I hope you are all having better days. I am 65 years old & been on anastrozole for 13 months. I started to experience increased fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, increased joint pain, depression, thinning hair, & dry skin within the first few months. I had a small lumpectomy in Sep 2016 for pleomorphic LCIS, which is treated as DCIS, but the margins weren't clear enough. My husband passed away Dec 2016 after 3 1/3 years of declining health & becoming an invalid with me as the primary caregiver/health navigator/saddening wife & best friend. I then had a larger lumpectomy with reconstruction in Feb 2017 and concurrently started hormone therapy. Breast reduction of the left breast was done at the same time of the last lumpectomy because the amount of right breast tissue taken was so large, there was gross disparity in size. Due to healing problems with the surgical sites, I couldn't start radiation therapy til Jun 2017. I couldn't discern if the symptoms were grief, hypothyroid, arthritis, fibromyalgia, aging, radiation, &/or anastrozole. I have just developed new onset moderate to severe hand pain within the last month or so. In addition to an active prayer life, I take a medication regimen that keeps me balanced, positive, moving, & functional - antidepressants (Cymbalta, welbutrin), trazodone (sedative to get to sleep), D3, gabapentin, Armour (thyroid), aspirin, Ubiquinol (CoQ10), Aleve, fish oil, joint support formula, & of course, anastrozole. I take other meds for bladder control & GI reflux. I'm counting the months until the 5 years are up to see what all goes away or decreases. In the meantime, I don't want any form of cancer so I will do what the oncologists/surgeons deems most appropriate & tolerate the SE. "May the wind be at your back, the sun in your face, and the love of God in your heart!"

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