Anastrozole experience: Any tips for managing side effects?

I just noticed my face hair on my upper lip. Had to use my tweezers to pull them out. I don’t want to start waxing then I will have to do it all time. Ugh.
Curious what kind of cancer did you have?
I had estrogen positive her2 negative early Brest cancer. I started anastrozole Aug of 22 Nice to hear it keeps working after the treatment plan.

I have been on anastrozole five or six months. The first few months the hot flashes and night sweats were miserable but taking it at night helped and I’ve adjusted. Hardly any noticeable side effects now. I have a lot of years ahead of me of anastrozole but want to stay cancer free so it’s worth it. Good luck to everyone.

Anastrozole reduces the oestrogen in body. My breast cancer was oestrogen positive. I really don’t understand why you didn’t have any treatment and then you were out on Anastrozole. I think you need to find out why. A very good friend of mine here in UK had breast cancer 17 years ago and didn’t have any form of treatment, meds, radiotherapy or chemo. This time last year she discovered she had cancer in her spine. Now I don’t know fir sure, and I doubt if any doctor would either, that this was secondary cancer as it could b a new cancer completely, but it’s a bit of a coincidence, to me, that she didn’t have any treatment and then gets a shock like this. I’m not saying this to frighten you, as we are all in the same boat, but I think you should have a second opinion. Xx

I have been on Anastrozole for 6 months. I have been experiencing lower abdominal pain - burning above my pubic bone, discomfort/pressure feeling through rectal/vaginal area generally only at night. I am awakened by the burning discomfort. Not every night and every other function is normal. Can this be the medication? Thank you.

I have been on Anastrazole .since 2021. The only side effect I have noticed is the hot flashes. Our bodies are all different so I would not be overly concerned but I would talk to your Oncologist. Wishing you the best! 🌺

Thank you for the advice. They took me off of horror moans before my surgery in August and I have plenty of hot flashes right now, but if that’s the only side effect, I be glad to take it!

My experience after five years had few side effects. I had hair loss mildly. My internal temperature in warm weather was hotter than most. Living in Florida made it uncomfortable. However, I did very well. Good luck. Not terrible at all

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

I recently started arimidex - three weeks in, no real side effects. I am watching myself carefully and hoping for the best for you

This is good info from ACOG, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
“Why does estrogen loss cause UTIs? Estrogen helps tissues in your vagina and urethra stay elastic and moist. Estrogen loss can thin these tissues and cause dryness, irritation, and other changes that set the stage for UTIs.

For example, estrogen loss weakens the muscles of your urethra. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter your urethra and move up to your bladder.

Estrogen also raises the level of healthy bacteria that normally live in your vagina and bladder. Healthy bacteria help fight off infection-causing bacteria. After menopause, low estrogen means you have less healthy bacteria to help prevent infections.”

AIs leave us with no, or almost none, estrogen. It is very unfortunate when specialists only look at the top, highest frequency, side effects that are listed by the manufacturer.

Link to article:
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/utis-after-menopause-why-theyre-common-and-what-to-do-about-them#:~:text=Why%20does%20estrogen%20loss%20cause,the%20muscles%20of%20your%20urethra.