Hi everyone, please be careful with calcium supplements. There have been a variety of studies from different countries including Sweden and USA which suggest that supplementing a calcium rich diet with calcium supplements can lead to cardiac problems. On a recent BCC Moving Forward course the medical herbalist who came to talk to us about diet and nutrition advised us to try and get vitamins and minerals from food rather than supplements If at all possible. I don’t want to frighten or influence anyone, just to make you aware that there are concerns in this area. It’s often difficult to weigh up the potential advantages/disadvantages of drug combinations and our particular diagnosis can make this even harder. Sorry if I’ve upset or worried anyone, best wishes to you all Pat x
Hi Trisha_51…I have also read around lots of research surrounding supplements, including the latest proclaiming that all supplements are bad for our health! Having been fit and healthy pre-diagnosis and never taken a supplement in my life, was a little wary about what Onc was proposing given my DEXA scan was excellent. After surgery, chemo and rads I felt my body had taken sufficient ‘alien’ battering and I wanted to get back to ‘normal’. She explained that Anastrozole has shown to impact negatively on bone health and I should strive to eat a calcium rich diet and only supplement if it is lacking. However, the most calcium rich foods are dairy, which can cause high cholesterol which may have its own health problems. I was advised to try to achieve 50-75% from food and take up to 50% just 5 days a week from supplements. Vitamin D3 is also important for calcium absorption, and given our UK climate it was important to supplement with this especially in the winter.
It is hard to work out how ‘healthy’ our diets are without becoming obsessed about every mouthful…
As you say, each of our diagnoses is unique to us, and we can only be guided by having trust in the expertise of the professionals who care for us…as mine said she didn’t want to see me again (in the nicest possible way!!!).
Hi Pat and Maryland, good points frm both of you. I bought a good all round vitamin and mineral supplement today which will give me a boost I think. Trouble is whilst having a balanced healthy diet is the best and I try I am cutting out dairy as trying to cut fats out to lose weight. It is about being sensible I realise and will try and do that. Feeling a bit ‘run down’ at moment as having Chest problem from rad treatment. Have real craving for fruit so that is good for me at least!. Best wishes Katy.
Hello Ginette,
I was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago and had a lumpectomy last September, followed by radiation in November last year. I was then told to take Anastrozole for 5 years, well like you I didn’t feel comfortable with the decision and declined medication, as they told me when they removed the lump my margins were clear and the two lymph nodes they removed were also clear.
I did feel that the side effects would outweigh the benifits, I wasn’t looking forward to having stiff joints as I already have a little arthritis. I hope I have made the right desision, I eat healthy, try and buy organic food when I can and exercise. I have another mamogram scheduled for a couple of weeks time and I must say I am terrified they may find another lump, but I still feel I made the right choice by declining medication.
