1. < Breast Cancer

Anastrozole experience: Any tips for managing side effects?

Posted by jessicanell @jessicanell, Sep 21, 2023

I’m about to start at 52. I don’t know if I’m in menopause bc I took hrt before being diagnosed w early stage bc. My labs say I am. And since stopping hrt no periods.

I hear about all the menopause symptoms it comes with including joint pain. Do any of you find it ok?

I heard Claritin can help w joint pain. Any other tips?

I’m getting a bone density scan before starting. Tell me your experiences please 🙏

Thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

lifetraveler | @lifetraveler | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @saraabrooks "My dosage is one Mg of an astrazole. The first 3 months they found an astounding..." + (show)
@saraabrooks

My dosage is one Mg of an astrazole. The first 3 months they found an astounding shrinkage in my left breast. The right one also went down about 20 percent. I am in my fourth month. I'm taking the pill.

Jump to this post

Hi! saraabrooks@saraabrooks:

I am taking this pill as well, but starting to have those awful side-effects that prompted me to consider cutting the pill in half daily... I am so amazed at the effectiveness of astrazole' shrinking the tumor for you in 3 months! Did you have surgery at all?

Thanks again for your insights to guide us! I am grateful you are my comrade in fighting this disease:)

REPLY
1 reply
saraabrooks | @saraabrooks | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @lifetraveler "Hi! saraabrooks@saraabrooks: I am taking this pill as well, but starting to have those awful side-effects..." + (show)
@lifetraveler

Hi! saraabrooks@saraabrooks:

I am taking this pill as well, but starting to have those awful side-effects that prompted me to consider cutting the pill in half daily... I am so amazed at the effectiveness of astrazole' shrinking the tumor for you in 3 months! Did you have surgery at all?

Thanks again for your insights to guide us! I am grateful you are my comrade in fighting this disease:)

Jump to this post

My doctor and I talked about eventual lumpectomy. She indicated it was my decision, but she has to admit she like to see me extend my time on anastrozole since I made such tremendous progress the first 3 months. Lumpectomy is definitely in the future. Even though she can't find it in my left breast without a small clip being associated with it that they inserted for location purposes. She doesn't rule out lumpectomy, but the advantages of shrinking it so small means easier surgery, more of the breast is saved, and perhaps a happier outcome. The key thing that struck me and all the things that I've read is the fact that it has a 50 hour half life. Because it holds in your body for that long after you stop taking it means every other day is very feasible to me. But then it is not in my lymph nodes, and it's staying put. It has not metastasized . Every person is different. Good luck on your journey. As things change I will be posting them on this site. Thanks.

REPLY
1 reply
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @jayne1959 "When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my..." + (show)
@jayne1959

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

Jump to this post

The propolis in VMagic is interesting. I hope more research is done on it because it could be a great ingredient. WebMD says some people find it irritating, so not sure if I’d buy a tube with it in it. But great properties otherwise. The rest of VMagic is oils (which I’ve tried and not helpful) and beeswax. I have a EltaMD moisturizer that has beeswax and petrolatum in it, and it melts to runny when applied on warm skin.
Right now I don’t need anything because tamoxifen is acting as an agonist in my vaginal area and it is like it was premenopause. I’m 19 years post menopause- the likely reason tamoxifen acts this way in my body. I’ve just lowered my tamoxifen dose and fear that I’ll lose this benefit.

REPLY
lifetraveler | @lifetraveler | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @saraabrooks "My doctor and I talked about eventual lumpectomy. She indicated it was my decision, but she..." + (show)
@saraabrooks

My doctor and I talked about eventual lumpectomy. She indicated it was my decision, but she has to admit she like to see me extend my time on anastrozole since I made such tremendous progress the first 3 months. Lumpectomy is definitely in the future. Even though she can't find it in my left breast without a small clip being associated with it that they inserted for location purposes. She doesn't rule out lumpectomy, but the advantages of shrinking it so small means easier surgery, more of the breast is saved, and perhaps a happier outcome. The key thing that struck me and all the things that I've read is the fact that it has a 50 hour half life. Because it holds in your body for that long after you stop taking it means every other day is very feasible to me. But then it is not in my lymph nodes, and it's staying put. It has not metastasized . Every person is different. Good luck on your journey. As things change I will be posting them on this site. Thanks.

Jump to this post

Wow! This is such an excitingly wonderful information to share with us, thanks again:))

Even though I already went through the breast surgery myself, I am so happy for you, Saraabrooks! For the effectiveness of Anastrozole brings out such a wonderful hope for us all!

Best wishes on your journey ahead! Wishing all my comrades in this war of fighting cancer a safe, happy and healthy journey!

REPLY
myoga | @myoga | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @jayne1959 "I had read this as well and mentioned this to my Oncologist but he laughed and..." + (show)
@jayne1959

I had read this as well and mentioned this to my Oncologist but he laughed and said it had nothing to do with it.
Thank you for your reply.

Jump to this post

I would say to your oncologist that science wouldn't have advanced to this level today with people like him. The fact that you have experienced uti while taking Arimidex indicates that there may be a correlation between them. For a doctor to dismissed it, even after you presented the article to him, he must be a knucklehead.

REPLY
jayne1959 | @jayne1959 | Feb 2, 2024
In reply to @jayne1959 "When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my..." + (show)
@jayne1959

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

Jump to this post

I’m definitely not happy with his bedside manner.
Hopefully after my 5 years are up this August I’ll be done with him.

REPLY
eaglewings22 | @eaglewings22 | Feb 3, 2024
In reply to @triciaot "MD Anderson does not recommend topical Estradiol cream if someone has had ER+ cancer. They will..." + (show)
@triciaot

MD Anderson does not recommend topical Estradiol cream if someone has had ER+ cancer. They will not prescribe it. My Baylor Scott & White PCP also will not prescribe topical cream but will write a prescription for the vaginally inserted tablets. I believe the research that says little is absorbed systematically is based on the inserted tablet.
I have not found the tablet to be very helpful to me. It may increase moisture inside, but does little to nothing in the outer area that gets a lot of friction.

Jump to this post

My doc at MDA was fine with my using a small amount of Estrace cream in spite of my ER+ ILC…I think it depends on the diagnosis and doc.z

REPLY
1 reply
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Feb 3, 2024
In reply to @eaglewings22 "My doc at MDA was fine with my using a small amount of Estrace cream in..." + (show)
@eaglewings22

My doc at MDA was fine with my using a small amount of Estrace cream in spite of my ER+ ILC…I think it depends on the diagnosis and doc.z

Jump to this post

Thanks for the info. Might be useful in the future, I’m not having problems right now. Are you on endocrine therapy?

REPLY
1 reply
eaglewings22 | @eaglewings22 | Feb 3, 2024
In reply to @triciaot "Thanks for the info. Might be useful in the future, I’m not having problems right now...." + (show)
@triciaot

Thanks for the info. Might be useful in the future, I’m not having problems right now. Are you on endocrine therapy?

Jump to this post

Yes, on AI’s but not daily…my side effects on anastrozole have been horrendous so we are trying a lower dose…

REPLY
1 reply
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Feb 3, 2024
In reply to @eaglewings22 "Yes, on AI’s but not daily…my side effects on anastrozole have been horrendous so we are..." + (show)
@eaglewings22

Yes, on AI’s but not daily…my side effects on anastrozole have been horrendous so we are trying a lower dose…

Jump to this post

I hope you find the dose that’s tolerable! I had a choice of either tamoxifen or an AI and I’m on tamoxifen because the AI scared me more. But the AI is known to be more effective so it’s a good choice!
Wishing you relief from the side effects with the lower amount!

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.