Anyone experience mood swings and nervousness with Anastrozole?

As a cancer patient dealing breast cancer reoccurrence for the third time - over 30 years - fighting to survive. The stories on this platform are heart breaking to hear the suffering of cancer patients - it is time for a new approach. As we all know the field of oncology is the specialized branch of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. While remarkable advances have been made, many conventional treatments have historically prioritized attacking the tumor while giving less attention to protecting the whole body and long-term wellness. For women with hormone-sensitive breast cancers, therapies that dramatically lower estrogen levels (such as aromatase inhibitors or ovarian suppression) are associated with increased risks of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive issues, according to multiple studies. Beyond these long-term risks, standard treatments frequently cause significant quality-of-life burdens, including hair loss, skin changes, constipation, vaginal dryness, insomnia, joint and muscle pain, hot flashes, fatigue, and depression. These side effects can leave patients feeling as though they are trading one serious problem for another. As cancer patients and advocates, believe it is time to push the medical community toward treatments that strengthen our natural immunity rather than solely relying on approaches that can weaken the body’s defenses. We need therapies that work with the immune system to help eliminate cancer while better preserving overall health and vitality. One highly promising option is ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), developed by ImmunityBio and often referred to by patients as part of the “Cancer BioShield” platform. It is currently FDA-approved (in combination with BCG) for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ, with or without papillary tumors. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, ANKTIVA works by activating and expanding natural killer (NK) cells and T cells — the body’s own cancer-fighting immune cells. This helps restore immune function and has been shown in clinical studies to reverse lymphopenia (low lymphocyte counts), which contributes to weakened immunity in many cancer patients. Encouraging data continues to emerge from ongoing trials: In non-small cell lung cancer, combinations with checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated meaningful immune restoration (increased absolute lymphocyte counts) and improved overall survival in patients who had progressed on prior therapy.
In recurrent glioblastoma (brain cancer), early pilot data combining ANKTIVA with targeted NK cell therapy and tumor-treating fields showed 100% disease control in the first five patients treated (including two near-complete responses).
It is also being investigated in breast cancer (including triple-negative) and other solid tumors.

Many cancer patients experience significantly lowered white blood cell counts (WBC), often dropping well below the normal adult range of 4,000–11,000 cells/μL — sometimes to 1,000 cells/μL or lower — due to the disease and/or treatment. By boosting key immune cells, therapies like ANKTIVA offer a path to help rebuild the body’s natural defenses. All cancer patients need to discuss ANKTIVA and other immune-boosting approaches with your oncologist.
Ask about eligibility for clinical trials or the FDA-authorized Expanded Access Program (compassionate use), which is available for certain patients with solid tumors experiencing lymphopenia or limited options.
Advocate for faster development and broader access to treatments that enhance, rather than suppress, natural immunity.

This is not about rejecting proven cancer therapies — it is about integrating strategies that allow us to fight cancer more effectively while protecting our quality of life. We can and must move toward a model that empowers the body to “heal thyself” by strengthening its own immune capabilities alongside conventional care. Together, patients can help drive this important shift in cancer treatment.

Sorry for such a long rant - I am worn out by breast cancer and trying to survive the treatments. Wishing all healing and health.

Horrible side-effects for me.discontinuing. Researching more but I'm joining the "placebo" group...table 1 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10637036/
We have to do all the digging ourselves unfortunately. I wish I trusted the efficacy of the drug more. Side effects of anxiety, depression, dread after 2 weeks had to stop.

I experienced the following reactions
to Anastrozole after 30 days
- Pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in genitalia and anal area
- Felt, weak and tired in arms/legs
- Frequent urination (6 - 8 times per hr)
- Loss control of bodily functions
- Couldn’t lift off toilet
- Fell down flight of stairs
- Lack of appetite
- Dizzy, lightheaded, and extreme tiredness
My reactions were so debilitating that I stopped taking anastrozole and felt immediate relief. Tamoxifen is now prescribed.

