Posted by Joan on February 4, 2012, 12:34 pm
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Here's my situation. I have recently come through bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. The verdict isn't in yet about what my follow up treatment will as not all test results are in yet - could be chemo, could be hormonal therapy (likely Arimedex and Zoladex). I have had bc before and was on Tamox and Zoladex for 5 years.
I DO NOT want to do that again. I didn't have bad side effects - nothing out of the ordinary - but I HATED gaining all that weight. I hated myself the whole time and for a long time afterward, basically all through my 40's. So I do not want to do that again. Now that I'm in my 50's and so close to menopause, the likely choice for me is Arimidex and Zoladex. I dread the weight gain that is to come, and I dread the joint pain that it's known for. I am a very active person and still young at heart, and I don't want that to change.
Ideally, I would like to find natural alternative to hormone therapy, one that wouldn't have these side effects. But in the likely case that there isn't one, is there something that you know of that could help combat these side effects? I was reading down the page about turmeric and curcumin and such. Would these herbs work to counteract the joint pain from Arimidex?
The world of natural remedies is so foreign to me - I've always just tried to live a healthy life and stay active. But if I have to take something that will make me feel less healthy and less like being active, I need some guidance.
Thanks muchly,
Joan
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