I take Arimidex because i am a breast cancer survivor. Thank you, Jackie

I think I answered your question incorrectly. Bear with me! Will Arimidex interfer with Forteo? I am a cancer survivor as of Nov. 2007. I had a mastectomy of the right breast and lymph nodes removed from my right arm. I am concerned with the side affects. Will Forteo cause cancer in the future for me. Thank you. 

Hi Jackie, welcome and thanks for your question.  Arimidex is taken for treatment of breast cancer since it lowers your estrogen levels.  I would ask your Dr. about this and see if the two medications would interfere at all.  In the literature from Eli Lily, on Forteo, it doesn't mention this drug as being contraindicated with use of Forteo, but I would double check with your Dr. first.

If you've ever had radiation to the bone, then you wouldn't be able to take Forteo.  If you haven't had this type of radiation, then you should be ok, but again your Dr. would have to confirm this since he or she would be the one prescribing Forteo.

There is a slight chance of contracting bone cancer from Forteo, but it shouldn't have an affect on breast cancer returning.

I took Forteo and did really well, but I've never had bone cancer or radiation to the bone.  Here are two articles you can read on Forteo that will explain this better.  Cleveland Clinic on Forteo and an article I wrote on Forteo that explains the cancer seen in rats during the testing stage of the drug because the rats were given huge doses that were much higher than what we can take for 2 years.

Good luck and please discuss this with your Dr. and if you have any other questions just re-post.  Thanks for joining us!!

Hi,

I am now taking Forteo. I consulted with my Oncologist and he gave me the go ahead. I have taken two injections and it is a piece of cake. I was given a Delivery Case for traveling. Next month I will be traveling for three days before we reach our final destination. I am concerned if the gel packs in the case will keep the medicine cold enough until we reach the hotels at night. Hopefully the refrigerators will be cold enough to freeze the gel packs nightly.

Thanks for your help. Jackie

Hi Jackie, glad you got that information from your oncologist.  Yes I agree the injections are a piece of cake.  Those gel packs only stay frozen for approximatly 24 hours, so you'll need access to a freezer to re-freeze the packs, and a *refrigerator* to store the Forteo while waiting for the gel packs to re-freeze.  Be sure that the Forteo never gets accidentally placed into the freezer since it will ruin it.

This can be done, traveling with Forteo, you just need to make some phone calls ahead of time to be sure you'll have access to a 1. freezer to re-freeze the gel pac and 2. a refrigerator for the Forteo.  If you are staying in a hotel that has a kitchen, you could call ahead to see if they'll let you use both the refrigerator and freezer.  Also, you may want to call Eli Lily to see if there are any other freezer type travel bags that keep the gel pack frozen longer than (24 hrs)like the one you got from Eli Lily.  I've heard there is another type that keeps the med cold longer, but don't know the name.  Hopefully someone here with the info will join in the discussion.  Also if you are renting a car they have travel bags that can be re-frozen by using the cigarette lighter in the car, it somehow recharges the freezer mechanism.  I've never tried that, and again don't know the name of it, but Lily should be able to help. 

Good luck and Bon Voyage!!!

Hi,

I called Lily about a different travel bag to make the gel packs last longer and if they knew of something to use in the car that you plug into the cigaretter lighter that recharges the the gel packs. Lily only knew of the one travel bag where the packs lasts about ten hours. Does anyone have an idea of where I could purchase another type for traveling? Thank you, Jackie

Pam,

Did you receive my last question about the car pack for travel that plugs into the lighter? Lily doesn't know anything about it.

Thanksw, Jackie