Anastrozole usage

I wish you the best with the surgery. How are you doing waiting? Although usually I'm an impatient person, I found the wait before surgery a useful time to collect my emotions and get some practical tasks done. Does your oncologist have any suggestions as to different medications? You might also just ask and find out how much difference an estrogen inhibitor actually makes in your case. You'll also see if the hot flashes etc. eventually resolve without the anastrozole.

Thanks for your comment. Since anastrozole in the first 3 months shrank my tumor in the left breast so small they could hardly find it. And now on my right one it has shrunk a great deal to the point now where my breast looks entirely different. It looks normal. With thoughts from my surgeon I am not afraid of the surgery or even worried I guess. You see in my crochet group one woman and has had a double mastectomy, two have had lumpectomies, and one woman recently had a kidney removed. She showed me her scar and was back at the crochet table 3 days later. They have helped me so much and it was by accident or let's say Divine synchronicity that we all ended up together in a crochet group. The truth came out. They have been so helpful to me a in not worrying that I'm actually surprised at myself. My swimming has declined I'm only going about once a week just for a little exercise, I joined a bridge group, which I had been looking for and then all of a sudden it fell in my lap. Yes, I'm certainly hoping that these hot flashes go away fast but they're not so far. I'm feeling better everyday and the further I get away from Anastrozole or letrozole the better off I am right now.

Glad to hear from you! The crochet group sounds amazing, and supportive I bet(and creative too). Stay touch and tell us how you are doing as time moves on.

Yes, I'll stay in touch.
Sara B

After awful experience with letrozole, I started Anastrozole but only once every other day. Since then, I've found scientific paper that recommended it 3 days out of 7 since it has a longer half life than Letrozole. At first things were OK on Anastrozole but then ear pains, brain fog, big gain in weight and trigger fingers. I've now stopped Anastrozole. After 2 months, the brain fog has lifted, ears still a problem, and trigger fingers are slowly improving. Good luck.

I guess 3 months of anastrozole was good since it shrank everything, but after 3 months bad things happened. I agree with you I tried every other day like I said, but I'm still trying to get rid of some side effects 3 weeks later. I I guess it was worth it since the shrinkage was really noticeable and effective, but the side effects? After a while you begin to realize that it certainly doesn't have to be taken every other day but can be extended and then stopped and then effects are too much anyway. But I believe that we're being completely overdosed with anastrozole. You're another example. Good luck to you too.

My anastrazole experience so far, to make long story short: started daily May 2022 and other than hot flashes, no notable side effects through August 2023. Sept/Oct started with hip joint/hamstring pain which I assumed was chiropractic. End of Nov 2023 through Feb 6 2024 —with the exception of a single day—had aggressive, exhausting heart palpitations at least once or twice a day, lasting up to an hour or more. Complete cardio workup last week January and all was good. Also started that week a 4-week break from Anastrozole. Nine days after stopping no more palpitations at all. Looked at my online pharmacy history of anastrozole (90 day supply) found that in July 2023 my copay changed. Documented All this for pharmacist and sure enough, new manufacturer starting in July 2023. I am hoping switching back to the original provider will put me back to just minor side effects. Still have the joint pain though. Will start prescription again next week and stay hopeful the palpitations don’t return.