Breast Cancer Now Forum

Just popped back to say it's exactly ten years today since actual surgery and have read your lovely comments. I'm so glad that my news can be of some help as I can vividly remember how desperately lonely that place can be just after a rotten post op result. Feeling a bit emotional now! Love to all. x ... View more

Hello. I'm in a very similar position regarding arimidex and atrophy. At my last smear test it took a couple of (very painful!)shots to get enough cells and the nurse encouraged me to ask at my hospital review about oestrogen pessaries for vaginal atrophy. But like you I no longer take arimidex and I'm not keen on using extra oestrogen. It just seems wrong to me. So, I'm more afraid of breast cancer secondaries than I am of the nurse rooting around for enough cells. ... View more

Hello. I'm in a very similar position regarding arimidex and atrophy. At my last smear test it took a couple of (very painful!)shots to get enough cells and the nurse encouraged me to ask at my hospital review about oestrogen pessaries for vaginal atrophy. But like you I no longer take arimidex and I'm not keen on using extra oestrogen. It just seems wrong to me. So, I'm more afraid of breast cancer secondaries than I am of the nurse rooting around for enough cells. ... View more

Hello everybody. Thought I'd report back to let you know how life is for me since stopping anastrozole a few weeks ago. I decided to stop all at once since nobody seemed to have any ideas to the contrary! I've been quietly obsessing about this for the last couple of years but when the time came I just stopped. Tried not to give it another thought. And I've felt ok! Just the same as when I was on the drug. Disappointingly the aches and pains, hot flushes and bad sleeping patterns are still with me. If anything I'm more knackered by the end of the day, but who isn't as we get older. So there we have it, I can honestly say I feel just the same. Good luck to everyone about to stop. X ... View more

Hello. Drug taking coming to an end for me too. I've been on Tamoxifen for a year and a half and anastrozole for six and a half years. Diagnosed at 46. Had my annual review three weeks ago when my Specialist told me to stop the pills. I've got a week and a half's worth left. Trying not to think about the ramifications! Jings!! Would be good if everybody would report back in a few weeks to see how things are going. Good luck all! X ... View more

Unfortunately even 8 years since the end of my chemotherapy I still suffer from poor memory, hopeless spacial awareness and clumsiness. Resulting in lack of confidence and fairly low self esteem. I've made so many mistakes at work it's a struggle to avoid being labelled the shop idiot. I'm so tired of it. I had 12 round of chemo which, since reading about chemo brain, I realise has had an effect. But I think having been on tamoxifen and then anastrozole for 8 years and the resultant lack of oestrogen in my system that has caused the long lasting symptoms. After so many years since my 'recovery' it's not something I want to discuss with my colleagues. It does sound like a poor excuse. I'm actually having a bit of a low spell right now (hence my coming back to the Forum for reassurance!)and have had a blub reading this thread. Thankyou ladies for telling your stories. It's good to know I'm not alone.x ... View more

This is all very interesting. I've been on 'hormonals'(tamox/anast)for seven years.Prior to that had 12 rounds of chemo. At first I expected my 'chemobrain' to gradually get sharper as I recovered but I still experience huge memory loss and that feeling there is a blob of porridge where a functioning brain used to be.It can be frightening at times to try to make my brain function and it won't.I find myself retreating from situations at work where my brain might be challenged or socially where I have to remember peoples names. At work the youngsters think I'm a mad old lady. My boss sometimes can't quite believe how stupid I can be. And neither can I. None of these symptoms is so obvious that I could be said to be unwell. I have tried to explain, without trying to make it sound like an excuse, that I take pills which mess with my hormones but neither of my Managers (two young men in their thirties)take it seriously and we all end up making 'mad old lady'jokes (I'm only 55). Luckily I don't have the kind of job where it matters hugely if I have a blank and I have compensated by writing notes for everything. It's so interesting to read of others having similar (and some much more pronounced) problems. ... View more

Hope your weekend is going well despite the weather, sometimes just not being at home can be relaxing! I just had to make a wee comment on your thread as so much of it was familiar. I recognise the fear of having the same disease that your mum died from. And the terrible sadness of losing your dad whilst dealing with your own illness. I want you to know there is someone here who understands. That's all really. Hope you feel better soon.X ... View more

Had my review at the hospital yesterday and have been told to keep taking Arimidex for another year! It seemed a pretty random choice from what I gathered from the chat I had with the surgeon. I suppose his experience has brought him down on the side of more rather than less. Anyway, I'm happy with that. Hope you all are getting the answers you want too. X ... View more

Similar story from me, due a consultation with surgeon on Mon 25th and he wants me to stop Arimidex. I've been year and a half on Tamox and five an a half on Arimidex. All seems random to be honest. My GP is organising a dexa scan without prompting. Despite side effects I'd like to stay on. I had several er+ tumours and 12 pos nodes. I'm certain Arimidex has increased my chances of disease free life considerably. Keep on until you get a really good explanation from your onc Happyshopper. Will let you know how it goes for me. Best of luck! x ... View more

Hi Lancslass. I'm in a sort of similar position (posted on After Treatment)I'm coming up for a review and expect to be taken off Arimidex. I can't find any research evidence anywhere to support staying on it but I'm really nervous about stopping. I'd like someone to tell us how we might feel when off hormone treatment altogether. Good luck! ... View more

Thanks for your comments! It's been a long time since I was diagnosed,8th anniversary on 3rd March. I'm due to see the surgeon (not oncologist)at the end of April. I still see him annually due to other issues and thought he'd actually forgotten I was still on hormone treatment! But last year he noted I still took Arimidex and looked a bit irritated by this. He knows I'm keen to continue with anything that will make the slightest improvement to survival. I'm certain that Arimidex has been a huge part of my continuing good health. (Diagnosed multifocal,grade 2,12 positive nodes) Anyway, like many of you, I'm very apprehensive about coming off treatment altogether. But realise there are good health reasons to do so. And I can't find any good information to support continuing. And it might mean those flushes, joint pains, stiffness, dryness etc....might go and I'll be a new woman! Scary times. Not easy to talk to friends about this and get any kind of sympathy since I'm well and the cancer was all such a long time ago!!So thanks Breast Cancer Care Community for your comments.X ... View more