all the best Mo
Hi I am new to this site and also was given Anastrozole, after having 2 ops for Stage 2 breast cancer followed by 6 months chemo and 3 weeks of radiotherapy. But after starting Anastrozole in September 2013 I began having very worrying irregular heartbeats/palpitations etc. I had also been taking Vit D and calcium supplements prescribed after a Dexa scan (which showed borderline possibility of thinning bones but i have stopped taking these now and eat sensibly). After many visits to my GP, heart traces, etc I ended up in A&E and kept in overnight for monitoring and an echocardiogram which was okay. I believe that the combination of starting a new hormone tablet (Anastrozole) coupled with already taking Thyroxine tablets they reacted in some way which was agreed with a consultant and one of my GP’s also. Funnily enough my Chemo consultant didn’t seem to share this idea, but then again she seems to rather take a lot of her info from printouts full of statistics and percentages and not individual patient studies! I think th at as long as you know your own body and the way it works you can sense what is right and what is wrong for you. So now i also have to take Bisoprolol (beta blocker) to help regulate my heart for the next year then possibly for the duration of taking the Anastrozole for 5 years. Not my ideal choice to be taking pills but if it helps i will. I now have to attend my local Walk-in centre in 3 weeks to have a 24 hour heart monitor fitted so they can observe exactly what my heart does all day and night! I can tell them exactly what it does and it is driving me insane! If it turns out to be hormone related then hopefully that can be treated (probably with more pills!). In the meantime I have been told i am not fit for work at present (and for the foreseeable future) so i am trying to do what i can ( i am a young 53 soon to be 54) ! and all i want is to be back to *normal* again!!! x
Hi, I’m new on the .forum. I had a lumpectomy 3 weeks ago & got post-op results this week, Stage 1 breast cancer, 10 mm Type 2 tumour (intermediate) lymph nodes clear, I was prescribed Anastrozole for 5 years plus radiotherapy. I am 4 tablets in and immediately noticed my mood really low. I coped OK through the diagnosis and op although all traumatic, also have to have another operation when radiotherapy is done as they found a benign lump on my chest when I had the MRI scan, which has to come out apparently as could change over time if left there. Its nothing to do with the breast cancer, apparently this happens when people get screened as it shows up other things as well, so I had a double-whammy! Anyway I realise its early days with the Anastrozole so will be patient, I feel rough mentally right now though but it could also be a reaction to all I’ve been through since November right across Christmas & New Year attending various clinics and waiting for results. Ending on a positive, I have found Meditation hugely helpful and have got various free Apps on my iPad, one of the best is Headspace, their website is well worth checking out. Xxx
Hello Everyone. I am new to this forum. I have been on Arimidex and Zoladex for over a year. I have had no side effects except for joint pain. I have been extremely happy with my care from my oncologist at the cancer treatment centers of america in Chicago. I am on 1mg arimidex and injection of zoladex every 3 months. I had 25 sessions of radiation over a year ago when this all began, and continued working. Dont let these side effects get you down. Its a way of telling us that we are still alive! I would rather put up with these side effects considering the alternatives. We can ALL do this…God has this!
I’m so pleased to have found this thread. I’ve been thinking I’m imagining things! I had 4.5 years on Tamoxifen then 6 months on Letrazole which was ok. I had a 3 month wash out then started it again for 5 years. 7 months later it’s a nightmare. I feel very low in mood. Everything hurts. I sieze up if I stop for a bit. My scalp is really itchy and is covered in lumps. My hair is falling out. My back is really itchy. My cholesterol is sky high. And I’m utterly exhausted. I can hardly walk any distance and walking is what I love. It’s a nightmare! I don’t know what to do. I know the outcomes are a little better with AIs and the Tamoxifen gave me terrible thrush like itching which in the end covered my stomach too. I’m normally such a glass half full person but this is beating me. Has anyone any ideas as to how best to manage the side effects?
