Has anyone dealt with the decision to stop Anastrozole due to joint pa

I took anastrozole for 7 months and had to stop. I had a mastectomy and radiation. 2 positive lymph nodes. Everyday I had worse symptoms. Joint and muscle pain. I couldn’t walk across the room. Eye problems. My heart hurt. I was extremely tired and dizzy. So tired I would just lay down wherever I was, even on the floor. I had horrible brain fog and couldn’t make decisions. I just couldn’t keep taking it. I keep going through oncologists and I don’t really know what the risk is of not taking it. Does anybody know what the risks are of not taking the anastrozole?

Each person's risk is different. It depends on the type of cancer, and all its variables. But your oncologist should be able to tell you clearly. Also there are other drugs that work the same way and may be more tolerable. Can you work with your current oncologist? They can explain the risk more clearly than I can and possibly offer you a different drug. I'm sorry the side effects were so bad, but you may still have understandable options.

My oncologists keep leaving and I’m “in between” oncologists right now. I posted all my side effects to my doctors message board trying to get someone to respond. A nurse finally got back to me and said someone would message me back.
I had invasive lobular breast cancer diagnosed in July 2024. I had a mastectomy in August 2024 and then radiation (33 visits) I chatted with the radiologist who showed me the cancer showed up in mammograms in 2017, 2019, 2022 (late mammogram due to Covid) and found in 2024. It had spread to 2 sentinel lymph nodes.
My oncologists that keep leaving are contractors working for my provider. They don’t even seem to want to talk to me.
This is really causing me some mental anguish.

Yes my Oncologist stopped the Anastrozole because I was getting body pains. I am now taking Tamoxifen and the side effects are concerning my tendons and weight gain. I am getting Trigger finger, which I just ignore but have noticed the tendons being affected in other areas of my body. I have one and a half years more to go before I can stop the medications. I am having trouble losing the weight. I do not over eat and eat healthy clean foods.

I am sorry this is happening to you. That sounds terribly frustrating! When your health is at stake, it is terrible when you can’t get the help you need. I hope you might find a caring doctor who can listen to your concerns and be of some help. SOON!
❤️

Hi cat168, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer in June 2024. I had mastectomy, chemo, radiation and now Letrozole with Verzenio. Really rough side effects, so I just stopped Letrozole, waited a month and now on Exemestane. Trigger fingers and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are the side effects. I seem to tolerate Exemestane better than Letrozole and taking every other day helps. Once I add in the Verzenio, the side effects were worsened with Letrozole and I haven't added it back in yet. For now, I'm going to make an appt. with Orthopedist to see how to help. I'm determined to stay on the aromatase inhibitors for now and again Exemestane is better for me.

You’ve been through a lot too. I admire you for staying with the Exemestame. Good luck with the orthopedist.
I have an appt next week and I’ll see what the new oncologist says.

Thanks cat, Keep us posted!!!

After2nd injection of Prolia my only symptoms this time is occasional hives, pain in my right hip and afternoon tiredness . But my mental state is bothering me with pretty often bouts of forgetfulness at my job
Is this normal or my age 75 or Prolia