Sign in now. Not a member yet? Register now. Search for discussions or people. Any suggestions gratefully accepted. Karen x. Best wishes, Jenn Cancer Chat moderator. Can you remember the brand that had the bad impact? At the end of the day the benefits are going to outweigh any side effects Kaz. Dr Reddys! Kind regards, Jolamine xx. Joint pain often occurs in the knees, back, ankles, and feet as well as the hips.
Carpal tunnel syndrome was a frequent diagnosed, as well. Despite the pain, many were able to get pain relief from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Small studies have shown that women taking dietary supplements that include vitamins, glucosamine and chondroitin, vitamin D, and omega fish oils, on a regular basis experienced some relief from bone and joint pain. Women taking Arimidex or another aromatase inhibitor are encouraged to regularly participate in a weight-bearing exercise.
Given that aromatase inhibitors are known to cause muscle and joint pain, it is important to talk to your oncology team if you develop this side effect. Your team will want to evaluate the level of your pain, refer you for a bone density test if you haven't had one, and recommend exercises, activities, and possible use of medication to reduce your pain level. The results of a small study indicate that survivors taking an aromatase inhibitor who participated regularly in a course of exercise for a year had about a 30 percent decrease in their worst pain.
These reductions in pain resulted in an increased ability to perform routine activities of daily living. Speaking from personal experience, the bone and joint pain of Arimidex, the aromatase inhibitor prescribed for me following my second bout with breast cancer, was more difficult to manage than that of Tamoxifen, which I took following my first diagnosis. The pain from Arimidex was almost exclusively in my feet, and usually constant, even waking me from sleep.
It interfered with my favorite form of exercise, walking two miles a day. The pain with Tamoxifen was more diffuse throughout my body and was more like an ache that came and went. I managed the pain from Arimidex and the cramps of tamoxifen by doing daily gentle exercises, swimming 3x a week, and trying to walk at least a mile each day. Not unlike the pain and stiffness of arthritis, the foot pain would eventually decrease as I continued to walk, and by the end of my walk, I was almost pain-free.
Warm foot baths and the occasional foot and leg massage also helped. Hormone therapy works and it does reduce the incidence of recurrence. Arimidex is being prescribed more and more often than tamoxifen since it has proven to be more successful than tamoxifen in preventing a recurrence. If you are taking an aromatase inhibitor and are experiencing bone and joint pain, share what you are experiencing with your oncology team. You may be advised to participate in an organized exercise class in your community or join a walking group.
Your medical oncologist can advise you about which pain relievers you can safely take, as even over the counter medications have side effects. Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. The New England Journal of Medicine. Gaillard S, Stearns V. Aromatase inhibitor-associated bone and musculoskeletal effects: new evidence defining etiology and strategies for management. However, some people may get on better with one drug than another.
For more information about how different treatments may affect you, check out our 'going through treatment' page. Going through treatment. When Cassie got breast cancer in her thirties, it changed the way she saw herself. When Dawn was diagnosed with breast cancer, she worried about how her young daughter, Eve, might react.
Verite was diagnosed with breast cancer in , but still experiences side effects of treatment today. She learnt the importance of educating and speaking up for herself, and encourages others to do the same. To hear from us, enter your email address below. This means that the cancer cells have receptors that recognize the hormones estrogen or progesterone. These hormones can attach to the receptors, which allow them to enter the cell. Once inside the cell, estrogen and progesterone can fuel cancer growth.
Ridding the body of all estrogen can help deny the cancer this source of fuel. But an enzyme called aromatase converts hormones produced in the adrenal gland into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors block the action of aromatase, which leads to less estrogen in the body. Aromatase inhibitors are used mainly in two situations. First, a woman newly diagnosed with a breast cancer tumor of a specific size who has undergone surgery will be given an aromatase inhibitor to take for five years, and possibly up to 10 years, to prevent the cancer from coming back.
Second, a woman who has hormone-positive breast cancer that has spread metastasized can be given an aromatase inhibitor as the first therapy.
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