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Switching from anastrozole to exemestane: Anyone made this switch?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 13 hours ago | Replies (60)Comment receiving replies
@srussell
I had a lumpectomy last October followed by chemo and radiation. I was told to take anastrozole which I did for 5 months. Then the side effects became unbearable, my fingers hurt so badly and shoulders as well. I took myself off of it and will be seeing my DR this Monday. I'm scared what he'll put me on next and am not sure I'll take anything else. I was lucky my breast cancer was stage 1, all margins clean and negative on all lymph nodes. I was told the chemo and radiation was preventive only and had a 10 to 15 % chance of getting cancer again. I'm 71 and want to enjoy everyday without pain.
Replies to "@srussell I had a lumpectomy last October followed by chemo and radiation. I was told to..."
@biddle1267 Pre-cancer I would've struggled to understand why women choose against an oncology recommended medication that reduces recurrence. LOL Truly it makes me laugh out loud. The narrative of Standard of Care is grossly lopsided. It all seems SO primitive on this side... I pray that we'll both have peace no matter we decide.
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@biddle1267 I was on it for 8-9 months. Did have problems starting about 4 months in, but I declined to change because it wasn’t “unbearable”. Then at about the 9 month mark, his comment was that I “shouldn’t have to live in pain” and took me off Anastrazole. We waited about 6 weeks - took about 3 to get rid of side effects - and then started exemestane. While there are side effects, for me at least, it’s not the pain I had with Anastrazole. So I’ll keep trucking with this one for a while. Not comfortable coming off because Oncotype + with erratic tumor markers. I’m currently 73.