Hi!
I’m 57 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2008 and in the August my right breast with a 4" tumour was removed and several lymph nodes at the same time and the cancer was found in some of them.
Looking at other peoples experiences I feel I flew through the chemo though the radiotherapy left me badly burned!
I was put on Arimidex for five years and ever since I’ve had severe joint pain, joints locking and somw days my mobility is very limited, my GP wrote to my oncologist and asked if I could change to a different hormone treatment and she replied that I could change to Tamoxifen but she felt it would be 20% less effective at keeping the cancer at bay. I was a housekeeper but had to give my job up as I was unable to do it and the GP felt I wasn’t fit enough to work so I’ve applied for Employment Support Allowance and I have to go for a Medical with them next month, is there anyone out there in the same position as me?
Hi
I’m sorry to hear you have had to give up work due to Arimidex. When did you start getting the effects as I have just started taking it about a month ago and so far I just have aches in my rib area which feels as though it is slightly bruised. I’m wondering now if it is likely to get worse. I do still get hot flushes.
There is another thread on here about Arimidex which is interesting reading and may be of help to you. There is quite a lot of information from various users and ex users who have been put on to something else after suffering various problems.
Hope it helps.
Hi!
I’d been taking Arimidex for about three months before I started to get joint pains - and it seems that not everybody suffers so you may be fine, I have checked out the thread on here - how many pages?
However I’d rather suffer for five years than risking a greater chance of the cancer returning by changing my medication, but it is very dibilitating.
Poor you, I sympathise. i have “severe fatigue” as diagnosed by my oncologist as side effect of arimidex. I was offered a switch to tamoxifen but couldn’t deal with increased risk although it is only small. I’m a teacher and do struggle with work. I manage by having a nap after work and trying to catch up on rest at the weekend but end up feeling I’m living to work and have no quality time for my partner or kids.
Other users have told me the side effects can improve with time and certainly my joint pains are less than 2 years ago. Maybe try supplements such as MSM and glucosamine? Posts on here about these. I tried Q10 as a friend had said it had transformed her energy levels, also someone else tried acupuncture. The marsden offers this to some patients so maybe your hospital does too?
Do you have anyone to talk to about the problems? My BC group is very supportive and a good forum to off load things. Maybe your BC nurse could help.
Hug from me.
Hi!
You make me feel that I’m moaning about nothing because breast cancer struck me at an older age, so there’s only my husband and me (we have six grown-up daughters and eleven grandchildren!)at home now so I haven’t got your workload, so my heart goes out to you.
Don’t start me on the BC group - or my BC nurse! My surgeon was absolutely fantastic and we were told when I was diagnosed that we’d be offered counselling etc; etc; We have had no follow-up support at all! As for my BC nurse she never contacted me once after my surgery and the last time I contacted her was shortly after my mastectomy,(as on the two previous occasions that I’d rung her it was an answer machine) because my husband Mike had suffered a suspected heart attack and it was going to take some time for our daughters to reach us and they were worried about me but I’m still waiting for her to get back to me on that one!
Mike and I have gone through a very bad patch, he’s found it very difficult to come to terms and cope with it all - once again promised support when I was diagnosed but never been given any. xx
Hi Bowders,
I’m so sorry to hear you haven’t had much support from your local team. You’ve done the right thing coming here to the BCC forums for some good support from your fellow forum users, they have a wealth of information and experience between them. If you need to talk to someone in confidence and for a good ‘listening ear’, then the BCC helpline is here for you. The staff here are either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2. There’s always someone here to support you.
Hope this helps and take care,
Jo, Facilitator
I had a lot of joint pain on Arimidex although it doesn’t sound as if it was as severe as you are experiencing. I was swopped onto Aromasin and I think this has been better. My knees still give me a bit of trouble and when I stand I have to remain still for a little while before I can walk, but I do lots of exercise and my quality of life is really good. I have taken early retirement but that was my choice and not enforced by lack of mobility. So I would think it could be worth you asking to try a different aromatose inhibitor (Aromasin or Femara). They act in the same way but the side effects do seem to differ.
All the best
Anne