I also have an ulcer so am afraid to take too many OTC meds. I also started Radiation one week ago. Would it be a good idea to stop the Arimidex and start it again when I'm done with radiation. The headaches are so bad, I'm afraid I won't be able to drive the 2 hours to my Radiation appts. or function much longer.
My Med oncologist just brushes me off, in fact he didn't even discuss side effects or risks of the drug.
Any advice would help. Thank you.
Patti
Patti, I'm SO sorry about your headaches... It's always a roll of the dice, when you're going through treatment, just what kind of side effects you're going to experience. I'd contact your oncology nurse, and ask her to get your radiation oncologist and your oncologist to do a quick huddle over this. They might very well have you lay off the Arimidex while radiation is going on, just to try to pinpoint if the headaches are from the Arimidex, or some combo of Arimidex and radiation. Good luck - PJH
Hi Patti - I'm currently on my 2nd time around with cancer, and took the sister drug Femara until I learned that my cancer returned - so I stopped in March.
I just started radiation treatment last week (so I've completed 1 of 7) and I've already experienced the headaches and just being general tired all the time - I swear I could sleep all day if I didn't have to go to that daily radiation appt!
One thing that I have noticed is that I am not currently taking any cancer meds (Femara, Arimidex, Tamoxifen) - I assume they want to wait till after I finish radiation and chemo before starting me on a treatment.
I would recommend asking your radiation dr about taking it. I know I see mine weekly and plan to bring it up to him today about whether or not I should be on something - though I don't think that would make the headaches, tiredness, or anything else go away. I think it's all just a part of radiation, and while doing treatment you need to pay extra attention to taking care of yourself (eating right, sleeping and resting when needed, vitamins, etc).
Good luck with those headaches and your treatment!
Angi
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