What happens when you stop taking anastrozole?

I was on anastrazole for five years stopped five months ago. No diahrea yippy no hot flashes it is much better I read the reports that five years is enough your decision. I stopped with no gradually just stopped you have to decide. I was bracca negative my sister had breast cancer but I was told five years is the choice

Thank you, you've been helpful!

I did very well I. Anastrazole for five years some stomache issue was my main issue some hair loss. Weight gain. Worth the treatment.

I am on anastrozole and fosomax. Been on both since Aug of 2022. Have osteoporosis in my hip which hasn’t changed much however my lower back went down a little. They still want me on this drug to help.
I haven’t had too much side effects other than a mild headache and joint pain. And sometimes mood swings with anastrozole it all goes back to menopause. Ugh. 😑 but some of the sides effects out way the recurrence hopefully.
Back off cancer we are women and we will show you to door. Praying for all of us to beat this disease.

Oh by the way I’m 59 years if this helps

@chiara58, that would be hard to distinguish which treatment is causing which side effects. Fatigue, hair loss and GI issues are know side effects of carbo-taxol. And some women have reported fatigue and hair thinning with aromatase inhibitors.

How long will you be on chemotherapy? May I ask which second cancer you're currently treating?

I started with an anal cancer in 2019, which has since then metastasized to liver (surgery in 2020) and now to lungs (chemo every 2 weeks)

Consider Exemestane. Also, the half life of anastrozole elimination is 50 hrs.
Ive been concerned about this since i was treated 10 years ago.
The half life is how long it takes to eliminate from your body.
So, when you take it on Monday, you have a full dose.
When you take it on Tuesday you Get a full dose and half of Mondays is in your body.
Discuss with your doctor:
1) can you consider changing to exemestane
But… you must discuss with the time. You may need a break from exemestane. Body builders are told only to be on it 3 months. Discuss the cardiology of this drug.
For a small minority, it can be a pro thrombotic.
It was for me after 4 years. In the ER with either an arterial spasm or blood clot. But im ok.
Or
2) take Anastrozole have every other day with drs consent.

These drugs ARE wreaking havoc with the bones. Doctors need to pay attention to the half life of these drugs. Its been going on for Years.

Blessings to finding a comfortable solution. 🌺

@chiara58, that's a rough row to hoe. You may also be interested in following the Colorectal Cancer support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/colorectal-cancer/

I was so ready to complete 5 yrs. The first 3 months were fine, then, fatigue hit so badly. I was a wet rag lying on the couch with encroaching depression. Then went off of drug as Christmas 2023 was approaching. Enjoyed not having that awful fatigue. Went back on Dec 29, and then finally gave up Jan 14, 2024. Having 3rd mtg w/team end of month. I'm going to opt for lumpectomy. Anastrozole REALLY worked. The sonogram nurse couldn't even find the left breast lump. Finally did, but commented on how it changed. The right breast was much larger and yet diminished by about 30%. If you can stand the drug, good for you. My quality of life was non-existent. Too tired to even join my crochet group.