Side effects on one drug, not another

Regarding your Jan. 29 article on side effects from breast cancer drugs [“Cancer Drugs: Too Toxic?”], I began taking Arimidex two years ago. Five days after I started the prescription, I woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating pain in my hands. I thought it would diminish over time, but it didn’t. The diagnosis, finally? Carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgery was suggested. I had been a legal secretary for more than 30 years, typed five days a week and never got carpal tunnel syndrome.

I quit taking Arimidex, started on tamoxifen and guess what? No more pain. Everybody reacts differently to different medications. Thank heavens for them!

JO ANN MICHETTI

Rancho Palos Verdes