Arimidex as sole treatment for breast cancer

When I was first diagnosed with ER/PR breast cancer, by means of a biopsy on the 2 cm lump I had detected, an MRI showed one and possibly two smaller cancers in the same breast that had not been detected on  a mammogram or by physical examination. 

Because I had uncontolled hypertension, I was informed that surgery would provide extra risk for me.  I had tried to see an oncologist but was tunable to get an appointment with any oncologist until I had the surgery.

After three tries I found a surgeon who agrees that it was my choice to have the risky (to me) surgery and he agreed to make an appointment with an oncologist for further consultation.

Good luck for me as this oncologist put me on Arimidex.  It has been four years with absolutely no side effects and best of all all according to a recent MRI there is no sign of the cancer I had previously. 

I have seen a cardiologist and my blood pressure was determined to be part of a heart problem - and the blood pressure and the heart problems are now controlled by medication and I have been saved from a possibly deadly heart attack.  And both breasts are still intact.

Why is this treatment not offered to all women hormone sensitive cancer?

My experience leads me to believe the surgeons have more control of breast cancer treatment than they should.  All options should be available to patients along with the physicians personal opinions.  If a women is willing to pay for a consultation with an oncoligist she should be able to - before surgery. 

I think patients should be given hard cold facts as well as options for treatment.

I

On 11/6/2008 zanney wrote:

When I was first diagnosed with ER/PR breast cancer, by means of a biopsy on the 2 cm lump I had detected, an MRI showed one and possibly two smaller cancers in the same breast that had not been detected on  a mammogram or by physical examination. 

Because I had uncontolled hypertension, I was informed that surgery would provide extra risk for me.  I had tried to see an oncologist but was tunable to get an appointment with any oncologist until I had the surgery.

After three tries I found a surgeon who agrees that it was my choice to have the risky (to me) surgery and he agreed to make an appointment with an oncologist for further consultation.

Good luck for me as this oncologist put me on Arimidex.  It has been four years with absolutely no side effects and best of all all according to a recent MRI there is no sign of the cancer I had previously. 

I have seen a cardiologist and my blood pressure was determined to be part of a heart problem - and the blood pressure and the heart problems are now controlled by medication and I have been saved from a possibly deadly heart attack.  And both breasts are still intact.

Why is this treatment not offered to all women hormone sensitive cancer?

My experience leads me to believe the surgeons have more control of breast cancer treatment than they should.  All options should be available to patients along with the physicians personal opinions.  If a women is willing to pay for a consultation with an oncoligist she should be able to - before surgery. 

I think patients should be given hard cold facts as well as options for treatment.

 

Dear Zanney,

I would guess most people are in a state of shock when they are told they have breast cancer or any cancer for that matter.  It was a rush thing with me as I had a fast growing tumor and time was important.  I was told I did not have any other options.  Was your cancer invasive?

I tried to get as much information as possible before my surgeries were done, but like you I was not getting answers to the questions I was asking.  My surgeries were done by "the best" in the area, but the majority of her answers  to my questions were, "It is what it is."  I was puzzled at this answer. 

I found that many people experience different after effects during and after chemo that the doctors will tell you minimal until you call and complain about joint pains, sickness, fatigue and other problems.  I finally told my doctor I wanted to know everything when my body began to shut down during the original agressive chemo treatments.  The doctors do a great service to most of us, and I know that.  I would most certainly not be sending this if they had not rushed treatment for me.

How great to hear Arimidex worked for you.  Did you have radiation treatment?  I am currently finishing up on radiation treatment, hurting from a major sunburn, and going to start using Arimidex.  I'm concerned because I am currently getting hot flashes and the first side effect is hot flashes.  I will try it in two months (after the holidays) and see how bad the side effects will be.  Stories like yours makes it easier to deal with this situation.  Thanks for the info.

Mumsy 

I had surgery for a 3mm tubular carcinoma discovered by the biopsy. NODES AND MARGINS WERE CLEAR AND NO FURTHER CANCER WAS FOUND BY THE SURGERY.  Because I am an x-smoker I was very worried about late term effects from radiation.After going thru hell with one Rad Onc. I found another who agreed that foregoing radiation and doing close follow up was a reasonable option for me. However both he and the Med. Onc. recommended arimidex which I began to take reluctantly almost 3 monthe post surgery. I didn't realize that the sooner I started it the better. I wasn't told the side effects when i was given the prescription; READ ABOUT THEM AND GOT SCARED TO TAKE IT; and then has to wait another couple of months to see the Med. Onc. again. So I hope it will work for me. So far after close to a month, I have had not side effects except for more frequent BMs which I never paid much attention to before.

I need to have a  mammmogram soon and then a bilateral mammogram in 6 months and an MRI six months after that. What are you doing for followup? Did you hear about the new type of mammogram in the news on this site today?