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Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole
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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@kathyomaha55
This may sound dumb, but I've been using Blue Emu cream on my hands which seems to help the joint pain somewhat. I also take turmeric capsules which help with pain as it's an anti-inflammatory. In addition, I do take magnesium glyconate which helps not only with constipation because it's a type of relaxant but may help with insomnia. I haven't had much trouble sleeping because I go to the bedroom about 9 p.m. and read with dimmed lights and then tend to fall asleep. I used to stay up watching TV and then had trouble sleeping. If you decide to trying any of the above though, check with your doctor first to be sure it's okay.
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1 ReactionTry getting plugs and prescription drugs for the dry eyes and cortisone shots may help your hands
Hang in there. It's a tough choice. I believe the rate of recurrence vs taking and not taking the AI's is based on the surgery, other treatments and stage and type of cancer.....so percentages vary by patient, but if you can tolerate the drugs you reduce recurrence.
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3 ReactionsI started on anastrozole in November. Only side effects so far to EASE, is dry eyes. No headaches, but I have the bad joint pain in my hands, shoulders and toes; insomnia (my doctor recommended benadryl at bed time); hot flashes have gone down from 15 a day to about 4 a day; Exercise does seem to help overall. But I swear my hands hurt so much sometimes, I want to stop taking it. But I do not want cancer again. One study compared people who had surgery & took an AI, vs. people who had surgery & took no further treatment. The re-occurrence rate was 40% in the people who took no AI's. So I guess that keeps me from stopping the meds. Hang in there.
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1 Reaction@appaloosagal as my new oncologist would say:"You gave it your best. Decide on quality of life"
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1 ReactionI started out on Tamoxifen Sept. 2015 it damaged my Liver. After being off of it for 6 months my Liver enzymes returned to almost normal. I then started Letrazole. The side effects were bad . So i started Anastrozole a year ago. The headaches, insomnia, and overall not feeling well.
I went off of it in March to give my body a rest. And got to feeling better. Could get the saddle on my big ole horse with no problem, months ago I could hardly lift it up there. I just started it back up May 11, and my headaches are back, tired, can't sleep at all. Joints hurt. I refuse to take another pill to help side effects, that have other side effects! I have hot flashes all the time.
I am trying to decide if I want to go off the meds permanently.
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1 Reaction@roch
I've been on letrozole (Femara) for 2 weeks now. Having joint pain and some fatigue, but strength training exercise seems to be helping with that, in fact, I actually worked in my vegetable garden yesterday harvesting a crop of fava beans and planting tomatoes, basil, and bell peppers! Hoping the horrific headaches and disequilibrium from Arimidex don't start up.
Better than me. After 8 weeks, my feet and legs hurt so much from Fermura. I am on Tomoxifen now. No joint pain
Update to previous post. After having bad side effects when taking Arimidex I am on Letrozole. Been on for 5 weeks and minimum side effects. Little bit of joint pain in hand and feet, but it is so minimum that it does not prevent me from doing anything.
Laurie
cindylb - did the oncologist suggest tamoxifen? I was taking aromasin every other day, but my oncologist said there are no studies to validate taking it every other day and put me on tamoxifen every day.