Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

jeannie - I've been on it for 2 days - so far so good. If it doesn't work, you can stop anytime. I hated the other drugs too.

Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a 2nd opinion, but held off on it because it didn’t feel like the right person to ask. Yesterday I saw my primary for an upper respiratory thing and stated my concern and he gave me a name of someone totally outside the group. Anyway, I am now in the process of getting all the pathology reports together so that the appointment can be scheduled. I might not get a different answer but I’m really going to ask the doctor to drill down the risk/benefit of taking the AI. I’ll keep you posted.

Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a 2nd opinion, but held off on it because it didn’t feel like the right person to ask. Yesterday I saw my primary for an upper respiratory thing and stated my concern and he gave me a name of someone totally outside the group. Anyway, I am now in the process of getting all the pathology reports together so that the appointment can be scheduled. I might not get a different answer but I’m really going to ask the doctor to drill down the risk/benefit of taking the AI. I’ll keep you posted.

Just curious. Are there any women out there who have discontinued Anastrozole (for whatever reason) and experienced a recurrence of their breast cancer?

I couldn't take any of the hormone blockers and I will be 4 years from diagnosis of invasive lobular breast cancer and mastectomy in November of this year. So far, so good but I guess the magic number is five years and then ten years after that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If I find out any different at my 6 month checkup in June, I'll let you know (I hope I have no news...that's the good news). Also, I was diagnosed original about 6 years ago with LCIS (Stage 0 cancer) and then I had invasive 2 years later.....I was unable to take Tamoxifen and unfortunately, I got invasive cancer......but, it's been clear sailing since treatment for my Stage 1 cancer. Hopefully that's not too confusing.
I would also love to hear from anyone else who was unable to or chose not to use the AI hormone blockers and how they are doing...either no recurrence or recurrence
Thanks for asking this question.

@cindylb, I am unable to take the blockers also. I changed oncologist over meds, also. I am one year free so far. I am going to try aromasin in a week just because of the new oncologist suggesting every 3rd day.
I was diagnosed with stage 1A ductal invasive last February 2018 and had a lumpectomy

Welcome to Connect.

I think the decision to take an AI for 3-5 years is one of the harder decisions of dealing with Breast Cancer. I took Arimidex for 6 months prior to surgery as part of research study. As a result, I know the Arimidex did what it was suppose to do based on test results during diagnosis and then again after 3 months of Arimidex. With that being said, it came with side effects, for me it was depression.

I stopped taking after surgery, then did chemo and radiation. I have had multiple discussion with oncologist about AIs and have agreed to try Letrozole for a month and then will meet with oncologist again.

I am willing to try it, but if side effects are to severe, I will re-evaluate.

Everyone has different reactions to meds. And you hear more from those who have negative side effects then those with no problems. My sister had breast cancer and had no problems with AI.

Good luck
Laurie