Hello all! Jumping on to share my experience on Anastrozole (also known as Arimadex). I think I shared in a previous thread so apologies for the repeat to those of you also on this thread. I’ve been on Anastrozole, Kisqali (ribociclab) and monthly Xgeva injections since my MBC diagnosis June 2020. I was 54 at the time. Since then I have had various side effects, hair thinning, bone pain, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, maybe a few others I’m forgetting. But - I rarely had to stop doing what I wanted to do because of the side effects, sometimes I had to take a few other meds to help, but was worth it. And 12 months later, the nausea almost stopped, the fatigue is more manageable (maybe I’ve built a better routine to manage it not sure :). And my hair started to regrow! Bone pain is still there, mainly my wrists, hands, fingers and feet so I’ve built a “toolbox” Of things to help cope. I know things could be so much worse as @auntieoakley shared so keeping that in mind helps me push through some of the harder days. My oncologist had said the side effects would reduce/change with time and they did! I hope you find a solution for treatments you are comfortable with. Even if it provides some discomfort remember
That perhaps it could be much worse! Stay strong and know you are not alone and have somewhere to “share or vent” here if you need to!

Please talk to your doctor about these side effects. This is a hard regimen for some people. There may be other options with less side effects available to try or they may need to add something to help treat the miseries. We have options now to help us LIVE with advanced cancer. The days of MBC being imminently terminal for everyone are over. @leeann66 mentioned another regimen, and there is another discussion right now that has some other members on different treatments. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/struggling-to-cope-with-stage-iv-diagnosis-and-what-the-future-holds/
All this to say again, please talk to your doctor. Will you come back and let me know how you are doing?

Could it be the Verzenio causing the hair loss or could be the combination of both. I am 54 was on Tamoxifen 7.5 years, hit menopause and was switched to Anastrazole which I have been on for 1.5 years. Hair is thinning a lot but no bald spots or baldness yet. I have one more year to go on the Anastrazole but I was just diagnosed with a reoccurrence or a new cancer that is in my liver, abdomen, chest, rib, spine, sternum, fore arms and a tumor in my clavicle although I took the Tamoxifen and Anastrazole as directed to complete 10 years. I have a biopsy this week on 1/6/2022. My breast cancer was ER+ PR+ HER2+ aggressive, I had chemo, trial drug, double mastectomy and 35 radiation treatments in 2012 followed by Herceptin.