Hi
Having read all the various threads on Arimidex, I thought I would ask if anyone had taken it as the first line of treatment. I wondered if it was the first treatment after surgery, whether the side effects were less.
Had an mx 28th July, 4cm lump, ductal, no lymph node involvment, no spread, OE+ stage 2 Grade 3 also HER+ (think that is all, it is a new language that we unfortunately have all had to learn).
Treatment is my choice (some choice!- not sure I am qualified but there you go), now where did I put that crystal ball!
I am post menopausal for 6 years, 51 years (still suffer from, my initial gut choice - mind you I have thought about not taking it at all, but the relapse benefit is about 25% which I feel is a little too high to ignore. Chemo is next in line, but the benefit is in single figures for both relapse and prognosis, so I feel that the side effects outweigh the benefits.
They will only give me herceptin if I have chemo, although in saying that there is only a 5% benefit in taking herceptin so I am not too concerned.
It is a bit of a s**t situation to find ones self in, but I suppose there is some consolation in having the choice, whereas some of the other ladies who post do not have that luxury.
Bex
Hi Bex,
I had two lumpectomies, Arimidex and radiation that was 3 1/2 yrs ago. I wasn’t given a choice. Will remain on Arimidex for another 16 months. Hurray!!! However have lots of side effects from Arimidex.
Everyone is so different - it’s hard to say what is best. Won’t your medical team make a recommendation?
hello pargayan
I have no advice to give about Armidex I’m afraid - just wanted to say that it’s a big and hard choice you seem to have been given - just wanted to wish you well
xxchipperxx
I am taking Arimidex and have done so since January of this year after finishing chemo. I was grade 2 with 6/21 nodes involved and also HER2. I was told the benefit of Herceptin for me was 7%. I have never been given a prognosis. As you know they will not give Herceptin without first having chemo. I too have recently questioned to myself continuing with Herceptin for apparently little benefit. But understand that anything over 3% if considered beneficial. But we all have to decide for ourselves whether the benefits outway the disadvantages.
From the start of taking Arimidex I have experienced about 3 or 4 hot flushes a day. Also insomnia which I link to starting Arimidex. I also get aching legs if I sit in one position for too long ie on a long car journey or the cinema. Have to get up slowly and gradually get moving and then I recover. Thats about it. Symptoms have remained stable. Insomnia has largely been solved by having a fan in the bedroom which I have to use most nights but not necessarily all night.
I was told the benefit of Arimidex for me was also low as I am only slightly oestrogen positive but again have never been given exact figures.
But given my node involvement I feel I need to take everything offered. I asked for Arimidex rather than Tamoxifen as I read somewhere that for lobular cancer it was more beneficial.
Hope this all helps in your decisions. By the way I am 57 and post menopausal, the chemo finished me off!
x
With respect, don’t get too hung up on these %ages - they are not concrete. I think being HER2+ it would be pretty essential to do Herceptin and chemo as HER2+ women are at a higher risk of recurrence then HER2-. Maybe ask on the Herceptin threads what the women there think?
Good luck.
Hi all, many thanks for your comments. The dr I spoke to only gave me the % and the order in which each treatment would be of value! I have to go back Thurs to let them know what I am thinking. Will have a look on the Her2 threads to see what they say.
Bex x