Anastazole for breast cancer and memory loss?

Thank you. It’s top of my list to try. Just waiting till we get results of mri before doing any changes to meds. X

Where is your back pain located? Praying that your test is all clear.

I TOTALLY understand what you are experiencing. I have gone back and forth like a drunken ant and finally made what I call my Sophie’s Choice decision. Anastrozole did not offer me a quality of life that I could move forward with and experience. Prescribers challenged my thinking - I had a hiatus for 2 weeks and I am currently on a 3 month hiatus. Some side effects have ebbed considerably and others such as joint and specifically knees seems more challenging. If I had researched this drug in more detail I believe I would never have taken it. But no one other than the person taking it and experiencing these side effects can possibly realize where we are at this moment - not even myself to begin with. I have now researched how long I should have to deal with side effects once I have stopped taking Anastrozole. It seems that joint and muscle issues can take months. I just worry that while Anastrozole might block estrogen/hormones re Breast Cancer, it’s deprivation of hormones/estrogen in other areas that are deprived of estrogen/hormones aka arthritis in knees, back etc might invite issues. .
I have always been diligent my entire adult life in getting mammos. I of course will continue that diligence. I have an appointment today with a physical therapy group. I have a follow up manmo in September. I will continue to follow all new and exciting efforts to help me keep moving on in the OVERALL both mental and physical way possible. We are women who deserve to carry on through our earned definition of what quality of life means to us. Ever onward!!

Hi. I have been on Anastrozole fir nearly 2 years now. I do find I’m a bit more forgetful but it’s tge pain in my back when I’m walking that’s affecting me tge most. Painkillers are not working and last Saturday I was out on an immediate release morphine tablet. I had a bad reaction to it Sunday morning so
I’m off that now. I’m thinking very strongly of giving up the Anastrozole completely. I’m 71and b4 cancer I used to walk 20-30 kilometres a week. Now I’m luckily to walk to bus stop. Can anyone help please?

@ginip like you I took Anastrozole for 2 1/2 years and stopped due to affects on my Quality of Life. It is a hard and very personal decision. I did not have any fear mixed on w/ my decision. I have read comments ’if I could I’d stay on it forever’ Fear is utmost in that statement. Ppl are all different and effects are different. I applaud ppl that stay on the med for the protocol recommended time. It just didn’t work out for my body. Like you o could hardly walk or get in and out of the car. It took about 4-6 months, can’t remember exactly for my hip to get pain free and my body and mind to get back to my normal. I’m alternating between Mammograms & MRIs every 6 months, so screening & good Oncologist & surgeon checkups are being taken care of. Diet is very important and I’m working that. Diet improvements (choices) could improve done …but I’m human. 😀
I would like to hear more success stories of ppl taking Estrogen blockers as it seques the information and scares ppl. Let’s hear some positive stories. ❤️

The list of things I have wimped out of in my life has stayed pretty small at this point. I have not added this
chapter to my list yet.

Alternatives remain a choice. As you mentioned - diet and diligence with mammograms and MRIs remain viable options.

I will look forward to updates from you. ❤️

@ginip I’m not sure I’m reading your post correctly .. but making the Hard decision to go off estrogen blockers for any personal reason is just that personal. I wouldn’t say that it is Wimping Out. I do not want to make an issue of this, but let’s stay positive for all ladies that have to make these hard decisions for whatever reason. We do not know their stories of medical, family or work etc. Let’s support everyone of us going through this journey, no matter what. (I apologize to you If I misunderstood your wording/meaning)

I was using those words as an exaggerated example of where all my all my research and resulting confidence has brought me in finding and making my decision. It was a tongue in cheek expression that I meant to imply the complete opposite. I am so glad you flagged that. Appreciate it!

I researched “brain fog” and “muscle and joint” side effects. I was curious what else besides estrogen being blocked from the breast to help prevent breast cancer where else was being blocked from estrogen

It turns out that the benefits of Anastrozole which I was taking actually robbed estrogen from my brain and joints/muscles.

It explained so much to me re my muscle and joint issues. I was denying my muscles and joints of something they vitally needed - estrogen!

The Brain Fog was more subtle to me until I read my research further. My basic personality had changed and I thought it was depression from my continuing and progressive joint pain. It was more than that. Realizing how the brain needed estrogen gave me additional very important considerations as I entered a 3 month hiatus from Anastrozole sanctioned by my oncologist.

The results have given me my life back on some very consequential levels. I have another month on my hiatus and will then have a much more knowledgeable conversation with my oncologist.

Bottom line here is (in my opinion) Anastrozole (that I have been taking) doesn’t CAUSE brain issues and muscle/joint issues - it INVITES them. I was told continuously that it wasn’t Anastrozole that caused the pain I was experiencing - it was arthritis.
When researched it provided the more accurate explanation -
The lack of estrogen from Anastrozole was INVITING arthritis! My knee has come back to normal and my brain to appreciate the value of focus once again.