I was on armidex used it for 2 months and a really long list of side effects. Onc switched me to letrozole in June and told me NO other option but a steroid.
I asked the Onc to run the prognosticator at my last visit and found that the hormone inhibitors were only giving me 5 percent chance that I would have a recurrence. 5 percent and I felt like hell. No energy, could hardly walk up steps or step up and into my SUV, dry skin, headaches, bone/joint pain. But the memory loss is the worst!
Stopped taking all meds at last visit. See the Onc next week. It's only been a month, but I know I won't go back to taking the meds.
Even after 4 weeks the joint/bone pain hasn't lessened. But I have energy again!

Celeste....I'm confused about your treatment. You have (had) stage 1 cancer w/no cancer in nodes and they made you take chemo....and also the bilateral masectomy. I'm just curious as to why they are making you take the Arimidex. I too have stage 1 cancer w/no cancer in nodes and my treatment was totally different....lumpectomy, no chemo but received radiation therapy. I had the Oncotype Dx test and that is how they determined what my treatment would be and what my recurrence rate would be. My recurrence rate is low but that is all tied into my taking the hormone inhibitors. I asked my Onc if my recurrence rate would go up if I quit taking meds and he said "most definitely." I too took hormone replacement when I was younger and I too feel that is what contributed to my breast cancer....just saying. I know there has to be a reasonable way I can take my meds without all the side effects....just don't know what that answer is. I am taking a break right now and feel soooo much better but I also know that this will come to an end when I start back up again. Thinking of going to a chiropractor to help ease my bone/joint/muscle pain that is so bad. Has anyone else tried doing that?

I too am sorry to hear about your side effects to Arimidex. I had terrible side effects....bone/muscle/joint pain so bad that some days I had a hard time even walking and even just sitting I would have muscle spasms in my legs and lower back. I was taken off of Arimidex after 6 months of misery and started on Aromasin. Have been on that for 3 months and having side effects with that one too. Insomnia, headaches,dry skin, hair loss and bone/muscle/joint pain but to a lesser degree. Since I am postmenopause I wasn't prescribed Tamoxifen. I'm also a little confused about why the meds for the stopping of making estrogen as I thought that is exactly what happens when you go through menopause....low estrogen. I have many friends who have chosen not to take any medication as they feel that the overall side effects are more damaging to their body then the value of the meds. I say to my oncologist that I feel like a 66 year old lady in an 80 year old body. He wants me to take them for 5 years.....really!! I have to come to a decision about whether I will feel so guilty if I stop taking them or if I need to just forge forward and endure. I know there are so many women who are dealing with sooooo much more than I am and I think of you all when I am sitting here complaining about my meds.... I would just like to know how most of you all are dealing with these side effects.....any info would be helpful.

I hate that you both are having so much trouble with this evil medicine. I have had a complete hysterectomy.. in 1990.. and don't understand why I even have to take anything since I don't make hormones anyway. I know the Arimidex is supposed to block any hormones our body makes but I have none to block. Crazy! I am in a clinical test group for Arimidex. It is designed to help women to remember to take their medicine everyday because they feel like a lot of women stop taking after awhile or just forget to take it a lot. Hmmm.. wonder why they would forget? Brain fog FROM the medicine?? I am still doing research on the Arimidex and will decide if I think I should continue it or not.. hard decision. Praying for you ladies that it will get better. I hate cancer!!

I have been on Arimidex for two years now and the side effects for me are staying hot all the time along with flashes on occasion. Bone pain which is better now that I am taking Celebrex. Foggy brain.. may be aging.. I am 59. Thinning hair and lethargic all the time. Since being on it I have been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and pre diabetic. Just a coincidence? Who knows. I hate taking it but am afraid not to.. praying for you Celeste.