1. < Breast Cancer

Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

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leannz | @leannz | May 29, 2019

Just curious. Are there any women out there who have discontinued Anastrozole (for whatever reason) and experienced a recurrence of their breast cancer?

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1 reply
francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @monical "Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a..." + (show)
@monical

Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a 2nd opinion, but held off on it because it didn’t feel like the right person to ask. Yesterday I saw my primary for an upper respiratory thing and stated my concern and he gave me a name of someone totally outside the group. Anyway, I am now in the process of getting all the pathology reports together so that the appointment can be scheduled. I might not get a different answer but I’m really going to ask the doctor to drill down the risk/benefit of taking the AI. I’ll keep you posted.

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Yes, please do - ask him about AIs and also Tomoxifen

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sparklegram | @sparklegram | May 22, 2019
In reply to @monical "Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a..." + (show)
@monical

Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a 2nd opinion, but held off on it because it didn’t feel like the right person to ask. Yesterday I saw my primary for an upper respiratory thing and stated my concern and he gave me a name of someone totally outside the group. Anyway, I am now in the process of getting all the pathology reports together so that the appointment can be scheduled. I might not get a different answer but I’m really going to ask the doctor to drill down the risk/benefit of taking the AI. I’ll keep you posted.

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@monical- I'll be very interested to know what the second opinion doctor has to say. Please do post it.

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monical | @monical | May 22, 2019

Update: I was originally going to ask the surgeon for the name of someone for a 2nd opinion, but held off on it because it didn’t feel like the right person to ask. Yesterday I saw my primary for an upper respiratory thing and stated my concern and he gave me a name of someone totally outside the group. Anyway, I am now in the process of getting all the pathology reports together so that the appointment can be scheduled. I might not get a different answer but I’m really going to ask the doctor to drill down the risk/benefit of taking the AI. I’ll keep you posted.

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2 replies
jeannie53 | @jeannie53 | May 21, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "jeannie - I've been on it for 2 days - so far so good. If it..." + (show)
@francine6829

jeannie - I've been on it for 2 days - so far so good. If it doesn't work, you can stop anytime. I hated the other drugs too.

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@francine6829 Good luck to you please keep me posted if you don't mind. I think I'll start it in June and see how it goes.

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trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 21, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Yes, I walk and take 2000 units of vitamin D daily. Hanging in there on Arimidex." + (show)
@sparklegram

Yes, I walk and take 2000 units of vitamin D daily. Hanging in there on Arimidex.

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@sparklegram
That is great..I'm so happy for you...you go girl!

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sparklegram | @sparklegram | May 21, 2019

Yes, I walk and take 2000 units of vitamin D daily. Hanging in there on Arimidex.

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 21, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "On Femura, I had terrible debilitating joint pain starting at 3 weeks. At 6 weeks my..." + (show)
@francine6829

On Femura, I had terrible debilitating joint pain starting at 3 weeks. At 6 weeks my oncologist took me off. I hope it works for you

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I had a lot of joint pain on the anastrozole, but vitamin D and walking helped me with that. lI am hopeful, but realistic!

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 21, 2019

On Femura, I had terrible debilitating joint pain starting at 3 weeks. At 6 weeks my oncologist took me off. I hope it works for you

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 21, 2019
In reply to @jeannie53 "I was on anastrozole for 6 months dealt with the terrible joint and muscle pain and..." + (show)
@jeannie53

I was on anastrozole for 6 months dealt with the terrible joint and muscle pain and finally said I'm done! The doctor has now given me Tamoxifen and I am just scared to try it she told me I should have stopped it as soon as I noticed the pain. I'm 65 years old have not taken anything since March and just can't bring myself to take this drug. I guess I have to bite the bullet but am terrified of the side effects.

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@jeannie53
I was on anastrozole for 1 month with all-day splitting headaches and then wound up with diverticulitis! Oncologist gave me a few weeks off and am just now starting on letrozole (Femara). Hot flashes and sweats I can take, but hopig NO headaches!

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