Stopping anastrozole

Talk to your doctor first.

When I first started it, it was rough. I had a PA who told me go off it for a couple weeks and then go back on it.

It was easier to tolerate after the sabbatical.

Ask what your chances are of cancer returning without it.

Cancer is going to be a lot worse than what you experience with Anastrozole.

I am 66 had stage 2A breast cancer - Early stage - 1cm with 1 sentinel node
No co morbities and no other health issues - could run 5 kms. Retired Nurse.
14 months on Anastrozole - and I grew old - aching joints, decrease mobility, nausea, flushes but worst was the brain fog and having a huge heavy feeling in my forehead all the time. Word searching difficulties - stumbling in conversations - hate it and thought I was getting Dementia
Retirement became all about just managing my day to day.
I stopped taking Anastrazole 2 weeks ago and omg - I am a totally different person - I am me again - and my thoughts ongoing are - having done my own research and spoken to both my gp and oncologist.
The breast cancer predictor test shows that I have an 88% chance of 10 year survival with 7% (die of unrelated illness) 5% from breast cancer if I don’t take AIs - and if I take it the diff is 0.5 to 1.5% These results I confirmed with the oncologist.

So for me my choice is stooping AIs and to spend the next 5 years living my best life as opposed to what I have been living. I will continue to have annual mammogram and ultrasound.

I feel I am fortunate that my cancer was caught early and that the risk of return is very much the same on or off AIs so realise thoughts of ceasing are not for everyone and at the 6 month mark had these thoughts also but pleased I stuck it out for 14 months.

Do your research, talk with GP and oncologist - find what works for you.

Everyone’s journey is different.
Sending big hugs

After 4 months of Letrozole I am 75 years old level 1 and just had my first radiation treatment and 4 more to go. I had violent projectile vomiting which caused boos to trap in the face all the way to the eye brows and into the neck. Also it seems that I have a dent in the spline area with rib soreness from this episode. So looking at statistics the break downs are not good for all the side effects this drug and the damage done to my throat and sinuses from the vomiting. So when 49.7 % of women stop taking letrozole by the 3rd month I congratulate myself for trying but having a quality of life instead of living with side effects that are so brutal out ways the small increase of misery for 5 years of taking that horrible pill!

@forrestbeach26 I took Anastrozole for 2 yrs and like you it turned me Old. Thank goodness no vomiting. Just joints. I quit it. It took me about 3-4 months to get back to normal. My reoccurrence % was low. Quality of life is the key.
Good luck & blessings on your journey

@forrestbeach26
I really enjoyed reading your comment and needed it! I’m quite similar to you—still active, though I don’t run, but I do enjoy hiking, cycling, and playing tennis. My life is physical activities of all sorts for up to 2 hours a day. Plus, I’m free from any health issues. I am 72.

I was diagnosed with stage 2 grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma, which means I had 1 micro-metastasis after removing 9 nodes. It took two pathologists from major cancer centers to finally confirm this diagnosis. So surviving cancer makes me think I’m inviting a slow death from infirmity. Unfortunately, both doctors want me to take it. My son, who was always an anti-vaccination advocate, never got MRNA vaccine is very angry if I take it. I took 1 pill in a week because I’m waiting for side effects. It’s like I feel great now, my joints were never replaced, enjoying physical activities and I’m throwing it all away. I wish there were side effects that were tolerable. My husband is 85, and while taking around 10 prescription medications for congestive heart failure, kidney disease, diabetes,
there haven’t been any complications from them, especially since he’s pretty sedentary.
My Oncotype DX score was 9 with a 3% recurrence possibility. My breasts are not dense. I am 5’2” and 108 lbs. Taking Anastrozole would lower that to 1.5%

I have been taking anastrozole for just under 3 years and the only side effects I have had is the tiredness and insomnia. The insomnia doesn't count for me because I've had it most of my adult life. The tiredness that isn't caused by my insomnia, can be rough sometimes, but I'm able to mostly manage it. I was diagnosed with stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma with a low oncotype of 16, but because mine was Lobular the anastrozole was advised and so far so good. I try to stay pretty active also, biking, walking, kayaking and swimming and I think this helps when I'm tired.

I've been taking Anastrozole for 6.2 years and I had Stage 1a ER/PR + HER2- and a Oncotype score of 29 and a Mammaprint result of low risk. My oncologist ordered the BCI index test and my result came back that it would be beneficial for me to continue Anastrozole for another 5 years. However, my oncologist said continue just for 7 years (April 2027) and then we will stop. The doctor said there is no material benefit from staying on until 10 years instead of 7 years so that is my plan. My anastrozole has caused me to have osteopenia and hot flashes at night but I have managed. I know of several people who plan to stay on Anastrozole for life even though they have since past the 10 year normal stoppage period. I think they are convinced this is what has kept their cancer dormant.

Hi! @vegada :

Kudos to you and your friends for the perseverance and patience of taking Anastrozole for more than 6.2 years and counting! Most importantly you guys have been keeping these BC cells away from your bodies since your diagnosis, congratulations!

Thanks for sharing your inspiring experience!

@forrestbeach26 Your post was very helpful to me, thank you! I am age 63 and diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma April 2026 - stage 1, ER/PR + and HER2 - . I do have bilateral DCIS. I am also a recently retired RN. I am scheduled for bilateral mastectomy 6/26/26 with direct to implant. (not a lot of breast tissue and DCIS was fairly widespread on L side - so not given option of lumpectomy)... I did have an Oncotype DX on the left 1.2 cm tumor that had 6 mm invasion per my needle core biopsy and came back with score of 13 with recurrence risk of 5% with taking endocrine therapy. I am also healthy and exercise daily. I did take hormone replacement therapy for the last 10 years and immediately discontinued that after diagnosis. Cutting off the fuel hopefully! In hindsight - wished I had stopped them a few years ago! I don't know the plan yet since have not met with the medical oncologist yet but am already concerned about the medications that will be prescribed due to all the known side effects. I am also having nipples removed as well but not required per my surgical oncologist mainly due to the fact that I am going down considerably in size for my implant from the size I have now. I have a great team with my surgical oncologist and plastic surgeon and they work together regularly. I have also located a very skilled medical tattoo artist that is local for hyper-realistic tattoos - it's quite amazing the results I have seen. My foremost concern is treat the cancer but I have found the reconstruction is more important to me than I had expected. This has been quite a journey and wishing everyone the very best. It is a lot to process and a lot of decisions to be made usually in short period of time.

Dr recommended before 3rd shot….1 year however i decided to stop after 3 shots 1 1/2 years and I have been good. Dr says so. Im going on 3 rd year partial masectomy duct 2 nd stage breast cancer with radiation 6 weeks