Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Pat asks

Q: Is five years still the number of years I must stay on Arimidex?

I took Tamoxifen for 18 months, then switched to Arimidex. Is the recommended amount of time to continue on the drugs still five years since I first began? Assume that period of time includes both. Right?

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Answers (2)

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

5/27/09 5:02am

Hi Pat: This is a moving target; those of us taking Arimidex are really in the "experimental" class, as doctors and researchers are continually collecting data on the optimum amount of time to take it. Plus, doctors differ in their opinion. My doctor told me I'll be on Arimidex at least 7 years, and that's after (not including) 3 years on tamoxifen. So, there really is no "recommended" amount of time - it's totally open to your doctor's interpretation of the data at this point. Hang in there - PJH

llenox

5/29/09 1:31am

I had never taken tamoxifen either when I had breast cancer 18 years ago, or after my new breast cancer in 2006. I was on Arimidex for about a year before the side effects got too bad to continue it. My joints hurt so badly I had trouble sitting or standing. Now I'm takine Famara and have been told that the treatment would be for 5 years. I'm not sure if that includes the year on Amremidex.

redwagon08

4/ 9/11 12:13am

I took Arimidex for 5-6 yrs. and had no bad reactions from it. I am now into my 8th yr. and the only pain or if you can call it a pain, is a muscle spasm in the breast I

had the Cancer in. Sometimes it is really BAD. Don't know if its from the Radiation or what.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/ 9/11 6:12am

I'm betting it's the radiation. I had that same kind of pain years later, and after rulng out cancer that's what the doctor said - probably an after-effect of the radiation. Congratulations on being an 8-year survivor! PJH

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Q: Is five years still the number of years I must stay on Arimidex?

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