Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

In my area (Omaha NE) they have a program called "Live Strong". A 12 week program for all cancer survivors, geared towards general fitness. It sure helped me and it was all free.

I agree with kathyomaha55 @kathyomaha55, LiveStrong at Y is excellent program. But due to COVID, not sure of current status,

LiveStrong info:
https://www.livestrong.org/what-we-do/program/livestrong-at-the-ymca

Laurie

LiveStrong is great. I’ve done it twice... first was free and held at the Y, second time was a year later and the program had changed to ”LiveStrong at the Y” and I could attend even though I’d already done it once, since I had paid for a membership at the Y. The program helped me a lot. So, my advice is to look into doing it after the pandemic is over, because you’ll still benefit from participating.

I am on my fourth year of being on anastrozole. No horrible side effects for me. Still get hot flashes. My body temperature regulation seems askew. So, I am in charge of the thermostat and fan controls LOL. Dry EVERYWHERE 😉. My skin got “grandmother-type” wrinkly within 3 months of starting the drug. And the occasional pimple on my face turned into an actual case of acne, which I now have a prescription of Retin-A for. My hair... it definitely has affected it. It is quite thin but I’ve not lost coverage.

Try drinking fresh squeezed vegetable juices - helps to hydrate inside and out!!! About 3 8oz glasses a day....,

My hair was thinning on anastrozole, but seemed to stabilize when I switched to Exemestane. But so DRY!! Got moisturizing shampoo, not sure it;s helped. I'm trying to wash it less often.

Beware that some memory loss and cognitive function issues can be associated with Anastrozole and other drugs that reduce estrogen. I started off on Anastrozole following radiation treatment. I thought I was sliding into dementia. After reading several articles about the possible side effects, I talked to my doctor and she switched me to Tomoxifin, but I broke out in hives shortly after starting to take it. Something in it must have caused an allergic reaction for me. She then switched me to Exemestane and I’ve been on that for a little over a year and seem to tolerate it well. Be sure to report any side effects you may have. I hope you don’t have any side effects at all! Best wishes and good luck on this journey.

Unfortunately in my case I have had many side effects from Anastrozole. Nausea, hot flashes, headaches and terrible joint pain. Especially awful pain in my hands. My oncologist has given me 4 weeks off. She may put me on a different aromatase inhibitor.

@katrina123, I'm sorry to hear you're having such discomfort from Anastrozole. I did too...not nausea or headaches, but pain in shoulder, legs, ankles, feet, hands. Fatigue and insomnia were also a problem. I stayed on it for a year and a half, and then my oncologist switched me to Exemestane and I couldn't tolerate that either. I've now been on Tamoxifen for nearly a year, and the difference is remarkable. I'm 76 next month, so at this point it's hard to tell if the very minor aches and pains, word retrieval problems, and fatigue are from the drug, effects of the quarantine, or just my age! But Tamoxifen is sooooo much better. I know i can tolerate this one until my last year the of drug in 2003.

I also had really bad achy hands on Anastrozole. I switched after 11 months to Exemestane. So far I can tolerate this better - it's been almost a year. I guess the lesson is you never know how it will effect you until you try it. It took more like 3 months for the side effects of anastrozole to go away.