Anastrozole: Is it worth it?

When is best to take anastrozole am or at bedtime??

@geet69
I getting ready to say No. My hair is falling out and I have multiple symptoms. Not interested in trying others. I was stage 1A, invasive carcinoma, no node involvement, lumpectomy and 5 radiation tx’s. Oncotype 9. Estrogen driven tumor. I’m 75 so im considering just stopping

Read and do your own research. I’m not sure we get straight answers from oncologist.

@jsparkle42
I take mine after dinner. I have a little fatigue about 2 hours later. I sleep pretty well with minor hot flashes not sure if I have anymore symptoms if so I’m sleeping through them. I was estrogen positive with 1 lymph positive. My hematologist did a breast index and I need to extend taking anastrozole for additional 5 years.

@jsparkle42 perhaps your pharmacy or dr. would be the best source for this advice. I take it late morning but don’t know if it is the best time. I should enquire.

Take it. The peace of mind, in my opinion, is worth it. I’ve known of cases where cancer returned many years later, but it returned. Why go through it again. I happen to be lucky, no side effects and I’ve been taking it for four years, now. But positive thinking related to side effects may go a long way. Good luck in your journey.

I was diagnosed with DCIS, had a lumpectomy with clear margins and zero lymph node involvement, 6 weeks of radiation and then started anastrazole. I've now been taking Anastrazole for 2 years and 2 months. The first year I felt fine and no side effects but the second year has been much more difficult. I feel and look older and much less energy. I am 82 but I was physically fit and in very good health before I started the treatment. I just had my 2 year dexa scan which showed increased osteoporosis. I will see the oncologist in 3 days and I know she will want me to start meds. After much research and prayer, I have decided I do not want to do the meds. So I've started taking collogen, a bone builder supplement and strontium. The company I've purhased it from say they garantee increased bone density after 6 months so we shall see. Hoping and praying!!

@sam44 similarly I’m finding two and half years in movement greatly affected - like you I was very fit and active but feel fifteen years older in just under three! Best of luck for the future , I will be having a similar conversation in three months time.

I have been on anastrozole for 4 years. It started with me my anxiety is worse on my 4th year. Hot flash seems a lot more I seem tolerate them okay. I discuss my anxiety with my Primary Doctor. She started me Wellbutrin 150mg I tried them for a month and it seemed that it wasn’t working. She has up my prescription to 300mg. I hope this will work. Having breast cancer and taking meds is a struggle but well worth the outcome of a successful life going forward. We never know what new treatments might come about with new drugs of a cancer free life.

@brightlight66 I have multiple chemical sensitivity plus got diagnosed with Alpha gal in February. I have a reoccurrence breast cancer had three surgeries and major major spine surgery to my spine no radiation no chemotherapy because of chemical I couldn’t do chemo They told me that I would be at high risk of a massive stroke if I had done radiation early on because I had had a stroke close to the time I was diagnosed. the doctor had left me with a positive margin which I didn’t know for a while and she also moved cancer from one spot to the other. she cut the cancer out and with the same tools then went under my arm where there was no cancer and that’s where it ended up returning. She went from dirty to clean instead of clean to dirty. So now I have stage four they say my only hope of survival is to try to do these aromatase inhibitor‘s I’m very scared because I can’t take medication’s I can’t even take supplements because of the preservatives in them at all I’m not on anything I’m 65. And everybody talks about the side effects which I would have a hard time because I can’t take medication’s to help the side effects I would have to just live with them I don’t want to die 🥲right now I’m trying to pray every day speak healing to my body eat certain foods that I’ve read helps get rid of cancer cells. Scared to Try medication with it already in my bones I’m worried about the effect of no estrogen affecting my bones more. Suppose to be all kinds of things coming out to help us I wish somebody would send something my way some kind of a trial to help me