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Sadness: Due to Anastrozole or Just Dealing With Breast Cancer?

Posted by sheilaray @sheilaray, Feb 18, 2022

I was a 24 year breast cancer survivor in September 2021 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer again. I had a bilateral mastectomy in October 2021 and did not need chemo or radiation this time around. I started anastrozole at the end of November 2021. So far, my side effects have been minimal. My only "complaint" is more sadness. I will cry quite easily at things I never used to cry over. Sad movie? tears... Cool down after a workout? tears... Can't figure out a work issue? tears... Anyway, does anyone know how I can tell if I'm just more emotional because of another cancer diagnosis or due to low estrogen from the anstrozole? Thank you.

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mglinkhart | @mglinkhart | Nov 29, 2022
In reply to @jc1926 "Maria, thank you for your kind response. I’m so grateful for your support. This forum has..." + (show)
@jc1926

Maria, thank you for your kind response. I’m so grateful for your support. This forum has helped me tremendously. Some doctors can be cruel. My cousin, who is a breast cancer survivor, was so happy, as her recent mammo was benign. She thanked her doctor for curing her and he said he did not cure her and that there was no cure for cancer. Her happiness quickly turned to depression. And she withdrew. While, it’s true there is no cure for cancer, that doctor should have never said this. Some doctors don’t realize the impact their words have on us.

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I know exactly what you mean. I had an oncologist throw my file at me because I was allergic to Adriamycin and he had to alter HIS protocol for my treatment. Basically told me I would probably die! He was a peach. They have no idea the damage that they do.

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aej1954 | @aej1954 | Nov 29, 2022

I tried all 3 inhibitors and had bad side effects on all of them. Sadness and crying easily was one of them, along with bone pain and feeling overall terrible. I started Temoxifan 2 months age and the main side affect was terrible hot flashes so my encologist put me on a low dose of Effexor to help with hot flashes. . I have never took antidepressants and didn't want to but I did and it has helped me very much. No sadness and the hot flashes are basically gone. This has worked best for me but everyone reacts differently so it takes some experimenting for sure. Good luck to all of you!!

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jc1926 | @jc1926 | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @mglinkhart "I know exactly what you mean. I had an oncologist throw my file at me because..." + (show)
@mglinkhart

I know exactly what you mean. I had an oncologist throw my file at me because I was allergic to Adriamycin and he had to alter HIS protocol for my treatment. Basically told me I would probably die! He was a peach. They have no idea the damage that they do.

Jump to this post

I’m very sorry you had to experience being treated so poorly by a doctor. Thank God there are some compassionate doctors out there to outweigh the insensitive ones. We need all the empathy and understanding we can get with what we are going through with having cancer.

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houserabbit | @houserabbit | Jan 19, 2023

I am a nurse diagnosed with breast ca in 2019. I had a total mastectomy with no chemo or radiation because of a low recurrence score. All your symptoms ARE medication related. If you read the package insert all of those symptoms occur often. I was on Letrozole and now Anastrozole. Letrozole was killing me with anxiety and depression, leg and muscle cramps , you name it. Anastrozole is slightly better but, still have anxiety and depression. Your doctor should know that and if he/she doesn’t then you need a new doctor. A third of patients stop it because they can’t deal with these side effects.
I have a year and a half left. It has been difficult holding on to taking this medication. But knowing after 5 years I can stop it is sort of getting me through. In addition to the above, I’ve developed high blood pressure and high cholesterol both of which are also side effects. It is a miserable drug to take. My family has also had a hard time with me being this way. The fatigue gets really bad and sleep issues also. You are not crazy. IT IS THE MEDICATION!

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