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When do side effects of anastrozole begin?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 6 1:06pm | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
I am taking Anastrozole and started having severe anxiety, which I have never had in my life. I’m 70. Sleepy to but I started taking it at night, so that worked. A bit achy but not bad. It’s the anxiety! I spoke with the Oncologist and she felt I should stay on it since the other choice would be probably cancer again. My breast cancer by the way was so small biopsy got it all, no cells seen after the lumpectomy, no .lump to get but better safe, I get that. I would like to just get off it but she acted like it was a death sentence to make that decision. But I want a better quality of life, not taking yet another medication to deal with anxiety for 7 years. I don’t know what I’m asking exactly, just wondering if anyone else is facing this and what you’re doing.
Replies to "I am taking Anastrozole and started having severe anxiety, which I have never had in my..."
I started getting a lot of anxiety actually before I started the anastrazole, I was in radiation and I had already had my surgeries, and 6 months of chemo, it kind of hit me all at once. I did go on Zoloft lowest dose. I wasn’t excited about another drug but my oncologist explained that a cancer diagnosis comes with PTSD, especially when you have all of these hard treatments. I wasn’t excited about taking a lot to keep myself alive, why feel bad about taking something to make my quality of life better. I decided to give it a try and I am grateful that I did. The anxiety did not increase further with the anastrazole but I was already taking the Zoloft.
Did your doctor run the test on your cells that determines your risk with and without AI?
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If it was me, I'd try and get more information. Is the oncologist saying there is 100% chance of recurrence and/or spread without the anastrozole? If so, what are the odds with it? There are several kinds of aromatase inhibitors, and another one might work better for you. The choice should not be between years of anxiety and death sentence. This might be time to get a second opinion, or at least explore other similar drugs. Can you consider getting more information?