Aromasin side effects

It is by coinsidence that I am joining this wonderful site.  I had breast cancer in 2000, lumpecctomy followed by radiation.  Used Tamoxifen for 5 years, then switched to Arimidex which lasted less then a year. Side effects were so bad that I couldn't hardly move my arms or body.  It was hard to roll over in bed.  The oncologist switched me to Aromasin which started out better for awhile, but the last month, my right wrist is so tender and sore that the sleeve on my blouse touches the wrist and it is so painful.  The pain has started in my left wrist and it effects both the thumbs.  It has gotten so bad that I went and bought a thumb splint to wear and am going to make a appt. with my primary physician tomorrow.  Bone scans have been fine so far adn I take Calcium with Vit. D.  I also take Effexor XR for the hot flashes, but still get the power surges.  Not sure what is going on, but I to have 3 wonderful grandsons and enjoy playing with them.  This has made it very difficult.

I hope this helps others and hope I get more feedback as well.  I did read in one of these messages that someone had carpel tunnel surgery, that is what I  thought this was uuntil I started reading this site.

Thank you to all, and hang in there everyone.

Pejay

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Hi Pejay,

Most likely the pain you are having is an adverse effect of the Aromasin. And even though some women report that the pain eventually subsides, they are in a very small minority.

I would very seriously ask the dr why if you were on the Tamoxifen for 5 years, they think you need to continue on an anti-estrogen drug. If the theory behind starving cancer cells of the hormone they need to grow actually does work, after 5 years, your cancer risk should be minimal.  Personally, I think this business of putting women on an aromatase inhibitor after they've already done a full course of an estrogen blocker is a bunch of hoo-ey!

You can achieve the same effect by incorporating natural herbs and supplements into your daily lifestyle.  A single aspirin per day will act to inhibit prostaglandins, which are needed to produce estrogen.  Weak phytoestrogens in herbs and foods will naturally act as estrogen receptor blockers.  There are things other than aspirin that act as aromatase inhibitors - grape seed extract, resveratrol, to mention a few. 

If you would, please take a look at my blog - this is the regimen I used instead of the aromatase inhibitors to put my ER+ metastatic cancer in remission.  I cannot guarantee that this is an effective regimen for anyone else, as every person's body chemistry is different, but it certainly should give you a good idea of the things you can do on your own to keep your estradiol levels low, yet not totally chemically bankrupt your body of estrogen (which is why the aromasin makes women hurt so bad.)

my regimen
http://motherearthtreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-pers

My best advice it that you find a naturopathic professional - or other holistic practitioner - and get them to work with you on finding a natural regimen that best suits YOUR needs. This approach has the very important added advantage of promoting good health for all areas of your life, plus it's inexpensive (comparatively) and offers few adverse effects._

There are also two excellent books you might want to purchase:

Dr Susan Love's Breast Book (4th ed), and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way by Susun Weed.

Wishing you the best!

Tre

I take Aromasin and also Evening Primrose Seed Oil.  My radiation oncologist and Internist both recommended it.It is not perfect but I can go for 9 or 10 days without pain.  I took Femara only before that and that stuff is poison.  I will never take it again.  I have passed my 2 years in November and hope to continue to do well.  My Radiology Doctor wants me to have a MRI Bilateral Mammogram every 6 months because I have calcification in the breast that had the cancer, it was a stage 0, so I was lucky just radiation and no CHEMO.

Please take care and have faith,

Sincerely,

Diane K