CancerCompass message board discussion started by lovemydogs on 3/15/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22036,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi,My name is Charlene and I was on Arimidex for almost a year, my joints and legs hurt me so bad sometimes I had a hard time walking and even getting up from a sitting position. My Dr. put me on Aromsain about 21/2 months ago and today my hands starting hurting me so bad I can hardly pick anything up.I have started aching all over, my Dr. said that there are very few side effects, then I started reading up on the medication and there are a lot of side effects.Do you take the awful chance of getting cancer again or do you hurt and ache to the point you just feel like never getting out of bed. I want more in life than either of these choices.I guess I will call my Dr. back this, even though I was just in his office last week and wasn't having any pain then.I just wanted to respond to everyone there seems to be a lot more side effects than we are being told about.Charlene lovemydogs Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi...I  also was on Arimidex and after 3 months, I seen my Doctor twice and called him endlessly.  I was having mental problems and couldnt focus at work, memory gone.  He put me on Aromasin, and the only thing so far is my knees and back still ache horribly and hard to move at all. But I think my hands are starting to go numb.  Time will tell.  I  dont think they tell us all the side effects, because they know we wouldnt take it. Some of us have different side effects on different medications.  So we have to keep trying to get the one for us.  I have decided that if the medicatons make me feel worse and I cant function, then I will take my chances and hope for the best.  Good luck and God Bess.....portfolio musician Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I think there are more than the 3 to 4% of women who have side effects. I picked up a flyer on Aromosin and they didn't mention alot of the bad side effects I am now experiencing.  Was healthy until I got breast cancer.  Am 59 and feel so old.  My right hip is so sore, head ache all the time, my right foot is so sore (it feels like it is in the bone but also the tendons) and of course the hot flashes and joint pains.  I was on Femara and switched to Aromosin, in the end those little bitty pills are really taking a toll on our bodies, aren't they. Jackieinal Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I've tried all three of the AI drugs and have had severe pain from each. And I also think that a lot more women have severe side effects from these drugs than they admit. I've been on the drugs for 2 years now and I've found only 2 ways to deal with the pain: medication and exercise. The more you can get out and walk or go to a gym or whatever, the more relief you will get. Seems hard to believe, but I know it has worked for me. And my oncologist put me on Percodan and Darvocet. I don't take a lot, just enough to control the pain, but she knows that the pain is real--she's seen it often enough--and has no qualms about prescribing pain meds because she says it is so important to stay on the drug. Let your doctor know what you are experiencing and get him/her to give you something for pain. And do try exercise--as hard as it is to get your aching body to move, it really may help. Suzie M Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Went to a podiatrist last week due to foot pain and found out I have a heel spur related to plantar fasciitis.  So, will be riding my bike in lieu of the walks I had hoped to take.  How dumb I was to think the surgery, chemo and radiation would end all of this.  The aromosin is a long term aide to deal with now. Jackieinal Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT >>How dumb I was to think the surgery, chemo and radiation would end all of this.<< Not dumb at all. I think most of us believe that, maybe because we can only cope with so much at one time. And different people respond differently to all of these treatments. So for some, "slash, burn, poison" is the end of it. But for those of us who keep having problems--it gets old, doesn't it? I try to look on the bright side and all that, but there are some days when I am just sick to tears of the aches and pains, hot flashes, extra weight I can't seem to lose, and since chemo sent me into menopause I'm "enjoying" everything that goes along with that as well. Suzie M Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT