Breast cancer supportBooks and publications

There are a number of books and publications that speak to the issues that surround living with breast cancer.

  • Art.Rage.Us.: Art and Writing by Women with Breast Cancer
    By Jill Eikenberry and Terry Tempest. New York, NY: Chronicle Books, 1998
    Inspiring artwork and writing by breast cancer survivors, an outgrowth of an exhibit at the San Francisco Main Library Gallery sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund, the American Cancer Society (San Francisco Bay Area), and the San Francisco chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal, and Practical Guide for Living with a Life-Challenging Condition
    By David S. Landay. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 2001
    Offers advice on practical issues for anyone facing a life-challenging illness
  • Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book
    By Susan M. Love, MD, and Karen Lindsay. 3rd edition. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing, 2000
    Candid, up-to-date, and reassuring information to help you make sense of your cancer diagnosis and treatment options
  • Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy
    By Malin Dollinger, MD, Ernest H. Rosenbaum, MD, Margaret Tempero, and Sean Mulvihill. 4th edition. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel, 2002
    An authoritative and thorough resource written for the general public explaining how cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed day to day
  • Informed Decisions
    By Harmon J. Eyre, MD, Dianne Partie Lange, and Lois B. Morris. 2nd edition. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2001
    A comprehensive guide from the American Cancer Society providing an excellent overview of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery
  • 100 Questions and Answers About Breast Cancer
    By Zora Brown and LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr, MD. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2003
    A breast cancer survivor and a practicing oncologist give both the patient's and the doctor's perspective in answering questions related to breast cancer, including questions about treatment decisions and physical and emotional issues
  • Sexuality for Women and Their Partners
    American Cancer Society, 2001
    Available online at www.cancer.org
    Candid advice and information on how to restore and maintain intimacy during and after cancer treatment
  • Spinning Straw into Gold: Your Emotional Recovery from Breast Cancer
    By Ronnie Kaye. New York, NY: Fireside, 1991
    Straightforward advice from a psychotherapist and breast cancer survivor on dealing with emotional issues that may arise following your diagnosis
  • The Human Side of Cancer: Living with Hope, Coping with Uncertainty
    By Jimmie C. Holland, MD, and Sheldon Lewis. New York, NY: Quill, 2001
    Compassionate advice on coping with cancer from a pioneer in the field of psycho-oncology
  • When the Woman You Love Has Breast Cancer
    Chicago, IL: Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization), 2000
    This booklet offers guidance to your partner on how to support your emotional needs during every stage of your breast cancer experience

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Important Information About ARIMIDEX

ARIMIDEX is approved for adjuvant treatment (treatment following surgery with or without radiation) of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

ARIMIDEX is approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed following treatment with tamoxifen. Patients with hormone receptor-negative disease and patients who did not previously respond to tamoxifen therapy rarely responded to ARIMIDEX.

Important Safety Information About ARIMIDEX

  • Prescription ARIMIDEX is only for postmenopausal women. ARIMIDEX should not be taken if you are pregnant because it may harm your unborn child
  • Based on information from a study in patients with early breast cancer, women with a history of blockages in heart arteries (ischemic heart disease) who take ARIMIDEX may have a slight increase in this type of heart disease compared to similar patients who take tamoxifen
  • ARIMIDEX can cause bone softening/weakening (osteoporosis) increasing the chance of fractures. In a clinical study in early breast cancer, there were more fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) with ARIMIDEX (10%) than with tamoxifen (7%)
  • In a clinical study in early breast cancer, some patients taking ARIMIDEX had an increase in cholesterol. Skin reactions, allergic reactions, and changes in blood tests of liver function have also been reported
  • In the early breast cancer clinical trial, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms (including arthritis and arthralgia), weakness, mood changes, pain, back pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, rash, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fractures, swelling of arms/legs, insomnia, and headache
  • In advanced breast cancer trials, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX versus tamoxifen include hot flashes, nausea, decreased energy and weakness, pain, back pain, headache, bone pain, increased cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and swelling of arms and legs. Joint pain/stiffness has been reported in association with the use of ARIMIDEX
  • ARIMIDEX should not be taken with tamoxifen or estrogen-containing therapies

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).