On 4/24/2009 MKSMKS wrote:
Over 5 years ago (age 52), I was diagnosed with Stage I invasive lobular breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy, 33 radiation txs and began tamoxifen after radiation tx was completed. At this time, I was not menopausal or perimenapausal. After beginning tamoxifen, I became postmenapausal within a year and a half. After 3 years on tamoxifen, my oncologist recommended aromasin. My surgeon and my gynecologist stated that this drug would affect my quality of life. I stayed away from it but eventually received a sample from my oncologist. After 10 days on aromasin, I did not feel right. That was over a year ago. Again, my oncologist recommended switching to aromasin because statistically the reoccurrence rate was lower than with tamoxifen. After a few months, I tracked down the Aromasin Petals program (you can get a 30 day supply free with a physician's prescription- some restrictions apply). I finally obtained the free supply and began to take it. Then the payback began - it almost immediately made my reflux significantly worse. If I had to wake up to go to the bathroom after 3-4 am, I had difficulty falling back asleep. Then my bones and joints began to ache - I felt like I was a 90 year old arthritic. Hot morning showers, along with ibuprofen 800 mg and skelaxin at bedtime with food and with breakfast helped. Parts of my body that I never experienced pain in ached and some of the pain felt like a current (phalangeal joints in great toes). My entire hand - from the wrist to the fingertips were chronically numb and tingling. My appetite increased - gained over 5 pounds, my head ached (I almost never get headaches), my blood pressure was elevated, and my vision was blurry on two occasions. Hot flashes didn't come on as quickly nor as pervasively as with tamoxifen. However, when my memory took more of a downturn, I wasn't even phased by it! When I finished the 30 day supply last Wednesday, I went back on the tamoxifen. My oncologist's PA said it would take 2 weeks for the medication to be out of my system. Some of the side effects have already abated, and I hope that none of them are permanent. My sister was on arimidex and aromasin - she had a dizzy spell and passed out. I am thankful someone was with her, that she was not driving, and that she did not hurt herself or anyone else. Her cardiologist after doing extensive testing, informed her that this medication can cause this and should discontinue it immediately (she had already completed 4 years on estrogen blockers).
Hi, I have been on aromasin for several years now... originally I started on tamoxifin like you I did move to aromasin after I technically was post menopausal. With tamoxifen I had a rough time...Hot flashes,weight gain and I wanted off tamoxifen. I have stayed at the same weight (some loss) since moving to the aromasin.... I do have achey joints but I also had achey joints with tamoxifen. I think most of the aching joints is associated with lack of estrogen...lack of estrogen (from my research) creates quite a few of the symptoms I had. Those symptoms are going to happen with either tamoxifin or inhibitors.
I have not had a problem with blood pressure or dizziness. I am a four year survivor... once I get through my fifth year I will need to reevalutate where to go from here... medication wise. I would prefer to stop all together... but I need to do more research.
I do not want to go back to tamoxifen the side effects for me were worse then aromasin. The inhibitors definately work differantly then tamoxifen... and I am not sure which is worse.... one kills cells in your body and the other inhibits the production of them.
The best thing that I did was to start on an regular exercise regime... get the blood flowing for 30 minutes a day, go green with my diet, and see a good naturpath. There are things that you can do to minimized effects of either.
I would be interested to see where your journey takes you. Good luck!