects happened after only 2 weeks on Arimidex. I persisted in taking it and then told my onc of all the problems it was causing me. His answer was it couldn't be from the Arimidex there must be something else going on with me. I was told to stay off it for 2 weeks and then go back on it. Nothing changed so he switched me to Femara. Things only got worse. He offered me Tomoxifen and I refused. Didn't want those side effects either. After 8 months of suffering I went off everything in July of 2006. I still have numbness in my feet and pins and needles plus burning sensations in my legs. That never went away. What I don't have is the terrible pains in my legs at night, the horrible sweating, a constant stomach ache, burning like acid after urination, numbness in my fingertips, etc. What I would like to know from you, is if you took Tomoxifen first for any length of time before starting on any AI's and how you are being monitered other then Mammos? My latest onc wanted me to start on Aromasin and I refused. Consequently, he told me I needen't come back. He also said he didn't do bloodwork. He doesn't believe in the Ca 27-29, or the CEA tests either. I do know they can give you false positives or false negatives, so I had my primary care physician do them instead. I am at my wits end with these doctors. Every time I have a complaint it is off to another specialist and more tests which don't show anything at this point. My last MRI, which I decided I want instead of a mammo, came out fine. That was on Dec. 19, 2007 after almost a year and a half of not being on any meds for cancer. The thing that I don't understand is how do they determine whether it has spread elsewhere? I was told it depends on what you tell them about how you are feeling. I have been through CAT scans, Ultrasound, Mammos and MRI's. I am tired of the whole thing. I am taking a chance on not taking the meds but at least I can function. So, I would appreciate any info you can give me. You are the first person that I have come across who has also stopped all meds. I am taking a lot of antioxidents. Nothing strange however. Perhaps they are helping. My oncs don't think they do anything. Personally, I don't care what they think. I would love hearing from you. Connie | ||