Arimidex/Zoladex, anyone with info

Hi there Sunflower,

Arimidex is usually for POST menopausal women. Have your periods returned since you finished chemo? If they have returned but are irregular, they might class you as perimenopausal and choose Arimidex? Not sure. And I am not familiar with Zoladex, other than knowing its another hormonal therapy so have no idea why they would want to give you both, sorry!

If they didn't explain it fully, I'd give the secretary or BCN a call, tell them you have some additional questions since your last visit and ask for another followup appointment. I am also very conscious about what drugs and chemicals I use in my body now. I'd say a lot of patients are once they have had a cancer diagnosis so yr medical team should be understanding that you need more information.

Let us know what they tell you.
Thanks,
Flo.

thanks Flo.
I had a clot and with the tamoxifen there is a chance it could cause another one. I guess I wanted to know if anyone has advice about them or what the zoladex is like. My main concern is how the injection of zoladex is like or if my own doc can give it.
Sunflower

Hi, I had the zoladex injection alongside tamoxifen in February (now off both as put on chemo in May, hormones not doing enough to shrink tumour, mine is a biggie). The zoladex is injected into the stomach usually by the nurse at your GP surgery. Have you a medical card, I didn't at the time and it cost me 120 euro (I think the actual cost is about 400 euro but with the drug payment scheme price was capped at 120). I was since given a medical card.
The injection doesn't hurt and I didn't have many side-effects but I only had the one injection so not sure what it's like if you keep getting it, I think its every three months. Basically it puts you into menopause so any symptoms will probably be menopausal if you do get any.
Hope this helps. Good luck

Thanks Kazoo. Cannot belive the price of the injection! I am hoping that the nurse in gp will give it to me. It would cut out some of the travelling. I will get it every 3 months. i have read up about it but was a bit concerned if there were other side effects.
thanks again
Sunflower

hiya, I've been on Zoladex since February and have to say I havent really noticed too many side effects from it....I suffer hot flushes and other standard menopausal effects but thats its function I guess...I have also noticed my knee joints are a bit more sensitive than they used to be but it hasnt stopped me from jogging or anything...the nurse in the hospital gives it to me (injection to stomach) when Im in for my 3 month check up, I was in the States in June and had to inject myself and there was no problem doing that...its a big needle!