Hi ladies, I have just started taking anastrozole, tonight and after reading your comments wondered if you are still experiencing the heart probs. I have suffered with palpitations some time back now and hated that fluttering sensation. This was due to anxiety, wow and that was way before I had this lot to go through. I am taking mine at night but is there really any right time. Appreciate any tips related to this drug, waiting now for rads planning. Hope you are all good. Lol xxxxx
Ih magical moon and matty2 .I v had to stop anastrozole as every time I took ot my heart beats funny .I went to have my op to have my inplant put in and the left breast redused in size. But my heart beat droped low and blood preasure.so the sugen said I could not have it done and I got put on cardio ward for a week. Had angygrame. And doc said I was having stand stills 20 beats . Not sure what that means. But I was sent home with a monitor for a week. I stoped anastrozole as surgen adviced me. Untill results. Im now waiting onresults. Funny my heart seems alot better now iv stoped anastrozole. But I did keep telling my doctor at my surgery it might be tablet that wasmaking my heart beat funny. But my doc said its angxiaty because I got to go for a op. I saidno it isent. I have trust in my surgen shes good. My concern was that if I didhave something wrongwith my heart then I neededto know before I went in for my op. Bur my doc said you can have your op. Icame home thinking there is something wrong with my heart itsevery everytime I took anastrozle it hust doesent suit me. I feel alot better now and waiting to see a drug specalist that my surgen as refured me too. Hope to get a pointment in post soon as I needto take something for the breast cancer . But keeping strong. Lol
Hi magical moon ill let you know wen I v seen the drug speacilist and results of heart doc I think ill ask to go on letrozole I wont take the steroidal ones id refuse too lol its so nice to have ladys to talk too it helps to stay strong knowing your not on ur own so that to you moon and matty2. Night x
Hi Magical_ Moon
Hope it’s OK if I ask you if you have any experience of Arimidex? You are so clued up! I i have been looking at some studies that seem to show that Anastrazole is more effective than Tamoxifen in preventing recurrence in post menopausal women but I’m concerned over the side effects, bone loss, aches and pains, hair thinning. My oncologist didn’t take very kindly ti me going in to this (very rushed consult in busy onc dept) and I can’t say I took to her and neither did the OH! She did tefer me for a DEXA scan
Sorry, loose finger! Meant to say thank you and good wishes. X Francine
Thank you so much Magical_Moon, what would we do without the forum! You are a lady after my own heart, I like to inform myself although I know some ladies feel comfortable just following the advice of their oncologist. I used to work for The Medical Research Council, doing the admin and HR at the Hammersmith Hospital unit. Thus, I have an interst in these things, particularly drug trials etc. i’m wondering if I should start the tabs before the DEXA scan or wait. I don’t have a date for this yet. Xx Francine
Hi all. Just noticed that my actual prescription is for Anastrazole, and not Arimidex. No surprise there then, money talks!! Be starting it shortly, after finishing course of antibiotics for an ear infection, all happening here ! Waiting to see the surgeon again to discuss whether I need another WLE, more waiting, he ho! Hugs to all x
Thank you Moon and Mattty.
I’ve decided to start the Anastazole when my course of antibiotics finishes at the end of next week. I suspect I will have to wait some time for the DEXA scan. They cancelled the op I was supposed to have to sort our my regular ear infections when the BC was diagnosed which is really aggravating. Feeling rather low and whacked with it all, as I’m trying to run my business at the same time. Good job my OH is supportive and helping out. Love to all x
Hi minimouse well iv been even worse with my heart beats feeling sick and now left arm is feelinf heavy . Feel very dizzy too .I phoned cardio secertry to see if my heart moitor results was in . She said there on the way to u so hopefully I will know one day next week I cant domuch around the house feel so poorly my doc is phoninf me monday .every time my heart beats go fynny I feel heavey leaft arm and very week .and clamy .ic been told not to taje my anastrozole for now ans to wait till cardio doc sees me . Im feeling lije everything is standinf still hust want to get bj to norn and get my breast op done .I havent told my daughters about all rhis as one of my daughters lost her first baby she wenr full term . Last year and ahe pregent again due oct . She raises money for bereaveing morthers. Big due in yorkshire in may .Im hoping to go to it. So hoping they sort me out. Ill let u know results wen I get them. The waiting lol have a nice weekend all x
Hi magical moon I sent u a message but some how it went to myself lol .im not my self at mo sorry x
Hi Minimouse
Just wanted to send you a virtual hug, as you are going thro a horrible time. Did you have these problems before taking the Anastrazole? X Francine
No I felt fine I started on tamoxifen for 2 months last april . That made me ill. Then I started anastrole june till jan .after 4 months of taking it I started feeling realy poorly funny heart beats dizy sick . Im still waiting on results for heart montior. I dont feel well at all just hope I get bk right.iv had to stop taking it for now till cardio doc sorts me. I d love to get bk right and have my op. Iv got to keep my chin up and think poss. .xx have a nice day xx