I have started this for new user Chris
Lucy, Moderator
6 months of Tamoxifen and 3 1/2 years of Arimidex later I have chosen to give up for the last 5 months because of insomnia, dizziness and low mood etc. I still have low mood and insomnia although the dizziness has stopped…
My consultant wanted me to try another drug so I tried Aromasin but was falling asleep during the day so I stopped that too.
Should I go back onto Arimidex for a year or stay off ? I am now fearful that the months without the drug might have been a dangerous choice… To be dizzy again or not or to be scared of my actions or not …cancer is a real dilemma whichever way you look at it… wish I was not so grumpy too is it menopause or just me ? A worried Hamlet !
Hi Chris, i have been on tamoxifen for only 40 days, but i now truly know what it is to feel unwell, sore knees, queasiness, hot sweats, the works, and still having periods to boot! don’t know how near the menopause you are, but i’m hoping to have the ovaries taken out soon, then its aromatase inhibitors for me too, its all a bit crap isn’t it? you must do whatever is best for you and your health, have you spoken to your bc nurse about this? it really does seem to be more drugs to counteract the side effects of what we have to take
Alisonxxxxxxxxx
Chris - welcome to this very helpful and comforting forum. I stopped Tamoxifen after 3.5 years as the side effects were totally ruining my quality of life and for me that was more important than quantity. This April,17 years later, BC came back in the same breast and that has now been surgically removed by another WLE and I am on Arimidex for 5 years. You cannot have rads to the same breast twice. I am tolerating Arimidex pretty well - just getting hot flushes again but find that lots of exercise and yoga help plus being busy. I would talk to your onc as mine was not too worried when I came off Tamoxifen as my ER was low to mod.
Do let us know how you get on and good luck.
Hi Chris
Don’t give up unless you really have to. I did stop Arimidex for a few days but then decided to stick with it after getting advice and support from understanding ladies here. If you only have 5 months to go you have done so brilliantly don’t fall at the last hurdle. Complete the course and you will know that you have done everything you can to fight this horrible disease and you will have no regrets. Talk to your onc, perhaps he could suggest taking it every other day, or leaving it off at weekends, or just to take it every day, look forward to very last tablet and then have a BIG celebration at completing the journey. If you are feeling you are having a really bad day come on here and have a moan, cry, rant and rave or whatever. All the girls here understand and will help you through it. I call everyone here my “invisible friends” because thats exactly what they are.
Love Jan