ARIMIDEX study/results for length of time to take drug

First, about Sex Drive. Ask about Androgel or some other testosterone. It's estrogen that's my enemy, not testosterone, so it's safe for me and effective. Maybe it's safe for you too. Cancer is hard enough on a marriage w/o ruining your sex life too.

Update: For me, taking Arimidex for 10 yrs rather than 5 (w/ Lupron injections to cause menopause) would improve my chances of no reoccurance by 1.4%. I fought to get it, but I haven't been to the doctor to get the injections or take the pills. I'm blaming my midlife crisis. I lost 20 pounds after training for Susan G. Komen, now I'm afraid to gain it back.

My advice: 1) Ask for the statistical analysis to see how much benefit your gaining in exchange for side effects: 2) Walk your butt off.

Estrogen. Is my enemy too! I had gastric bypass 3 years ago. I have lost and kept off 139lbs! I still need to excersice to keep it off but I am so grateful!

Summer wrote:

First, about Sex Drive. Ask about Androgel or some other testosterone. It's estrogen that's my enemy, not testosterone, so it's safe for me and effective. Maybe it's safe for you too. Cancer is hard enough on a marriage w/o ruining your sex life too.
Update: For me, taking Arimidex for 10 yrs rather than 5 (w/ Lupron injections to cause menopause) would improve my chances of no reoccurance by 1.4%. I fought to get it, but I haven't been to the doctor to get the injections or take the pills. I'm blaming my midlife crisis. I lost 20 pounds after training for Susan G. Komen, now I'm afraid to gain it back.
My advice: 1) Ask for the statistical analysis to see how much benefit your gaining in exchange for side effects: 2) Walk your butt off.

I already went thru menopause. Thank goodness! It wasn't too bad, compared to chemotherapy,,ha ha!

I am burnt to a crisp, just about to finish radiation, 3/2/12. Then Arimidex. Gosh I am scared to death with the side effects. I already have osteopenia. I am doubled up on calcium and vit. D. I am so concerned about the aging effects, etc.
Just commenting.

Sena wrote:

I am burnt to a crisp, just about to finish radiation, 3/2/12. Then Arimidex. Gosh I am scared to death with the side effects. I already have osteopenia. I am doubled up on calcium and vit. D. I am so concerned about the aging effects, etc.
Just commenting.

Congrats Sena on your last treatment today! You made it through. I started arimidex july 2011 but decided to stop taking it jan 2012 because of the severity of the side effects. Its been a month and my energy level has drastically improved but the intense pain in my right thumb joints is still there along with trigger finger in all my fingers. I don't know about my blood levels yet but I didn't want to start taking more drugs to counter all the other side effects of arimidex (bone loss,cholesteral,depression, weight gain, etc) I do take lots of vitamins especially D, calcium, glucosamine chonditron, fish oil, B complex. I'll also tell you that the side effects from arimidex started after about 3 months and by month 7 I decided that the negatives out weighed the positives for this drug. I question how much protection arimidex provides and whether the side effects are reversible. I worry about the nerve damage done in my right hand is permanent. Good luck - I hope youre feeling better now that radiation is behind you!

I have been on arimidex for only a year and a half now. I too have aches of joints but with God's grace I am doing just fine. Was just curious if you might be willing to share the name of your supplements. Thanks, Vicky in Winona, MS.

Gerry Jones wrote:

My five years on Arimidex will be up in April of 2010. In 2008, I was told that the studies were suggesting I stay on the Arimidex for the rest of my life. This year, 2009, I was told that they are now saying to come off of it after the five years. I am just really confused with that kind of back and forth information. When you are told one thing at the beginning, you accept it and deal with it. Then when they say one thing one time and then another thing another time, I mean, you can't help but wonder do they really know what they're talking about. I'd rather be safe than sorry and stay on it for as long as I have to. I mean, I have a husband, children and grandchildren that depend on me, and if staying on the Arimidex longer keeps me from getting cancer again, then I'm all for it. I, too, have had weight gain, depression, joint aches/pain, tiredness, hot flashes, no sex drive, moodiness, but with the help of God and some supplements, I've been able to overcome most of them.

I have been on arimidex for only a year and a half now. I, too, hae aches of joints but with God's grace I am doing just fine. I was just curious if you might be willing to share the name of your supplements. Thanks, Vicky in Winona, MS.

I have been off arimadex 8 months now and feel great! My blood work for tumor markers is negative! I feel blessed. I was on A for 6 years.

Rosalie wrote:

I have been off arimadex 8 months now and feel great! My blood work for tumor markers is negative! I feel blessed. I was on A for 6 years.

Dear Rosalie,
Did you suffer hair loss while take Arimidex? If you did have you seen any reverse in hair growth since you have been off of i? I have been on Arimidex for one year and 3 months. In the last 2 months I have lost alot of my hair. Had my thyroid checked and it is fine.

