On 7/22/2008
HelpnMom wrote:
Mom's backgrounds - 67 yrs old, had a mastectomy of LB last week, neighboring lymph nodes negative for cancer, prescribed Arimidex 1mg/day for 5 years, bone scan result from last year prompted family doc to prescribe Fosamax but she did not take it (sorry, I do not know the details of the bone scan result).
My questions are:
In my mom's case, is it better to take Arimidex or to just remove the other breast ... considering her age and the possible severe side effects of the drug?
Are all side effects of Arimidex reversible? (In case she decides to take the drug and later to stop before the end of fifth year)
Thank you for your help.
Mei
Hi Mei
If your mother would have her other breast removed,Dr's would still want her to take Arimidex! What Arimidex does is stop the production of Estrogen! You didn't say she was Estrogen positive but I'm assuming she is,if Dr's put her on Arimidex! I don't think anyone really knows if the side effects are reversible or not! I am on Arimidex and had my left breast removed. I was in so much pain,I couldn't stand it. I stopped taking it and will go back to the ONCologist on the 28th. Maybe she will put me on Tamoxifen which does not hurt the bones,BUT has many other side effects .
I didn't take Chemo or Radiation but put on Arimidex.
I guess I was lucky ,when I didn't have Chemo and Rads. !!!
I am 69 now and have a lot of bone and joint pain!
All the Aromatase inhibitors work by stopping Estrogen Production.
Tamoxifen is the only bone friendly drug for Cancer of the Breast.
Hugs Shirley