arimedex

I went through stage 1 breast cancer and I was lucky I only needed radiation.The doctor put me on arimedex even thought  my gene score was a low 13.

I started last wek and have been in a funk since Is this normal

I am on prosac and wonder if thaqt has aa effect

Has anyone else felt like this

I am retired and happy but have not wanted to leave the house All I do is sleep eat , drink wine and read the twilight series

I cant seem to get out of the funk

Cann anyone help

Thanks

Annie

On 5/31/2009 lakelady14 wrote:

I went through stage 1 breast cancer and I was lucky I only needed radiation.The doctor put me on arimedex even thought  my gene score was a low 13.

I started last wek and have been in a funk since Is this normal

I am on prosac and wonder if thaqt has aa effect

Has anyone else felt like this

I am retired and happy but have not wanted to leave the house All I do is sleep eat , drink wine and read the twilight series

I cant seem to get out of the funk

Cann anyone help

 

Thanks

 

Annie

Annie,

Exercise!  Get out of the house, go walking, join a gym and put down the wine.  Limit yourself to one drink a day, maximum.  There seems to be a definite link between alcolic drinks and breast cancer.  Try modifying your eating habilts slowly, toward a healthy diet, but the excercise is the most important.

 I was on Arimidex for 36 months.  Most of the aches and pains that I blamed on Arimidex are still here, six months after stopping, so I'm guessing that wasn't the cause, after all.  Depression is pretty normal for anyone with cancer, especially the first year or two of dealing with it. Sometimes they're social workers, sometimes on the hospital staff.  Can you get a referral to someone that's dealt with cancer patients?  There are times that just talking to someone "versed" in cancer and the panic and depression, can help quite a bit.

Vent, shout out loud that you're not going to let it beat you, then get into a fighting mode.  Think, fight, fight, fight, every time you think of the cancer.  You were just Stage one, so you have an excellent chance of beating this monster, entirely! 

 There are a number of support groups for we breast cancer babes.  Check out breastcancer.org.  The wonderful people there, have all gone through similar things.  I credit them with saving my life when I was first diagnosed.  I have made some close friends that I've kept in touch with since January, 2005, when I first noticed my lump.  They've given me great advise and support, one or another or many can answer almost any question that comes to mind.  Many have done enormous amounts of reading and research.  Sometimes just hearing from a long term survivor can give you hope and ideas or how to cope.  Please try it.  I don't think you'll regret it.

Be good to yourself and try to be happy.  Find something funny about your cancer.  Laughter is a great medicine!  Watch funny movies, read funny books, write down funny things that have happened to you or that you hear.  For all the horrid things you hear about chemotherapy, which I've gone through, was it cured an ingrown toenail!  LOL!

 Logicat

On 6/1/2009 sleepychele wrote:

its not something you can will away logicat. Good advice, but dont make people feel like it is a character flaw......i went off aromasin and feel much better...

sleepychele,

Sometimes others can see things in something written that the writer did not intend.  How, pray tell, did I give the impression that I was pointing to a character flaw? 

The dear person is going through a rough time and asking for help.  Did you think I meant they can will away the cancer?  the depression?  what exactly?

I'm a stage four cancer survivor, just diagnosed within the last 4 months.  I'm still having days that I struggle both physically and mentally.  I'm the last person that would tell anyone that cancer is a character flaw! 

Study after study has indicated excercise is the first, best way to fight a reoccurance.  That is what I wanted to highlight.  If she is just staying home, going nowhere, she's going to end up in a depression if she's not already there.  Even a healthy person is bound to court depression under those circumstances.  I was trying to encourage, nothing more.

Could you please tell me what I said that lead you to believe I'd said anything wrong?  Cancer is never a "character flaw", neither is the way we each handle it.  But if someone is asking for help, they deserve an answer.

On 6/1/2009 Logicat wrote:

 

On 6/1/2009 sleepychele wrote:

its not something you can will away logicat. Good advice, but dont make people feel like it is a character flaw......i went off aromasin and feel much better...

 

sleepychele,

Sometimes others can see things in something written that the writer did not intend.  How, pray tell, did I give the impression that I was pointing to a character flaw? 

The dear person is going through a rough time and asking for help.  Did you think I meant they can will away the cancer?  the depression?  what exactly?

I'm a stage four cancer survivor, just diagnosed within the last 4 months.  I'm still having days that I struggle both physically and mentally.  I'm the last person that would tell anyone that cancer is a character flaw! 