Thanks,
Sally

I came to this site (and others) to get information about the 5 year time frame for Arimidex.
So far, I have learned the following:
1. Since the drug is relatively new, the oncologists (as of March, 2012) definitely do not have a scientific clue about the merits of continuing or discontinuing the drug after 5 years.
2. When I asked my oncologist why was a five year program instituted, he didn't know but thought the drug should be taken for the full five years despite some unpleasant but tolerable side effects.
3. If estrogen production can be measured in one's body, I asked why have no tests been done to determine what my level was 5 years ago, and where it is now.(I am completing my 5 years this month).
4. There is a definite lack of knowledge at present about what is advisable re: Arimidex.
a) Stop taking it.
b) Continue but only a few ? times per week instead of every day.
c) Continue taking @ a pill a day for another 5 years, or for a longer or shorter time.
5. So what is known NOW is that "they" don't know. What survivors should be looking for is that whatever decisions about Arimidex are finally made, they should be based on testing, scientific knowledge, and for patient benefit...not for the benefit of politicians, lobbyists, and drug companies all of whom have an economic interest in women continuing to use this (or any drug).

I will be on Arimidex two years in October. I just stopped taking it. I was gaining weight, even though I work out and moody. I haven't told my doc yet, but I hate it!

Neveh711 wrote:

I will be on Arimidex two years in October. I just stopped taking it. I was gaining weight, even though I work out and moody. I haven't told my doc yet, but I hate it!

I really think you're making a mistake not toughing it out for at least 5 years. If cancer returns, you're going to be very upset with yourself and so will the people who love you.
Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about side effects like weight gain and moodiness. Most of these can be ameliorated.

I don't think you should say that. Its a personal decision for everyone to make. I quit taking it and I don't think it was a mistake. The side effects for me were (are) dibilitating. The added protection isn't enough to counter the side effects. Arimidex is NO guarantee that it won't come back and not taking it is NOT a guarantee it will. Please, its different for everyone.

Summer wrote:

<quoted text>
I really think you're making a mistake not toughing it out for at least 5 years. If cancer returns, you're going to be very upset with yourself and so will the people who love you.
Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about side effects like weight gain and moodiness. Most of these can be ameliorated.

I have been on Arimidex for over 5 years. My oncologist told me to stop
it after 5 years, but when i saw my surgeon he told me to continue it.
now they are talking about it, they will let me know in a few weeks.
i too am concerned about weather it is a good thing to stop.i'm scared of getting the cancer back. I had a 5 centimeter tumor, but 6 clean lymph nodes.
i hate the pill, i have gained weight. i have learned to cope with the other
side affects. i am scared to go off the pill either way, but if its useless to
take if for more than 5 years then why are we all struggling. can someone
help us all to know the truth. i guess maybe we cannot trust the drug
companies. and the fact that my insurance company will not give me the
brand any more., and i have gained more weight with the generic.
help.

good luck, to you all.
is there a group in san fernando valley, california of all of us.????? i' m from
sherman oaks california

I started taking Arimidex Jan. 2005. After 6 1/2 years, I started taking it 3 times a week and the terrible bone pain almost totally went away. I'm trying to stick it out the full 10 years I started taking the generic as soon as it was available.

I was hoping to find an answer here to the Arimidex study. Has it ever been completed? I had breast cancer in 2007 with lumpectomy followed by mastectomy then chemotherapy followed by radiation followed by Arimidex. My initial oncologist advised that I would be on Arimidex for 5 years. The next oncologist that came to our small town advised me to take Zometa infusions since some studies showed that it not only helped with the bone loss caused by Arimidex, but that it may help prevent recurrence of cancer. Now at my 5 year anniversary, I expected to be rid of Arimidex, but the next new oncologist that came to town suggested that current studies show it should be continued. He did not suggest continuation of the Zometa because my bone density test showed improvement. I am confused as to what route to take. I want to discontinue Arimidex because of the weight gain and difficulty losing.

Elizabeth wrote:

I was hoping to find an answer here to the Arimidex study. Has it ever been completed? I had breast cancer in 2007 with lumpectomy followed by mastectomy then chemotherapy followed by radiation followed by Arimidex. My initial oncologist advised that I would be on Arimidex for 5 years. The next oncologist that came to our small town advised me to take Zometa infusions since some studies showed that it not only helped with the bone loss caused by Arimidex, but that it may help prevent recurrence of cancer. Now at my 5 year anniversary, I expected to be rid of Arimidex, but the next new oncologist that came to town suggested that current studies show it should be continued. He did not suggest continuation of the Zometa because my bone density test showed improvement. I am confused as to what route to take. I want to discontinue Arimidex because of the weight gain and difficulty losing.

My wife was diagnosed in 2006, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation...all done in NY metro area. Took Arimedex for the full 5 years (Mar.'07 to Mar.'12).
Moved from NY to Baltimore 2010 but continued with oncologist at Winthrop Hosp. in NY, but was seen by breast surgeon affiliated with St. Josephs. The St. Joseph's surgeon said that Johns Hopkins was recommending that breast cancer survivors continue with Arimidex for 5 more years. My wife's oncologist in NY said 5 years is sufficient and that she could/should stop taking Arimidex. She did!
Is this an answer to your question? No, of course not. And because "money and profit" rather than science and the patient's best interest often play a role in what is recommended by the various powers that be, right now you have to make a personal decision. So like the rest of us, you are on your own.
My belief,(and I am the husband, not the afflicted one), is that 5 years does the trick, unless and until SCIENCE proves otherwise, and that the less medication generally the better off we all are.
Note that the drug "industry" hasn't commented on studies that show that the medicine most used routinely by our grandparents' doctors [ASPIRIN] might be the best defense against cancer. That, of course, is an opinion of mine, but good luck to you in whatever you decide. On a psychological note, try to put your negative health experience aside and get on with living. Our best to you.