New research breast cancer prevention and Anastrozole/Arimidex

Hi @Temple, Your concern about the side effects of these hormone blocking therapies is widely shared by many of the readers and posters on the network. Here is the thread from one of the previous discussions about side effects of aromatase inhibitors posted by @Emma17  https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/21028/asco-2019-aromatase-inhibitors-women-need-better-treatments-for-side-effects 
and another by @jennyss https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20921/more-research-needed-into-side-effects-of-chemo-and-hormone-therapy/p1
I hope these threads shed some light on the experiences of others with these drugs. The question of benefit was discussed in the BCNA webcast Hormone blocking therapy - is it worth it?  https://login.redbackconferencing.com.au/landers/page/b8a6d8

 

Middle of the night and the insomnia has kicked in. I’m hurt that my questioning of AIs, poor treatment and lack of info from the specialists has been perceived as negative and not welcome. 

I still find your posts very sad, you are obviously very angry about your diagnosis and where you are at!

There's a booklet on hormone therapy that may assist you

https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/booklets-and-fact-sheets/#hormonetherapy

You had said previously you won't start AI until after Christmas. 

Focus on others experiences will perhaps make you more hesitant.  Not everyone has a bad time of it and maybe that's you. 

@Temple I post across a wide variety of topics, and tone. I often post about Letrozole as a fact providing service, ie 'this has what's happened to me'. I have posted on topics from depression, to supplements, chemo, mastectomy, reconstruction and even pubic hair regrowth patterns! I have asked many many questions and everyone has been generous with their answers.

I have had the full gamut of experience in healthcare professionals. My breast surgeon has been wonderful, my plastic surgeon horrible beyond belief (with the exception of his actual work, which is excellent) and my GP is a dream. I've had useless nurses, cold nurses and ones I'd like to know forever. A month ago I had a phlebotomist who sighed loudly and heavily when asked to take my blood. So much so that I asked if that was a problem for her!

I am so sorry that you have been so badly served by the medicos you've met through your breast cancer experience. Some of us get perfect care, most of us a mix, and few such as yourself, have a really bad run. Everyone here wants to help. I understand the anger, frustration, and devastation that this bloody diagnosis brings. Is there anything we can do to help? If you say what part of Australia you're in, maybe someone can suggest a centre where they've had good, respectful care. Are you being treated publicly or privately? Sometimes it's difficult in the public system to always see the same people, but some manage it.

I hope thing improve for you soon. K

@Temple  you are not  alone in feeling like a cog in a cancer factory but your earlier post discourages interaction  as in your frustration you appear to be attacking those who would like to support you including the moderators. We are in your corner but please recognise  that we too have our difficulties and are fragile when communicating with us.

I @Temple, I have to say I was somewhat confused by your statement that members of this group do not share with each other, particularly regarding medications, and most particularly AI meds. Members have shared +++ their experiences of these drugs and have pretty much done so in a very forthright manner. Muscle and joint pains, drenching sweats and hot flushes,cognitive difficulties, skin changes, vaginal changes up to and including vaginal atrophy, vaginal chemical type odour, osteoporosis and the risks associated with prolia injections given to some to offset this. There has never been any kind of "filter" through which we post, and we are certainly not "pushers" on behalf of "big pharma".

I’m mystified as to what it is I need to tone down? My quest for shared experience of AIs?  Cos that’s what I was simply asking. The drug terrifies me and I was wondering how women have found it early on. It’s no more or less a medical question than any other discussion topic here. 
So I don’t understand what the crime here is. I’ve been  treated like a cog in the cancer factory during treatment  and this has been more devastating than the diagnosis itself with a genuine loss of sense of self and agency. I thought this was a support network.
🤷‍♀️

@Temple we all try our best to help each other - the mods also try to help the blog continue harmoniously . It would help if you could tone it down a bit - whilst we all are different people we’re all pretty much paddling in the same boat.

Your message was pointless. 

Hello @Temple sending you a private message