Having a 4 week break from Exemestane/Aromasin ...... who else has done that?
I saw my Onc yesterday, who has suggested that I have 4 weeks off Exemestane from yesterday - to see if the hand aches (in particular) 'lessen' and to see how much of the pain may be attributed to arthritis (which I know I have - but was never at this level of pain) or a direct result of the AI.
I know a lot have had a break from Letrozole ..... who's had a break from Exemestane/Aromasin?
Up til a couple of months ago - I was happy to go onto ANYTHING ELSE to give a go - to lessen the side effects ..... but in recent weeks, most of my other side effects (particularly the hot flushes) have abated, so the remaining problem was really the hand pain and some hip/knee (which I had to a small degree before being diagnosed with BC.)
It will be interesting to see how quickly the pain lessens & by how much. Currently, it wakes me up often during the night - and I have it all day. In the morning, my left hand fingers in particular just won't 'bend' until 1hr+ after getting up - and also trigger finger in my thumb & middle fingers. I currently can't use my thumbs to pull up trousers or disengage the hand brake in the car ..... and a myriad of other day to day things - but if I had to go onto another AI or Tamoxifen - and the 'pay off' would be to go back to hot flushes & other nasties ..... I am not keen to do that. I'd rather stick with the hand pain, even tho it frustrates me with both my favourite past times (Uke Playing & kayak fishing!)
Depending on the outcome of the 4 weeks off AIs, I may then stay on Exemestane, or may go to Anastrozole/Arimidex (the one with the least number of side effects - but sadly still includes insomnia!) Anastrozole/Arimidex doesn't appear to affect the joints so much. If you are on it - how is it affecting you?
She will ring me in 4 weeks to see how I am going & then decide which one to go with. She was not keen for me to go onto Tamoxifen (only as a last resort) as she said there is a slight chance of cervical cancer and other issues that she was not happy with.
I had a bunch of other questions to ask, but bloody forgot (even tho I had them written down!) DUH!
I know a lot have had a break from Letrozole ..... who's had a break from Exemestane/Aromasin?
Up til a couple of months ago - I was happy to go onto ANYTHING ELSE to give a go - to lessen the side effects ..... but in recent weeks, most of my other side effects (particularly the hot flushes) have abated, so the remaining problem was really the hand pain and some hip/knee (which I had to a small degree before being diagnosed with BC.)
It will be interesting to see how quickly the pain lessens & by how much. Currently, it wakes me up often during the night - and I have it all day. In the morning, my left hand fingers in particular just won't 'bend' until 1hr+ after getting up - and also trigger finger in my thumb & middle fingers. I currently can't use my thumbs to pull up trousers or disengage the hand brake in the car ..... and a myriad of other day to day things - but if I had to go onto another AI or Tamoxifen - and the 'pay off' would be to go back to hot flushes & other nasties ..... I am not keen to do that. I'd rather stick with the hand pain, even tho it frustrates me with both my favourite past times (Uke Playing & kayak fishing!)
Depending on the outcome of the 4 weeks off AIs, I may then stay on Exemestane, or may go to Anastrozole/Arimidex (the one with the least number of side effects - but sadly still includes insomnia!) Anastrozole/Arimidex doesn't appear to affect the joints so much. If you are on it - how is it affecting you?
She will ring me in 4 weeks to see how I am going & then decide which one to go with. She was not keen for me to go onto Tamoxifen (only as a last resort) as she said there is a slight chance of cervical cancer and other issues that she was not happy with.
I had a bunch of other questions to ask, but bloody forgot (even tho I had them written down!) DUH!