My doc said 5 years. Tried anastrazole, then letrozole, then exemestane and now on Tamoxifen. Each has its own issues. On my last visit, I told him I could most likely muddle through the tamoxifen, and that was after I had been off of it for 2 weeks pending knee surgery and I guess I was feeling pretty good. A week later I began having terrible leg and foot cramps every night and morning, sometimes making it difficult to walk up and down steps. I mentioned some take it for 10 years, and he said you most likely will want to take it for 10 years. I think....they start by telling us 5 years so it won't seem so daunting. If I make it to the 2 year mark, in August, I will keep trying a month at a time but with no guarantees. I dislike being befuddled, aging it seems 5 years for every 1, and having leg cramps and CONSTIPATION! My GP told me to drink 90 oz of water a day...and to take fiber and miralax nightly. I am about to go abroad and am trying to wrap my mind around carrying all this stuff around during that 2 week period. 5 years is enough damage to all of our organs due to lack of all estrogen. We must have some estrogen to live!

I had a mastectomy and chemo in 2024. Am at 2 yrs with follow up treatment, first with Anastrazole, had to stop at 4 months due to trigger thumbs, etc. I have been on Exemestane since then. I am almost 86. Just saw my oncologist and of course she said it is up to me if I continue or not. I asked for my percentages of recurrence if I stop. That she said is 1 in 5 chance of recurrence. If I continue on the drug, my chances drop to 3-6%. I said I would continue until I see her in a few months. So, am going at this a few months at a time. I am experiencing mood swings, stiffness, hair thinning. I do think some of the severity has ebbed a little. Too much sugar makes it all worse. I am sleeping better since taking it with my evening meal. My mood is better if I keep busy, which I am a very busy person. In my slow schedule times, I keep a jigsaw puzzle going, read, communicate with friends by phone, visit housebound or ill friends and sometimes have a good old cry. It helps me most to find gratitude in as much as I can. Hang in there everyone, as we walk this path that only those who experience it can understand.

@aubreybill you are a great researcher. Wish I could connect with you. Very confused upcoming decision

Omg I have been on anastrazole for 3 months. Initially, I was experiencing anxiety, which is something i've never experienced before.I even got panic attacks. Luckily, the doctors were able to give me a medication that I was on for a short term.And now that is gone. The one thing that I don't understand is the crying that comes out of nowhere. That happened over a month ago.And then it went away and I was feeling good. As of Sunday is crying spells are coming out of nowhere and I don't know why, but it bothers me so much. I keep asking myself, what's wrong with me? But it sounds like this is part of the medication that i'm on. Would love to hear more about what you're going through.

I am trying really hard. My radiation oncologist said this would take about 9 months to "begin" to feel better. I exercise, eat healthy, and am trying. I am just soooo fatigued. I keep a smile and boy do I hurt! This is so frustrating to me. Last night we went to see the sunset on the beach. Everyone went in the water but the waves were a bit rough and I was unable to get into the water; I took a walk instead on the beach. I kept my smile and am grateful for that. My left unbreast really hurts after the double mastectomy as do my legs, feet, hands, and shoulders. I just feel so "spent" all the time.

@lastgrand1
Don't switch quickly, give your body a chance to catch up medically! I am on Exemestane, little to no side effects with a PROPEL chaser. It's a water supplement with electrolytes. It's a game changer. My Oncologist is on Propel! But, ask your doctor. Take meds roughly same time each day, with a whole bottle of Propel. you use the bathroom as little more for a few hours but that subsides. I take it at lunch, as I am busier in the afternoon, so I am not concentrating as much on what's this going to do! It seems to be working fine. Ask your doctors and good luck!

@aubreybill I believe this is the drug that was developed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. He was recently on the Chris Cuomo show. I think this doctor is really onto something with his drug Anktiva. For anyone who hasn't seen the Chris Cuomo show, I believe it is viewable on You Tube and I highly recommend watching it. I understand that Saudia Arabia recently approved this drug for cancer treatment as well. This doctor has been pushing for FDA approval for a very long time and he is regularly flooded by requests for treatment in his CA clinic. He simply can’t handle all the dire requests he receives for treatment and it is heartbreaking to see. So if you can and are interested, I know Chris Cuomo did a show recently for one hour on cancer where Dr Soon-Shiong was there along with other medical professionals. I think this particular cancer show is viewable as well on You Tube.