Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I pray you get some relief. It’s awful it really is. I never felt this way going thru menopause. I go back to my oncologist Friday so I’m hoping he starts me on something I can’t live with. I’ve had other ladies to ask about adjusting the milligrams or taking a day or two off if your dr approved it’s maybe you can check on that. Praying you get relief soon friend. I’m always here if you need to talk.

Welcome, @karenB76. Have you only recently started on exemestane and goserelin (Zoladex)? What is helping you to manage the side effects?

I started in October of 2023. I haven't yet found anything that helps with the side effects. I'm hoping they will get better eventually.

@tparkhurst, it is so hard to deal with the side effects. Sorry to hear of your struggles and not even recognizing yourself anymore. When did you make the switch to letrozole? Did you have a break between aromotase inhibitors?

I switched two months ago and only took a week in between. I was concerned about the estrogen so didn’t want to go to long without it.

I was speaking with a nurse yesterday and she told me that the first AI that they give to breast cancer patients in the UK is Exemestane because so many women have so many side effects with Anastrozole. Does anyone know the reason many of us in the U.S. are given Anastrozole first? I had awful side effects with it, so I opted to not take it then 4 years later I got another primary breast cancer in the other breast. I was 74 when I decided not to take the Anastrozole and I thought what would be the chance that I would get another cancer in the next 10 years.
I just had a Dexa scan and next week I will find out if I should take Exemestane or not. I have osteopenia and I have had a L3 fracture from just pulling myself out of bed after a painful knee replacement. So, I am concerned if they tell me I should take the medication and I am concerned if they tell me I shouldn't take the medication.

Anastrozole seems to be the drug of choice in Australia for estrogen-fed breast cancers. My general practioner, breast surgeon and oncologist - all females - agreed on that. Of course I have only anecdotal evidence.

Interesting. I wonder why the differing opinions.

I will be doing radiation but I will not be doing the AI. Surgeon recommends it of course but I’m not going to ruin my quality of life that I have now. I’m 63….had DCIS and lumpectomy.

My doctor switched me to Exemastane plus zoladex injections after being on Tamoxifen since I had bad side effects with Tamoxifen. I still have bad side effects but it's better than with Tamoxifen. I am relatively new to this so I haven't heard of Anastrozole.