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Side Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Apr 5, 2023 | Replies (46)Comment receiving replies
I have been taking Aromasin (Exemestane) for just about 4 months after lumpectomy for DCIS/5 radiation treatments. The start was kind of rough with lots of fatigue and generally just not feeling well. Over time I am feeling better, but still have poor sleep at times which can be a side effect. I feel like at age 61 I want to stay on the medication, but have to weigh against side effects and quality of life. But I feel safer on them than not....
Replies to "I have been taking Aromasin (Exemestane) for just about 4 months after lumpectomy for DCIS/5 radiation..."
I have been taking exemestane for about 6 weeks. I have noticed that it is raising my blood sugar which is not a listed side effect. I tried both the other Al meds. I started the meds in December 2020. I had a ischemic stroke in September of 2022 while on anastrozide. Since researching I’m scared being on the meds could have caused the stroke because I have hypertension. I’m so fortunate it was a mild stroke. But I am fearfully of another stroke. I am going for a second opinion from another oncologist in April. I did not feel my oncologist took the stroke very seriously.
I’m going to try and take the exemestane every other day. I’m fearful to not take the medicine.
My sleep is terrible. Weird side effect is that my toes ache at night! Have you had any foot pain on this medicine?
I too, am afraid to not take the medicine!
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I have been on Anastrozole for 2 years with no noticeable side effects until the end of the first year. Then I started experiencing a wide variety of side effects. Most women I asked if they were/had experience with any side effects said no. That random effort was getting me nowhere and making me feel like a hypochondriac. I made a call to doctor’s office and got the understanding responses that are the limitations of a someone who prescribes and not someone who experiences. I received an email from my pharmacist saying my prescription for Letrozole was ready for pick-up. First I heard about this option. In checking the value of this change I realized that the devil you know could very well be better than the devil you don’t know. I opted to stay with Anastrozole and take charge of making my side effects as manageable as I best could. I am making progress!!!
To all the people who have brought their knowledge to this new Dawn for women in living a longer life with breast Cancer I an so grateful.
To the women who find the need to remind those heroes that their experience in wanting life - along with a quality of life - is a necessary inclusion.
Between those heroes and forums like this maybe we can add so much to understanding of not only Cancer, but women’s experiences along the way. Value +