Guest guest Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Hi Ellen, I don't know if you are aware of the fact that when I've felt really more normal was between being on the A.I.'s and being on Tamoxifin. I was on nothing for 3 weeks and that was when I felt more normal... I don't know if you understood that or not... God Bless, Aromatase Inhibitors Side Effects > Reported......... > > > > > > Aromatase inhibitors: side effects reported by 622 women. > > Salgado BA, Zivian MT.. Breast Cancer Action, San Francisco, CA > > http://www.bcaction.org/PDF/AIReport.pdf for complete survey results > > > > Background: Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, and > exemestane) > > are quickly becoming one of the most commonly prescribed breast > cancer > > treatments for postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Because > these drugs > > have only been approved for use recently, and two of the three > aromatase > > inhibitors moved quickly into the treatment setting due to FDA > Priority > > Review or Accelerated Approval status, little is known about their > short and > > long-term side effects. Previous trials of aromatase inhibitors > have > > reported some adverse effects. The purpose of this survey is to > collect > > information from patients on the side effects of aromatase > inhibitors. > > > > Methods: An Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects Survey (AI Survey) was > posted > > to the Breast Cancer Action web site in August 2005. Additionally, > other > > breast cancer and womens health organizations announced the AI > survey > > through newsletters, emails and web site links. Despite the > limitations and > > biases that self-reporting introduces, patient-derived data on > treatment > > side effects are clinically meaningful for both doctors and > patients. The > > survey included demographic questions, questions concerning the > aromatase > > inhibitor prescribed, and questions regarding medical condition. > These were > > followed by a list of 38 side effects that respondents rated for > severity. > > The surveys side effects list was compiled from side effects listed > on the > > FDA labels for aromatase inhibitors. Respondents were also asked if > they had > > experienced any unlisted side effects. Over 600 completed surveys > were > > received and included in the data set. Data were analyzed using > SPSS > > (Version 14.0 for Windows). > > > > Results: The distribution of the survey respondents from the United > States > > reflects the expected distribution based on of the incidence of > breast > > cancer throughout the country (p < .01). Among the women who > discontinued > > using an AI, exemestane was taken for a significantly shorter > period of time > > (8 months) than either letrozole (15 months) or anastrazole (29 > months) (p = > > .002). Over 60% of the respondents reported experiencing stroke and > cough. > > Over 50% reported swelling of limbs, and flu-like symptoms. Women > 30-39 > > years-old gave the highest severity ratings to stroke; women 50-59 > years-old > > women gave highest severity ratings to cough (p < .000). In > addition to > > reporting on the side effects listed in the survey, respondents > reported > > experiencing over 35 additional side effects. > > > > Discussion: Recent advances have led to the development of > aromatase > > inhibitors for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer > patients. > > However, many patients are experiencing adverse effects which can > be > > disabling and may lead to cessation of therapy. Patients and > doctors should > > discuss possible side effects before beginning treatment with > aromatase > > inhibitors so that patients are able to make fully informed > decisions. The > > side effects information from this survey will also assist doctors > with > > patient management for those currently taking aromatase inhibitors. > > > > From BCAction > > About Aromatase Inhibitors > > Aromatase inhibitors are a type of hormone therapy for > postmenopausal women > > with breast cancer. AIs prevent the aromatase enzyme from > converting the > > hormone androgen into estrogen. Produced by the adrenal gland and > found > > throughout the body, androgen is the principal source of estrogen > for > > postmenopausal women. AIs have only been approved for use by > postmenopausal > > women. They are ineffective in premenopausal women whose ovaries > are still > > producing estrogen (which is not affected by the aromatase enzyme). > None of > > these drugs has been approved by the FDA for use by healthy women > at high > > risk of developing breast cancer. > > Three AIs are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of > breast > > cancer in postmenopausal women: anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane > > (Aromasin), and letrozole (Femara). Anastrozole and letrozole are > both > > nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. Th ey are described as > reversible because > > they bind reversibly to the aromatase enzyme. > > Exemestane is a steroidal inhibitor that forms an irreversible bond > with the > > aromatase enzyme, permanently stopping the activity of the enzyme. > > > > Anastrozole (Arimidex) > > Arimidex is indicated for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > women with > > hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer. > > Arimidex is indicated for the fi rst-line treatment of > postmenopausal women > > with hormone-receptor-positive or hormone-receptor-unknown locally > advanced > > or metastatic breast cancer. > > Arimidex is indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer > in > > postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen > therapy. > > Exemestane (Aromasin) > > Aromasin is indicated for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > women with > > estrogen-receptor-positive early breast cancer who have received > two to > > three years of tamoxifen and are switched to Aromasin for > completion of a > > total of fi ve consecutive years of adjuvant hormonal therapy. > > Aromasin is indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer > in > > postmenopausal women whose disease has progressed following > tamoxifen > > therapy. > > Letrozole (Femara) > > Femara is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > women with > > hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer. > > Femara is indicated for the extended adjuvant treatment of early > breast > > cancer in postmenopausal women who have received fi ve years of > adjuvant > > tamoxifen therapy. > > Femara is indicated for fi rst-line treatment of postmenopausal > women with > > hormone-receptor-positive or hormone-receptor-unknown locally > advanced or > > metastatic breast cancer. > > Femara is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast > cancer in > > postmenopausal women with disease progression following anti- > estrogen > > therapy. > > Summary of Findings > > The first 612 completed surveys received were analyzed for this > report. > > Major findings include: > > 1. Most respondents (96%) reported one or more side effects. > > 2. The side effects reported by over 50% of respondents were: > stroke (65%), > > cough (64%), swelling of the arms and legs (59%), fl u-like > symptoms (58%), > > and anxiety (51%). > > 3. Many women reported side effects in addition to those on our > list, > > including joint-related side effects, vaginal atrophy and dryness, > a rise in > > cholesterol levels, and general pain. > > 4. Over 50% of respondents stated that their menopause was not > naturally > > occurring. For these women, menopause was either pharmaceutically > or > > surgically induced. > > 5. Ten women (1.6%) reported that they discontinued using an AI > because of > > subsequent menstruation or vaginal bleeding. > > 6. About 30% of the respondents discontinued the use of an AI84% > because of > > side effects they were experiencing, and close to half of them > (47%) > > specifically because of joint-related side effects. > > 7. Over one-third (37%) of respondents reported receiving no > information > > from their doctors about short-term side effects; nearly two- thirds > (63%) > > reported receiving no information from their doctors about long- > term side > > effects. > > > > Recommendations > > 1. Conduct additional research on short-term and long-term side > effects of > > AIs. > > 2. Provide the results of this research to doctors and patients. > > 3. Use caution when prescribing AIs to perimenopausal women, as > well as to > > premenopausal women who have been rendered menopausal by > chemotherapy or > > ovarian function suppression. > > > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > BCO News is brought to you by BREAST CANCER OPTIONS, a grassroots > > organization focusing on Health Advocacy, Support and Education. > The > > information is intended for educational purposes only, in order to > help you > > make informed health choices and may not have been touched upon by > your > > doctors. We are not doctors and we do not recommend any particular > > treatments. We are sending this information to advise you of the > complete > > scientific overview that is currently available, although we may > not > > necessarily endorse it. http://www.breastcanceroptions.org > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Thanks for clarifying that - You still feel " better " on the tamoxifin as opposed to the AI - right?? Hoping you say YES! Ellen > > > > > > Thank you nne....I'm going to make a copy of it next month > > when my Mom > > > and I are moved into our new house and my stuff is out of > > storage...then, > > > I'll send it to my FORMER ONCOLOGIST who tried to tell me that my > > side > > > effects were not due to the A.I.'s