Study after study has indicated excercise is the first, best way to fight a reoccurance.  That is what I wanted to highlight.  If she is just staying home, going nowhere, she's going to end up in a depression if she's not already there.  Even a healthy person is bound to court depression under those circumstances.  I was trying to encourage, nothing more.

Could you please tell me what I said that lead you to believe I'd said anything wrong?  Cancer is never a "character flaw", neither is the way we each handle it.  But if someone is asking for help, they deserve an answer.

I am sorry.  It is just not that easy to "buck up" and even when you know you SHOULD exercise.  Good eating and exercise is important for all...not just cancer survivors.   But not a guarantee of no recurrence or not getting cancer.

You had many great suggestions.  But when depressed it can make someone feel even worse when you tell them to laugh, go do something fun, etc....

I went through a time of depression during chemo and most do at sometime.....the best advice is to see a doctor and adjust the medicene.

When she starts to feel less depressed the she will feel like doing more.

Sorry--

On 5/31/2009 lakelady14 wrote:

I went through stage 1 breast cancer and I was lucky I only needed radiation.The doctor put me on arimedex even thought  my gene score was a low 13.

I started last wek and have been in a funk since Is this normal

I am on prosac and wonder if thaqt has aa effect

Has anyone else felt like this

I am retired and happy but have not wanted to leave the house All I do is sleep eat , drink wine and read the twilight series

I cant seem to get out of the funk

Cann anyone help

 

Thanks

 

Annie

dear lakelady,

Yes, the Arimidex has that effect.  Many in my cancer support group have/are on antidepressants including me.  Over time it may get better. I  was on Aromasin, similar, and went off.  You can try other options too. You may need to increase your dosage of prozac or switch to another. You did not say how long you have been on prozac..but it takes a while to kick in.  Yes walking and exercise will help, especially now that it is nice and you can stroll along the lake and take in the beautiful scenery.

I am a 4 yr survivor.  Had bi-lateral mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo.  I went through a rough patch, we all do.  

Eating lots of fruits and vegys and walking is good for all of us.  I would debate the fact that it prevents recurrance......as some very healthy athletic people have had cancer, and many unhealthy people who drink and smoke never do.   Studies have show it helps--but a glass of wine can not hurt now and then to relax you.  It is supposed to be good for your heart!  Studies have show a link from drinking alcohol to breast cancer it is true.  But I enjoy a glass or two of wine now and then too-and ENJOY is the key word.   Get out and enjoy life when you get to feeling better as cancer makes us appreciate the little things like a beautiful day, glorious sunset, a good book sitting in the sun........   Life is too short--I look at it differently now.  And as a Christian I think that when the Good Lord wants me to go...I will.  I will do all in my power to remain healthy but it is in His hands ultimately.

Hang in there.  See about switching/increasing your meds to get over the hump.  It's a tough journey and you have every right to feel depressed but this too shall pass I promise.

Hope it helped!

chele 

Lakelady,  I do hope your fatigue and depression lessen through your treatment.  I am not to that point yet, still doing chemotherapy.  There are days when I am not sure I "can" get out of bed (physically) but somehow I just say okay you have to get up.  That is the hardest part.  Once I start moving I start feeling a little better.  I just babysat my grandkids for a week.  That was really too much for me but I am okay.  I love my flowers and will get up and go mess in the garden for awhile.  I don't do anything spectacular but I do get up and move.  I hope knowing how I am coping might encourage you to just get up and do whatever it is you enjoy.  It is not easy I am sure and I do agree with logicat that it might be a good idea to limit the amount of wine each day.  That not only can it be bad for the cancer itself but can also affect your medication.   I have my days when I feel really down because I have been so active and always done everything for myself. Now, I have to wait for someone else to help me do things and they don't always see it like I do.  I am a person who wants things done RIGHT now. .The thing that I have noticed with all that I have read from people going through cancer and treatment is that you just have to FIGHT!!   Good luck and I do hope you feel better soon..and it is okay to be negative at times.  We all have to get those feelings out and we all feel that way at times whether we admit it or not.  But, get them out and then move on from them.

God Bless!!

Hi,

You need to talk to your oncologist and regular doctor. Maybe you need to switch to another antidepressants. 

 Get out and walk everyday and eat healthy, loose weight, see friends

do things that are fun.  Take a class online at a college.  You need to keep busy and focus on something else. 

I have joint pain with arimidex.  I take joint juice., or any glucosame will help.  Move those joints . Most of all keep a good attitude and also watch Joel Osteen on your tv channel.  You need to keep prayers at your side.,

Try to maintain a good attitude., Don't sit at home and go to a movie

like a comedy one.

Good luck! Dee