Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@colleenyoung Hi~ I met with the medical oncologist twice (once before the surgery and then again afterwards). I tried to give her a very full picture of who I was medically because I knew that these medications could potentially impact certain systems. My husband keeps saying that “she really doesn’t know me” and to some extent I agree with him. She really wanted to push the Tomoxifen but I pushed back because of the family history but even her response to that was that I could talk to my cardiologist but she didn’t think it would be a problem. I put my foot down and why would my cardiologist make that call? I don’t want to trade one problem for another! I know the liver info was presented to her because I see it in the clinical notes (patient portal). It wasn’t until I read the drug info sheet that patient should notify doctor if they have certain conditions that I started to worry that there might be an oversight. I don’t have liver disease, but those elevated enzymes continue to be monitored by my gastro/primary. Anyway, I called the oncologist’s office yesterday morning to ask my questions and I’m still waiting for an answer from the doctor - more than 24 hours later I am still waiting...that does not make me happy. So I will wait...and maybe consider a second opinion...I don’t know...

@monical my appt yesterday with a new oncologist, the first thing he said is he doesn't use tamoxifen with only pre menopause women and he called it old school.
My first oncologist asked me right away if I have ever had blood clots or high blood pressure because he was going to give me tamoxifen as soon as I said no he crossed it off.
Please please please either go for second opinion or push for an answer!
Unfortunately, we have had to learn to be self advocates!

Gwinter - pl clarify- are you now on tamoxifen or are you planning to start taking tamoxifen ?

@francine6829 he crossed off tamoxifen for me because I had blood clots on birth control pills when I was 18. I tried anastrozole and had terrible side effects; so I am now going to try aromasin (sp ) every 3rd day.

@monical, I completely agree with @gwinter when she says to consider a second opinion or push for answers. Is getting a second opinion an option for you?

@colleenyoung Well a phone call is going out first thing in the morning to ask why I haven’t heard anything yet. As far as a second opinion...I don’t think that would be very easy. This doctor comes highly recommended and while there are other oncologists, they are all part of the same breast center, so I’d have to go out of the region. And then there is the surgeon...who works with the oncologist...such a snowball effect. I am hoping to get my care on track because it’s going to be a long haul.

@monical @colleenyoung
Hi, monical -- I felt similarly at sea and frustrated as to how to get a second opinion, but I asked my surgeon (who I liked and trusted) for an out-of-network recommendation, and she was more than willing to do so. Turned out to be someone about a half mile away who took my appointment within a day. Be sure to bring your records and test results with you for his/her reference. Surprisingly, this second oncologist never charged me, but spent almost an hour talking with me!

My oncologist surgeon did a mammoprint test and the results came back excellent. I am meeting with him next week. Have any of you changed your hormone therapy based on your mammoprint test results? I am am on my second AI (Aromosin) and still have pain. Was on Femura first which caused horrible joint pain.

I am unfamiliar with a mammoprint test. Can you tell me what this is?

It’s a test, similar to Oncotype performed on breast tissue to help make treatment decisions. I had to ask my doc to give me the test. It was not offered.