Arimidex and Endometrial Hyperplasia

[Joan - West Milford NJ]

I was prescribed Arimidex after a right mastectomy for invasive ductal cancer, with clear margins and no sentinel node involvement, followed by 4 chemotherapy (Adriamycin/Cytoxan) sessions.
I've been on Arimidex for two months now.
I have always had lower back pain, and stiffness after sitting too long, and there seems to be mild increase in that.
I'm 60 years old, and went through menopause around 10 years ago, with absolutely no symptoms.
What concerns me is that exactly one week after starting Arimidex, I had one day of very mild vaginal bleeding. Since this is not normal after menopause, I went to my gynecologist. He removed a cervical polyp, which turned out to be benign. He also had me go for a transvaginal ultrasound, to see whether there was anything else that could have caused this bleeding, which turned out to be abonormal... a 60-year-old is supposed to have endometrial thickness of 5 cm, and mine was 14 cm thick. I'm scheduled for an endometrial biopsy this coming Tuesday. This could be nothing, but also could be endometrial (uterine) cancer. From what I've read, this condition results from too much (unopposed by progestine) estrogen.
Does anyone know whether Arimidex has any connection to Endometrial Hyperplasia (thickening)?

[Cindy H]

Here is the warning from the Arimidex web site:
WARNING: Serious and life-threatening events associated with NOLVADEX include cancer of the uterus and blood clots, some of which have been fatal. In clinical trials, uterine cancers, including endometrial cancer and uterine sarcomas, and blood clots, including clots in the lung, occurred 2 to 4 times more often with NOLVADEX than placebo, but each in less than 1% of women. Cataracts, and cataract surgery also occurred more often with NOLVADEX. Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should not take NOLVADEX. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were hot flashes and vaginal discharge.
I would not jump to conclusion that the Arimidex caused this as you relayed you were only on it one week. Additionally, my mother has stage 4 uterine cancer and was just put on this drug.

[Liz]

Cindy H wrote:

Here is the warning from the Arimidex web site:
WARNING: Serious and life-threatening events associated with NOLVADEX include cancer of the uterus and blood clots, some of which have been fatal. In clinical trials, uterine cancers, including endometrial cancer and uterine sarcomas, and blood clots, including clots in the lung, occurred 2 to 4 times more often with NOLVADEX than placebo, but each in less than 1% of women. Cataracts, and cataract surgery also occurred more often with NOLVADEX. Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should not take NOLVADEX. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were hot flashes and vaginal discharge.
I would not jump to conclusion that the Arimidex caused this as you relayed you were only on it one week. Additionally, my mother has stage 4 uterine cancer and was just put on this drug.

Is nolvadex another name for Arimidex?

[Joan - West Milford NJ]

I just looked it up in Wikipedia......Nolvadex is a brand name for tamoxifen:
"Tamoxifen was invented by ICI Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca) and is sold under the brand names Nolvadex, Istubal, and Valodex. Nolvadex was first approved by the FDA on December 30, 1977 for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. It is also available as a generic drug in a number of countries. In the United States and other countries, Tamoxifen was almost always referred to by its generic name even before its patents expired."

btw, I have good news.....an endometrial biopsy came back normal......no cancer cells. As long as I don't have any symptoms (except for bleeding from removal of the polyp and doing the biopsy, I haven't had any bleeding), my gynecologist recommends doing nothing.
I must also correct an error in my original posting.... I said a normal 60-year-old should have 5cm thickness of endometrium, and I had 14cm. I used the wrong measure....it should have been mm (milimeters), not cm (centimeters)... sorry about that.
I also found out that vaginal bleeding can occur in a very small percent of women taking Arimidex. So far, it looks like it is all just a coincidence.

[Liz]

Joan - West Milford NJ wrote:

I just looked it up in Wikipedia......Nolvadex is a brand name for tamoxifen:
"Tamoxifen was invented by ICI Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca) and is sold under the brand names Nolvadex, Istubal, and Valodex. Nolvadex was first approved by the FDA on December 30, 1977 for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. It is also available as a generic drug in a number of countries. In the United States and other countries, Tamoxifen was almost always referred to by its generic name even before its patents expired."
btw, I have good news.....an endometrial biopsy came back normal......no cancer cells. As long as I don't have any symptoms (except for bleeding from removal of the polyp and doing the biopsy, I haven't had any bleeding), my gynecologist recommends doing nothing.
I must also correct an error in my original posting.... I said a normal 60-year-old should have 5cm thickness of endometrium, and I had 14cm. I used the wrong measure....it should have been mm (milimeters), not cm (centimeters)... sorry about that.
I also found out that vaginal bleeding can occur in a very small percent of women taking Arimidex. So far, it looks like it is all just a coincidence.

Thank you for your reply - I'm so glad it's good news.

[Joan from West Milford]

Liz wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you for your reply - I'm so glad it's good news.

I have an update on side effects. After four months of taking Arimidex, I developed joint pain in my hands, and 'locking thumb', which is described in other threads of this forum. Also, although my blood pressure and cholestrol were being controlled with medications, both started creeping up.
I told my oncologist when I saw him April 30, and I've been off Arimidex for a month. The joint pain is better, but not OK yet. I'll be seeing him again next week to decide what to do next....he's already mentioned Femara. My family wants me to stay off all this stuff, and take my chances regarding the cancer recurring, opting for good quality of life.
I have pressured my oncologist for better statistics to help decide what to do....if Arimidex and the other aromatase inhibitors only increase my chances slightly, I'm not going to go back on them.

[Jane]

I firmly believe that my mother's recent death from an aggressive uterine/vaginal cancer was as the result of taking tamoxofin and later arimidex after breast cancer. I sincerely question the results of the studies that say there is only slight risk.

[Brenda]

I have been on Arimidex for 7 months and I've think I've had every side effect it mentions. Most have not lasted long except for the join pain and stiffness and higher BP and cholestrol. Does it increase blood sugar also?

My newest concern is vaginal tear. I'm very sore and was startled yesterday with the amount of blood, however, it stopped quickly. Has anyone else had tears?? I've stopped the pill for now but I'm seriously considering not restarting it. My dr strongly advises it but can guarantee that it will prevent reoccurrance of my cancer. I had invasive with no nodal involvement. I had 7 wks radiation and no chemo. I also have history of b cell NH Lymphoma in 1999.

[Rosemary-New York]

I have been on Arimidex for 6-l/2 years since my lumpectomy, no lymph nodes, however, few centinal nodes were involved. I had radiation therepy only. I have not felt "normal" or "like myself since I stared this medication. Joint pain, back pain, depression, axiety - higher BP and Cholesterol, even on medication. After being on it by Oncologist from Sloan Kettering said t hat they are now keeping women on it longer because of the good results and no serious side effects.
So I agreed. What else would i do?? I recently did a vaginal sonogram and quess what? now need a endomitrial biopsy to rule o ut uterin cancer, which by the way, is a side effect of Arimidex.

[Sherone - Australia]

I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and 8 months, following bi-lateral lumpectomy (yup...cancer in both breasts at the same time), axillary clearances on both sides (removal of lymph nodes), had chemotherapy, radiation therapy and 12 months of Herceptin.
It was hard to determine what treatment actually gave me particular side-effects as I commenced Arimidex, Herceptin and radiation therapy all at the same time - sometimes I still feel like I've been run over by a bus!! The fatigue is hardest to cope with but after 2 years it started getting better. I hate the weight gain, but the joint pain has resolved itself and I take Fish Oil tablets daily. I have mild lymphoedema in both arms which I manage by exercising: walking and aqua aerobics, when I have the energy. I was 40 at diagnosis and am 43 now. After my initial chemotherapy (FEC100) I went into menopause. In July this year I experienced what I thought to be a period. I was extremely surprised and worried so went to my gp, had a pelvic ultrasound and all appeared ok. Since then I have had 3 more bleeds Aug, Sep and Oct. Further blood tests for hormone levels revealed high oestrogen count which concerned my oncologist who referred me to my gynaecologist last week and I am booked in on Monday for hysteroscopy and biopsy, as well as removal of my ovaries.
All this week I have had cystitis (urinary tract infection) and treated myself with Ural, a urinary alkiniser, but it doesn't appear to be going away. I haven't had this for a couple of years. Upon reading the symptoms of cancer of the uterus/uterine cancer/endometrial cancer I see that burning when urinating is another symptom.
I'm certainly more than a little concerned that I'm fitting quite a lot of the criteria for this type of cancer.
- menopausal/post menopausal
- on Arimidex/anastrazole
- irregular bleeding and vaginal discharge
- painful urination
I would love to hear from someone else who has had a similar experience, what their outcome is/was and how they're travelling now.
Thanks

[Laura]

Has anyone every had a mild vaginal discharge after going off of Arimidex? I took it for 5 years and never had any problems - I stopped it 5 months ago and now I have a vaginal discharge. Is this normal?

[Ann]

Wow, am I glad I found you ladies! I'm 56, had multiple tumors in both breasts and a double mastectomy at 53. 7 nodes were removed on both sides, only one had some cancer cells. I had no chemo or radiation but began a macrobiotic diet, lost 25 lbs, feel fabulous. I also went on Tamoxifen and had vaginal discharge, super-enlarged fibroids, uterus, lining, simple cysts on both ovaries, and finally vaginal bleeding with off the charts high levels of estradiol and low FSH. They kept saying how alarming all this was and that I better have a hysterectomy. I said it was the Tamoxifen, and sure enough, when I took a break from it, everything went perfectly normal, they finally were convinced I was menopausal, and put me on Arimidex. After about a month on that I started spotting again, so I stopped taking it. Went back on after things calmed down, and went back off three months later because of more bloating and a mild period. The period lasted almost a month, and now I'm supposed to get an edometrial biopsy, etc. etc. I'm in wonderful health otherwise and I'm very tempted to tell them all to kiss my ____. I'd like to see if I can stay off this stuff and just have other monitoring, but the medical folks don't like that. Maybe the tests/scans are too expensive for the insurance companies and they'd rather we take the pills? Thoughts??