Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@kathyomaha55 - great explanation, clear & concise and necessary. Thanks a million.

@kathyomaha55 - timing is everything! I’ve been wrestling with the decision to stop the AI. After reading your explanation I began thinking of my teenage son who fought bone cancer so bravely for 4 years and my twin sister who passed from brain cancer. Your info certainly helped make my decision to stay on the AI. Once again Thank you❤️

I have my anastrozole meds prescribed today and don't wish to take them, but am going to try them. In addition to my invasive breast cancer, I have an additional one "neuroendocrine" cancer for which my oncologist was quite adamantly telling me I need this and that we can play around with the different ones. Just had my PET scan and it shows no mets elsewhere, but I also need a brain MRI to be sure no mets there. So thank you for all the input ladies regarding exercise and importance of AIs combating cancer recurrence.

This is how my oncologist explained it. I had a lumpectomy and 21 radiation treatments. She said surgery reduces the chances of it returning by 80%; radiation reduces the remaining 20% change by 50%, so now it's a 10% chance. The AI drug reduces that remaining 10% by another 50%. So now we're at a 95% chance it will not return. I hope I explained it correctly - but each treatment - reduces the chance. I hope to take it for a full 5 yrs at least. Only you can decide what risk to take. And I agree discuss this with your doctor. Not everyone has the side effects listed. And some are very livable - dry eyes & losing some hair. It's worth my life to me,. ALSO - if it returns, it will not necessarily be Breast cancer - it will come back in your Brain, Bones, Liver or Lungs. Keep that in Mind. If your doctor didn't tell you that - shame on them. Also keep in mind 85% of BC is now cured.

@kathyomaha55
Just an addition to your post: I am told that that cumulative risk of recurrence, post-treatments, appears to depend on the original pathology report upon diagnosis (in particular, the TN). For example, women diagnosed with T1 cancer with zero positive lymph nodes had less than a 1% risk of distant recurrence (brain, bone, liver, lung, etc.) per year for 5 to 20 years years after diagnosis. This works out to be a cumulative risk of distant recurrence of 13 % 20 years after diagnosis.

Hormone receptors, HER2 status, and which treatments were given, also influence the statistics on recurrence. (The mind reels....)

The original cancer can return to the same breast or the other one, or elsewhere. Interestingly, if it recurs in a lung, for example, it still is considered breast cancer and is treated accordingly. Amazing....

My oncotype DX score was 22, so there was no Chemo needed (it would not improve my survival rate). I was ER+, PR+ and HER2 Negative. I'm not sure of the TN - I need to go review my paperwork. They did do genetic testing. I had no genes for BC but some family history. I agree Each treatment and person can be different.
I went to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which takes a team approach to each cancer patient, The whole team decides together - what treatments will be best for each person. Team consists of Surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, Social worker, genetic specialist, and others. I was Stage 1 but grade 3. Each person needs to discuss with their doctor and have a feeling of trust with their doctor. My worst side effect so far is the joints in my hands hurt, it only started a few weeks ago. I've taken the drug for about 5 months. I'm only 63 - I want to be around a lot longer.....

@kathyomaha55 did your team ever suggest hysterectomy? Your whole case is so close to me! I am almost 65 but was grade 2. Going to try aromasin or only next week!

No - but I see my surgeon in May, I'll discuss it with her. My next oncologist visit is in July. I am having hot flashes, but they seem to be lessening somewhat. They don't bother me as much overnight. I was getting like 1 an hour after surgery & radiation. I've been in menopause since I was 39. I did have IDC.

I took that drug, it made my knees and joints hurt so bad that I could not walk, I had to change drugs, I am now on Letrolzole, it has side effects too but so far nothing like the anastrozole. I lost my hair, it's not coming back very well, my last treatment was in April 2015.