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brissie_lyn's avatar
brissie_lyn
Member
15 years ago

Arimidex? no thanks

I saw my Oncologist yesterday and she is happy with my recovery from the radiation in Oct/November. We talked about where to go from here - and the dreaded topic of hormone blocking therapy came up. She said the drug Arimidex could reduce my risk of it coming back by 20-40 percent.

But then she explained that, in my case, the risk of reocurrance in the affected breast is about  6-8%. Arimidex might lower that to 4%. The risk of getting it in the other breast is about 10% - the same as the rest of the female population. Arimidex would reduce that to less than the general population.

So the stats seem to speak for themselves to me - why take a serious drug for 5 years just  for a couple of percent gain? The side effects would undoubtedly impact me  - flushing, sleeplessness, headaches, irritability. I am already menopausal and already suffering from these things. The drug would increase the symptoms or exacerbate them.

And then there is bone thinning risk? - and I already went into menopause early and I have always been slim-  so already at risk. And I don't want a drug mucking around with my hormones and changing my last remaining estrogens into androgens!

Anyway, she agreed it is my choice. Hubby and daughter also agree with my choice. I feel so relieved actually - I know this is a serious decision - but quality of life is very important to me. 

 

6 Replies

  • brissie_lyn's avatar
    brissie_lyn
    Member
    15 years ago

    Thanks ladies for the comments above, kind and wise words from you all....yes, you are right - often the treatment options require a personal decision and it varies from person to person. My onc said that some people quite happily even knock back chemo - and that's in a scenario where most others would accept it without question! Personal choice.

    Tanya, I understand your choices, you are right since your kids are young. And Moira - good that you don;t have extreme menopausal symptoms anyway. And Sarah - your stats might be different to mine, not sure. So we are all different from starters.

    As for me - my kids are 24 and 27, I am almost retired and the next 5 years are going to be my fun years - travel in particular! 

    Thanks so much for your comments and yes, may 2011 be a good one.

    Lyn x

     

  • moira1's avatar
    moira1
    Member
    15 years ago

    hi girls,

    thats what i love about this site, we can all discuss our journey, and find out how others are coping with the different options of medication etc. 

    I too am on Arimidex, but the percentages of re occurrance with and without it for me were pretty high, so i decided to go down that road, i went through menopause young as well, but was lucky i had no side effects, just stopped the monthly cycle, so all was good, they did tell me i would go through it again, and yep lucky again no menopause problems, however my bones werent too great because of this, and after a year on Arimidex i now have osteoporosis, but no change to my life style with no side effects at this time, i am also lucky i only have sore fingers when i wake up, but once they are moving alls good, geezz i just read this and i sound like an advert for Arimidex hehe. but i suppose the moral of the story iS that what is good for one, may not be so good for another, hence the reason as everyone on here knows, we are all on the same journey (as in life), but we all take the path that suits our lifestyle, and whatever anyone does or doesnt do, HERE'S TO A BETTER YEAR IN 2011 FOR US ALL..  the more info we have on here the more support we are all getting XXX

  • moira1's avatar
    moira1
    Member
    15 years ago

    hi girls,

    thats what i love about this site, we can all discuss our journey, and find out how others are coping with the different options of medication etc. 

    I too am on Arimidex, but the percentages of re occurrance with and without it for me were pretty high, so i decided to go down that road, i went through menopause young as well, but was lucky i had no side effects, just stopped the monthly cycle, so all was good, they did tell me i would go through it again, and yep lucky again no menopause problems, however my bones werent too great because of this, and after a year on Arimidex i now have osteoporosis, but no change to my life style with no side effects at this time, i am also lucky i only have sore fingers when i wake up, but once they are moving alls good, geezz i just read this and i sound like an advert for Arimidex hehe. but i suppose the moral of the story iS that what is good for one, may not be so good for another, hence the reason as everyone on here knows, we are all on the same journey (as in life), but we all take the path that suits our lifestyle, and whatever anyone does or doesnt do, HERE'S TO A BETTER YEAR IN 2011 FOR US ALL..  the more info we have on here the more support we are all getting XXX

  • Tanya's avatar
    Tanya
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Lyn

    Great that you are happy with your decision and that is the thing about treatment, we all are individuals and have to be totally comfortable with the decisions we make.

    I too was given the statistics on Arimidex and I chose to take it regardless of the side effects.  I have only just turned 40 and am menopausal from chemo prior to commencement of Arimidex.   At the end of the day, if it was ever to come back and I hope that that does not happen, that i did everything that I could to keep it away for as long as possible.  (Whilst quality of life is important to me I need to know that I have a long life to live) I also chose to have my other breast off even though staticially there was no evidence to show that there was a chance that it would come back in the other breast.  As I have very young children, every percent counts in allowing me to be cancer free for as long as possible.

    We are all individuals and make our own choices on the best information available to us.  What is important on our BC journey is that we place our trust in those giving us this information and are comfortable with the decisions we make.

    Wishing everyone a Healthy and happy 2011.

    Tanya xx

     

     

  • Tanya's avatar
    Tanya
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Lyn

    Great that you are happy with your decision and that is the thing about treatment, we all are individuals and have to be totally comfortable with the decisions we make.

    I too was given the statistics on Arimidex and I chose to take it regardless of the side effects.  I have only just turned 40 and am menopausal from chemo prior to commencement of Arimidex.   At the end of the day, if it was ever to come back and I hope that that does not happen, that i did everything that I could to keep it away for as long as possible.  (Whilst quality of life is important to me I need to know that I have a long life to live) I also chose to have my other breast off even though staticially there was no evidence to show that there was a chance that it would come back in the other breast.  As I have very young children, every percent counts in allowing me to be cancer free for as long as possible.

    We are all individuals and make our own choices on the best information available to us.  What is important on our BC journey is that we place our trust in those giving us this information and are comfortable with the decisions we make.

    Wishing everyone a Healthy and happy 2011.

    Tanya xx

     

     

  • Sarah_51's avatar
    Sarah_51
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Linda

    Thanks for explaining all that. It's interesting when you pin the doctor down and hone in on your specific case how the percentages change. When I go for my appointment after the radiation is done will ask the same questions and make up my mind.  Glad your family agree too.

    Thanks also for the tip about counting during the radiation I was actually doing it anyway got your message today - great minds and all that! It was all fine and am slathered in cream.

    On with life

    Sarah