Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@anniez1943 I’ve never fought so hard and long to project just what you said “no one knows us better than us” as I fight both breast cancer AND a husband of 57 years who’s filed for divorce. It’s the greatest challenge I’ve ever faced. But it is what it is…the hand that was dealt me. I play each card in that hand as knowledgeably as I can every day that is left to me.
We -you and I- know what we’re capable of handling no matter what others think. We risk more than others think is safe and become stronger.
Wish we could sit together over a meal and a very long discussion. I live in SE Pennsylvania. Where are you? We could zoom??

@tinalove
I have had zero hair loss or thinning and have been taking Anastrozole for 10 months. Hope this helps you, Honey. Blessings.

@marshgirl24
I'm so glad to hear your good luck with Anastrozole. I'm almost 83 and also have been on it for 10 months. Maybe that was a good month to start. LOL Ive had almost zero side effects and those mimicked what I could get even if not on Anastrozole. So I'm a happy girl at this point. I had ductal carcinoma, had 30 rounds of radiation, a mastectomy with 15 lymph glands removed, one was cancer. My second round of same thing. First was 12 years ago. Just never know when it might strike again. I don't want a third. So happy that at least there are 2 of us who are doing pretty darn well on Anastrozole. Happy turkey day and God bless you always.

@mimi09
Hooray for you!!! No one knows us better than us. Especially at our age . I say "no" more than I've said it for most of my life. Now it's my favorite word. LOL. We're Oldies but Goodies. You go girl!!! Hugs back at ya!!!!!

@katrina123 I had a lumpectomy in 2016 and went on Tamaxifen. Like you, I got another cancer in the other breast anyway - 4 years later. I have been on Anastrozole for the last year or so and concerned it may not protect me.
I do understand it is not 100% protective, so I just have to hope for the best. I hope you will be ok also. It is urgent to catch these early.

Although I know some people have side effects, so far I have not had anything major and I've been on anastrozole 10 months. A friend of mine just switched from another AI and she too is relieved that she doesn't have the aches anymore. I guess it just depends. Our systems are all different. I'm 79 and I'd like to live long enough to go to my grandchildren's weddings. And I'd like to spend some years not dealing with cancer. If lobular comes back, "it isn't pretty." That was how my radiation oncologist put it. So I'm taking these pills. Don't like my hair and my thumbs are feeling funny. Don't like the thinning of my brows, but hey, I"m alive and looking forward to Thanksgiving. Recently I went on ChatGPT to get info on recurrence, fed them my stats (stage of tumor, treatment, etc) and it was amazing. I could see the sources spinning as it gathered data from the top medical resources. Some of you might want to try that. The site's free unless you use it all day. (I don' t know if I"m allowed to make suggestions like that on here. If not, sorry) I'm still not sure that all oncologists understand that lobular is different from ductal. Ductal can recur in 2-5 years (and for most, it does not come back) but lobular (if it's going to come back) comes back later and often in a distant site. Gulp. Give me those pills!

@anniez1943 I’m so glad that this is working out for you! My hats off to you at 83 as I’m 79 and find folks are amazed that I’m a fighter and stand up for myself! You sound like an independent woman so keep at it.
A quart of ice cream is what lifts me up on the rare occasion when I need a yummy boost. Hugs from afar!

I had Tamoxifen 5 years, then 2 years Anastrozole, don't have obvious side effect, stoped on 2019, recurrent on 2022. I don't know it tells Anastrozole works or not?

@katrina123
Like you I had estrogen positive cancer this summer and had a lumpectomy. I refused the radiation since my surgeon said all the margins were clear. Oncologist recommended it. I hope I won't be sorry later, but I didn't feel the need to go through it. To me it just seemed like they do it as a just in case they didn't get all the cancer. I was put on Anastrozole 1mg, but after 3 weeks I have decided to stop because of the side effects. I am a little worried doing that after reading that some of you had recurrence 4 years later. I don't drink, don't smoke and eat pretty healthy. Hoping that will keep me from getting it, but I may be totally wrong. I am willing to take that chance just so I can feel myself again and enjoy each day.

@briarrose
I really don't have a secret. Just made up my mind that Anastrozole was necessary to, hopefully, keep me from breast cancer for a third time. And I trust my oncologist completely. We are "working" on me together. I talk, she listens and then WE decide. I know that cancer is a horrible disease that I have no control over so I make myself think positive about most things, including what I can do in the present and if something would happen to me down the road, I know that I did my very very best. That's how Ive left it and my faith gets me thru any negative thoughts. I'm a super happy girl anyway, and happiness overpowers sadness. Plus, it's much healthier! I do lots of energy so I keep busy. Remember, if Anastrozole doesn't work for you, there are other AIs to try. My hair never got thin or fell out. I consider myself happy and so blessed. At my age, I want to have fun and live a great rest of my life and this cancer is just a rut in the road. You gals take charge of yourself and your bodies. I love you all!! Hugs