Anastrozole Brain Fog

Posted by lisman1408 @lisman1408, Jan 17, 2019

I started taking Anastrozole in October 2018 after radiation for stage 2 breast cancer. Has anyone had ‘brain fog’ or memory loss with this medication? If so, what have you done to relieve this annoying side effect?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

I found an NIH study titled “The Impact of Obesity on Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment” published on 2019 Mar 27. This is not the original study that I saw that implicated weight as a factor in BC treatment but this one is pretty good.

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@mglinkhart

This is my second go round with breast cancer. I took exemestaine the first time now I’m on Anastrozole and I’m losing my words again. Soo I told my family snd friends if I can’t remember a word I will say bucket instead and that way I don’t have to struggle trying to find the right word and they understand I can’t remember. It’s easier on all of us and I don’t get my feeling hurt.

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Great idea saves from the frustrations you get from not remembering

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@eku

A question I have is, I personally know many women in academia, research, teaching, management positions who are well beyond their menopausal age and doing a wonderful job. So, if cognitive decline is due to the lack of estrogen, how are we going to explain these brilliant women? If it is due to the estrogen blocking medication, then can we say that there's a difference between the cognitive decline due to menopause vs cognitive decline due to the estrogen blockers?

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Some women go through menopause with nary a symptom. Some women experience it as a nightmare. So perhaps this is due in part to varying levels of estrogen lost and/or retained. If a women starts out brilliant, she could go through mild menopause and still remain brilliant. I personally was on Anastrozole and then Letrozole. When I took a 30 day break from Letrozole i noticed the difference. And I dare say I still have my aha! moments but will struggle to come up with a particular word. Brilliant women can retain their brilliance, but they may just have to work a little harder at it. AI's don't make us stupid, but they do make us work harder.

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@ginip

So sorry you are experiencing the memory issue. Age itself is a challenge with this but I think Anastrozole is also a factor. I am 79 and in my second year with taking it.

In respect to people reminding you that they already told you something. What the heck!!! I decided i had enough on my plate without that kind of crap. I saw a friend endure this kind of thoughtlessness when another friend tried to respond. I wanted to scream at them. I told her to ask whoever challenges her to just say - I wanted to make sure you remember what you said. People who do this are usually friends or family. You deal with these occurrences as best you can but there is no reason for a person to wear a ‘scarlet letter’! Don’t be a victim. You have obviously noticed this setback which is a very important consciousness. You can challenge yourself and stimulate you brain in many ways.

I would say you are a very savvy person. Don’t fall into the trap of doubting yourself. Don’t be a victim. There is so much about you that deserves recognition. Start giving a greater value to that rather those in your life who have a problem repeating
themselves. 😂

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Thank you ❤️you made me feel stronger and not feel hurt by comments Mostly it’s my family who gets upset but I feel their afraid for me and scared they’ll lose me, on the other hand it upsets me more that I do have a problem ! 😞

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@rosy54

Thank you ❤️you made me feel stronger and not feel hurt by comments Mostly it’s my family who gets upset but I feel their afraid for me and scared they’ll lose me, on the other hand it upsets me more that I do have a problem ! 😞

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You are doing great! You are aware of the situation and are looking for a way to understand and remedy how you feel. Pat yourself on the back every chance you get. It is a good and useful act that you owe yourself!!❤️

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@ginip

You are doing great! You are aware of the situation and are looking for a way to understand and remedy how you feel. Pat yourself on the back every chance you get. It is a good and useful act that you owe yourself!!❤️

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I guess I never really talk about my cancer with friends n family unless you’ve gone through it I think you can’t connect on really suffered and the fear for how your life after is. I am so very happy I found this site I can be free with my feelings and truly feel the uncertainty and fear being diagnosed with the big C word

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@rosy54

I guess I never really talk about my cancer with friends n family unless you’ve gone through it I think you can’t connect on really suffered and the fear for how your life after is. I am so very happy I found this site I can be free with my feelings and truly feel the uncertainty and fear being diagnosed with the big C word

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We have all found each other. We have all found answers, comfort and understanding.

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@ginip

So sorry you are experiencing the memory issue. Age itself is a challenge with this but I think Anastrozole is also a factor. I am 79 and in my second year with taking it.

In respect to people reminding you that they already told you something. What the heck!!! I decided i had enough on my plate without that kind of crap. I saw a friend endure this kind of thoughtlessness when another friend tried to respond. I wanted to scream at them. I told her to ask whoever challenges her to just say - I wanted to make sure you remember what you said. People who do this are usually friends or family. You deal with these occurrences as best you can but there is no reason for a person to wear a ‘scarlet letter’! Don’t be a victim. You have obviously noticed this setback which is a very important consciousness. You can challenge yourself and stimulate you brain in many ways.

I would say you are a very savvy person. Don’t fall into the trap of doubting yourself. Don’t be a victim. There is so much about you that deserves recognition. Start giving a greater value to that rather those in your life who have a problem repeating
themselves. 😂

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❤️

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@mglinkhart

This is my second go round with breast cancer. I took exemestaine the first time now I’m on Anastrozole and I’m losing my words again. Soo I told my family snd friends if I can’t remember a word I will say bucket instead and that way I don’t have to struggle trying to find the right word and they understand I can’t remember. It’s easier on all of us and I don’t get my feeling hurt.

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Just curious, on the exemestaine (which I haven't heard of) -- was the recurrence due to failure of the drug? Sometimes this site is difficult because we hear of these results without knowing the usual bi-line clinical histories of the patients writing in. On the Johns Hopkins originated breastcancer.org forum, you fill out a bi-line history that goes with your name. You do have the option not to do so, but most people do, because it enables readers to pay special attention to those who have similar bc types and treatment histories.

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@mdr3

Just curious, on the exemestaine (which I haven't heard of) -- was the recurrence due to failure of the drug? Sometimes this site is difficult because we hear of these results without knowing the usual bi-line clinical histories of the patients writing in. On the Johns Hopkins originated breastcancer.org forum, you fill out a bi-line history that goes with your name. You do have the option not to do so, but most people do, because it enables readers to pay special attention to those who have similar bc types and treatment histories.

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I don't know about the Johns Hopkins site but I agree with you about the issue. That's why I recommend filling out the information in Profile & Settings. Things like the cancer type, how long since you've been diagnosed, the drugs you're on, etc. Very few people have this info though I understand people may not be comfortable to put it there.
When filled, you can just click on the user name of the people and see their details.

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