Best Of
Re: Lower dose tamoxifen
@Milly21 You are lucky you could tolerate 20mg for as long as 6 years before it got too much. 15 weeks is all I could take before the oncologist dropped my dose to 10mg. Then another 15 weeks and he dropped it altogether. Unfortunately that didn't work either as four months later I had a recurrence. He now says we have to find a way to stay on it. So I'm now on 10mg every second day (equiv 5mg) and will take regular breaks from it when it gets too much. Better to be on something than nothing but I can't say if it will be successful. There's not many options as I'm only in my 40's, but they have had success in American studies so I'm hopeful.
Esjay
2
Re: Lower dose tamoxifen
Me! I take 10mg as the 20 was too much and my oncologist agreed and prescribed me 10. I was surprised but I thought she would prescribe it if it didn’t work.
Feel heaps better
Re: Wise words ....
Sometimes it is easy to wallow in self pity & even make situations worse than they really are ..... including becoming bitter ... our family & friends don't always understand just how much this BC diagnosis 'mucks with our minds' ...... so try & err on the side of kindness ....
arpie
1
Re: Have you had withdrawal side effects after stopping Arimidex!
It's great news that you are also coming off Anastrozole @Arpie.
I think I've missed the boat as it's been 5 days since I stopped and the withdrawal side effects are slowly lessening. I asked him at the time about coming off cold turkey and he said it would be fine. I think I'll give feedback to his practice manager which may help the next person in my position.
It makes complete sense that there would be side effects. We all had some initial adjustments when we first started taking it - I remember being a bit nauseas and tired, and it's a strong drug to abruptly stop.
Good luck with your weaning off! I hope you feel better for it x
I think I've missed the boat as it's been 5 days since I stopped and the withdrawal side effects are slowly lessening. I asked him at the time about coming off cold turkey and he said it would be fine. I think I'll give feedback to his practice manager which may help the next person in my position.
It makes complete sense that there would be side effects. We all had some initial adjustments when we first started taking it - I remember being a bit nauseas and tired, and it's a strong drug to abruptly stop.
Good luck with your weaning off! I hope you feel better for it x
Re: Have you had withdrawal side effects after stopping Arimidex!
Great that you can come off the Arimidex @Hopes_and_Dreams .... have a chat to your Onc about coming off it 'slowly' rather than a sudden stop - even if it means going back on it again, but reduced dose (getting less every week) for a while? Hopefully that will help alleviate the side effects. There are lots of meds that they 'wean off' gradually (steroids, opioids & others) ... and I reckon that AIs should be one of them ... (AND should wean on too!!)
I am currently coming off 6 years of Anastrozole & am doing it slowly - and so far, so good - no side effects! None of the aches & pains either, that I'd had whilst on it full-time!
I'll be off it for good, soon!
I am currently coming off 6 years of Anastrozole & am doing it slowly - and so far, so good - no side effects! None of the aches & pains either, that I'd had whilst on it full-time!
I'll be off it for good, soon! arpie
2
Re: Newly diagnosed metastatic cancer
Thanks for the update @Rhubarb21 - that is great that the recent scan didn't show much progression ...
As the meds kick in, it is all about managing it, as they know they can't heal it. THey are advancing with treatment options all the time! Specially now, with immunotherapy & other 'newer' treatments.
One of my friends with multiple area mets says that they virtually consider it & treat it a 'chronic disease' now, rather than a 'terminal' one - cos as you & @Cath62 say - you don't necessarily 'look or feel' ill!
Just keep doing whatever you love doing xx
take care
As the meds kick in, it is all about managing it, as they know they can't heal it. THey are advancing with treatment options all the time! Specially now, with immunotherapy & other 'newer' treatments.
One of my friends with multiple area mets says that they virtually consider it & treat it a 'chronic disease' now, rather than a 'terminal' one - cos as you & @Cath62 say - you don't necessarily 'look or feel' ill!
Just keep doing whatever you love doing xx
take care
arpie
1