Arimidex Side Effects Review

I have been impressed with the wonderful reviews I have read in this site.  A lot of important things have been said about a lot of good products but today I have something especially serious to add to our forum.

In 2004, I was diagnosed with Stage I and II cancer in my right breast.  I still remember how upsetting that was.  I want all my sisters out there who are coping with the same thing to know that someone else knows what a lonely place that is to be in.  If you are coping with breast cancer, there really are a lot of us who feel your pain.  Just ask us, we've been there.  But I digress ...

The tumors were small but because of the way they were positioned, it was decided (by both my surgeon and me) that it would be safer to just have the mastectomy done.  This came to pass and I recovered from it but it was no picnic to be sure even though I was lucky and the cancer had not reached my lymph nodes so I was spared serious chemotherapy.  After many follow-up visits, my surgeon recommended to me an oncologist.  It seemed that the world of medicine was not quite done with me at that point.

Two different oncologists independently urged me to begin a program of one Arimidex tablet a day and I agreed to this although this proposal was a bit daunting.  Since I am no doctor, I cannot give an expert medical opinion so I will write as a patient.  It is my understanding that Arimidex (manufactured by Astrazenica) blocks the body's use of estrogen, the very hormone which had contributed to my cancer in the first place.  Taking Arimidex at about the same time every day would enhance my chances to protect myself from getting cancer in the remaining breast but the drug has been known to have side effects and is also a tad expensive. 

I began the course of treatment and sure enough, I began to experience mild hot flashes, achy joints, a tendency to gain weight, and a problem with more of my hair falling out than usual.  I searched the Internet for chatboards and forums for breast cancer survivors and noticed that other people were having problems with Arimidex too.  Some of the women had not been reassured by trying to discuss it with their oncologists.  For some of these women, the most serious side effect was that they had decided on their own to stop taking the drug.  And that is why I'm writing today.

Each person has to decide for herself but sometimes it's important to try to shoulder on and continue with a course of treatment.  This is what I did and, lo and behold, I discovered that the side effects were mostly caused by my body's initial adjustment to the drug.  As time passed and I continued to take it, the hot flashes disappeared, my joints didn't ache as much, a more careful diet and exercise program brought my metabolism around, and my hair is as good as it ever was (although I have given up permanents and other harsh hair chemicals for a while).  Almost as important was the good news that I could obtain Arimidex from either ExpressScripts or Caremark CVS Pharmacy Plans by mail for only $20 a month!

The best part of this is that Arimidex has stepped up to the plate and done its job so far.  There have been three more mammograms and chest x-rays in my life since then and the news has been good each time.  Even as I write this, I bet there are a lot of other breast cancer survivors out there who understand that good news like that is something to cheer for!  I will pray for you all and wish you all the best ... and for a lot of you, the best may just be Arimidex.