that he put me on!!! LOL!!!!! > > I'm now > > > happily on Tamoxifen. I do have hot flashes but that is SO MUCH > > BETTER than > > > the joint pain and lack of energy I had on the A.I.'s!!! > > > > > > Hugs, > > > > > > > > > Aromatase Inhibitors Side Effects > > Reported......... > > > > > > > > > Aromatase inhibitors: side effects reported by 622 women. > > > Salgado BA, Zivian MT.. Breast Cancer Action, San Francisco, CA > > > http://www.bcaction.org/PDF/AIReport.pdf for complete survey > results > > > > > > Background: Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, and > > exemestane) > > > are quickly becoming one of the most commonly prescribed breast > > cancer > > > treatments for postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Because > > these drugs > > > have only been approved for use recently, and two of the three > > aromatase > > > inhibitors moved quickly into the treatment setting due to FDA > > Priority > > > Review or Accelerated Approval status, little is known about their > > short and > > > long-term side effects. Previous trials of aromatase inhibitors > > have > > > reported some adverse effects. The purpose of this survey is to > > collect > > > information from patients on the side effects of aromatase > > inhibitors. > > > > > > Methods: An Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects Survey (AI Survey) > was > > posted > > > to the Breast Cancer Action web site in August 2005. Additionally, > > other > > > breast cancer and womens health organizations announced the AI > > survey > > > through newsletters, emails and web site links. Despite the > > limitations and > > > biases that self-reporting introduces, patient-derived data on > > treatment > > > side effects are clinically meaningful for both doctors and > > patients. The > > > survey included demographic questions, questions concerning the > > aromatase > > > inhibitor prescribed, and questions regarding medical condition. > > These were > > > followed by a list of 38 side effects that respondents rated for > > severity. > > > The surveys side effects list was compiled from side effects > listed > > on the > > > FDA labels for aromatase inhibitors. Respondents were also asked > if > > they had > > > experienced any unlisted side effects. Over 600 completed surveys > > were > > > received and included in the data set. Data were analyzed using > > SPSS > > > (Version 14.0 for Windows). > > > > > > Results: The distribution of the survey respondents from the > United > > States > > > reflects the expected distribution based on of the incidence of > > breast > > > cancer throughout the country (p < .01). Among the women who > > discontinued > > > using an AI, exemestane was taken for a significantly shorter > > period of time > > > (8 months) than either letrozole (15 months) or anastrazole (29 > > months) (p = > > > .002). Over 60% of the respondents reported experiencing stroke > and > > cough. > > > Over 50% reported swelling of limbs, and flu-like symptoms. Women > > 30-39 > > > years-old gave the highest severity ratings to stroke; women 50- 59 > > years-old > > > women gave highest severity ratings to cough (p < .000). In > > addition to > > > reporting on the side effects listed in the survey, respondents > > reported > > > experiencing over 35 additional side effects. > > > > > > Discussion: Recent advances have led to the development of > > aromatase > > > inhibitors for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer > > patients. > > > However, many patients are experiencing adverse effects which can > > be > > > disabling and may lead to cessation of therapy. Patients and > > doctors should > > > discuss possible side effects before beginning treatment with > > aromatase > > > inhibitors so that patients are able to make fully informed > > decisions. The > > > side effects information from this survey will also assist doctors > > with > > > patient management for those currently taking aromatase > inhibitors. > > > > > > From BCAction > > > About Aromatase Inhibitors > > > Aromatase inhibitors are a type of hormone therapy for > > postmenopausal women > > > with breast cancer. AIs prevent the aromatase enzyme from > > converting the > > > hormone androgen into estrogen. Produced by the adrenal gland and > > found > > > throughout the body, androgen is the principal source of estrogen > > for > > > postmenopausal women. AIs have only been approved for use by > > postmenopausal > > > women. They are ineffective in premenopausal women whose ovaries > > are still > > > producing estrogen (which is not affected by the aromatase > enzyme). > > None of > > > these drugs has been approved by the FDA for use by healthy women > > at high > > > risk of developing breast cancer. > > > Three AIs are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of > > breast > > > cancer in postmenopausal women: anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane > > > (Aromasin), and letrozole (Femara). Anastrozole and letrozole are > > both > > > nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. Th ey are described as > > reversible because > > > they bind reversibly to the aromatase enzyme. > > > Exemestane is a steroidal inhibitor that forms an irreversible > bond > > with the > > > aromatase enzyme, permanently stopping the activity of the enzyme. > > > > > > Anastrozole (Arimidex) > > > Arimidex is indicated for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > > women with > > > hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer. > > > Arimidex is indicated for the fi rst-line treatment of > > postmenopausal women > > > with hormone-receptor-positive or hormone-receptor-unknown locally > > advanced > > > or metastatic breast cancer. > > > Arimidex is indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer > > in > > > postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen > > therapy. > > > Exemestane (Aromasin) > > > Aromasin is indicated for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > > women with > > > estrogen-receptor-positive early breast cancer who have received > > two to > > > three years of tamoxifen and are switched to Aromasin for > > completion of a > > > total of fi ve consecutive years of adjuvant hormonal therapy. > > > Aromasin is indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer > > in > > > postmenopausal women whose disease has progressed following > > tamoxifen > > > therapy. > > > Letrozole (Femara) > > > Femara is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal > > women with > > > hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer. > > > Femara is indicated for the extended adjuvant treatment of early > > breast > > > cancer in postmenopausal women who have received fi ve years of > > adjuvant > > > tamoxifen therapy. > > > Femara is indicated for fi rst-line treatment of postmenopausal > > women with > > > hormone-receptor-positive or hormone-receptor-unknown locally > > advanced or > > > metastatic breast cancer. > > > Femara is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast > > cancer in > > > postmenopausal women with disease progression following anti- > > estrogen > > > therapy. > > > Summary of Findings > > > The first 612 completed surveys received were analyzed for this > > report. > > > Major findings include: > > > 1. Most respondents (96%) reported one or more side effects. > > > 2. The side effects reported by over 50% of respondents were: > > stroke (65%), > > > cough (64%), swelling of the arms and legs (59%), fl u-like > > symptoms (58%), > > > and anxiety (51%). > > > 3. Many women reported side effects in addition to those on our > > list, > > > including joint-related side effects, vaginal atrophy and dryness, > > a rise in > > > cholesterol levels, and general pain. > > > 4. Over 50% of respondents stated that their menopause was not > > naturally > > > occurring. For these women, menopause was either pharmaceutically > > or > > > surgically induced. > > > 5. Ten women (1.6%) reported that they discontinued using an AI > > because of > > > subsequent menstruation or vaginal bleeding. > > > 6. About 30% of the respondents discontinued the use of an AI84% > > because of > > > side effects they were experiencing, and close to half of them > > (47%) > > > specifically because of joint-related side effects. > > > 7. Over one-third (37%) of respondents reported receiving no > > information > > > from their doctors about short-term side effects; nearly two- > thirds > > (63%) > > > reported receiving no information from their doctors about long- > > term side > > > effects. > > > > > > Recommendations > > > 1. Conduct additional research on short-term and long-term side > > effects of > > > AIs. > > > 2. Provide the results of this research to doctors and patients. > > > 3. Use caution when prescribing AIs to perimenopausal women, as > > well as to > > > premenopausal women who have been rendered menopausal by > > chemotherapy or > > > ovarian function suppression. > > > > > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > > BCO News is brought to you by BREAST CANCER OPTIONS, a grassroots > > > organization focusing on Health Advocacy, Support and Education. > > The > > > information is intended for educational purposes only, in order to > > help you > > > make informed health choices and may not have been touched upon by > > your > > > doctors. We are not doctors and we do not recommend any particular > > > treatments. We are sending this information to advise you of the > > complete > > > scientific overview that is currently available, although we may > > not > > > necessarily endorse it. http://www.breastcanceroptions.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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