I started with Anastrozole within about 4 months - My hands started with the join pain (also shoulders and toes!) that just got worse & worse. At about 6 months - after I discussed it with my oncologist, I went off it for 1 month. No change in the hand pain. She then had me go back on it & sent me to a Rheumatologist to see if I had RA in my hands. I finally got in about 8 weeks later, and she had to run her tests. By then I was at almost the 1 year mark for taking the Anastrozole. No arthritis - so she finally switched me to Exemestane. I have to say - it took my hand pain (at about a 7 daily) about 10 to 12 weeks to finally diminish. But it went down to about a 1 and sometimes it's zero. So my 1 year on Exemestane was in November. Like Trixie I still have hot flashes & insomnia but I think I can make the full 5 years now. I take CALM gummies for the insomnia - it really seems to work! It's just Magnesium.