Arimidex verses Tamoxifen who wins?
My oncologist today informed me that he is going to change me from tamoxifen to arimidex once my menopausal status is known. So I have just read the side effect info and it sounds like hell! What are...
Forum Discussion
Hi Kim,
I was on Tamoxifen for 2 years before having my ovaries removed and changing to Femara (Letrozole). On Tamoxifen I had an excellent quality of life and I must admit that it is not as good or easy on Femara. I had also heard and read all the scarey things about aromatise inhibitors. I lead a very active life and hoped that exercise would counteract the aches and pains and bone density issues.
Unfortunately that was not completely the case. I have now been on Femara for just over 12 months. The joint pain hit with a bang at the one month mark but improved hugely by 6 months. At the 3 month mark I began training in earnest for a trek in the Himalayas (to Everest Base Camp). The more hills I hiked the less I hurt. I succeeded in my goal and felt terrific.
BUT one month later I found out, despite my efforts, my bone density had deteriorated. So I have now taken up weightlifting with an exercise physiologist designed program to stop the decline. I hope that this will work for me.
I keep working on finding things that will give me the best quality of life on this drug. I know that it is much more effective against recurrence for someone in my position (high chance of recurrence unfortunately) so I have to find ways of living well with it. Just this week I have begun taking curcumin capsules morning and night (I have checked with my doctors that this is ok for me). The improvement in joint pain is quite remarkable so far. Curcumin is also effective in reducing levels of bad cholesterol. So it will hopefully be a win win for me with this.
In my experience the pain side effects do ease with a little time and there are things you can do to counteract most of the other side effects. Always remember that we are individuals and someone else's experience does not necessarily forecast yours. I have found this network and the ladies on here a wealth of information on how to get around most problems. Good luck with it. :)
I was on Tamoxifen for 2 years before having my ovaries removed and changing to Femara (Letrozole). On Tamoxifen I had an excellent quality of life and I must admit that it is not as good or easy on Femara. I had also heard and read all the scarey things about aromatise inhibitors. I lead a very active life and hoped that exercise would counteract the aches and pains and bone density issues.
Unfortunately that was not completely the case. I have now been on Femara for just over 12 months. The joint pain hit with a bang at the one month mark but improved hugely by 6 months. At the 3 month mark I began training in earnest for a trek in the Himalayas (to Everest Base Camp). The more hills I hiked the less I hurt. I succeeded in my goal and felt terrific.
BUT one month later I found out, despite my efforts, my bone density had deteriorated. So I have now taken up weightlifting with an exercise physiologist designed program to stop the decline. I hope that this will work for me.
I keep working on finding things that will give me the best quality of life on this drug. I know that it is much more effective against recurrence for someone in my position (high chance of recurrence unfortunately) so I have to find ways of living well with it. Just this week I have begun taking curcumin capsules morning and night (I have checked with my doctors that this is ok for me). The improvement in joint pain is quite remarkable so far. Curcumin is also effective in reducing levels of bad cholesterol. So it will hopefully be a win win for me with this.
In my experience the pain side effects do ease with a little time and there are things you can do to counteract most of the other side effects. Always remember that we are individuals and someone else's experience does not necessarily forecast yours. I have found this network and the ladies on here a wealth of information on how to get around most problems. Good luck with it. :)