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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trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 30, 2019

In reply to @francine6829 "Better than me. After 8 weeks, my feet and legs hurt so much from Fermura. I..." + (show)

@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.

francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 30, 2019

Better than me. After 8 weeks, my feet and legs hurt so much from Fermura. I am on Tomoxifen now. No joint pain

Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | May 30, 2019

In reply to @roch "Welcome to Connect. I think the decision to take an AI for 3-5 years is one..." + (show)

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

francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 29, 2019

In reply to @gwinter "@cindylb, I am unable to take the blockers also. I changed oncologist over meds, also. I..." + (show)

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.

francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 29, 2019

cindylb - after your LCIS stage 0 cancer was diagnosed, what treatments did you receive?

gwinter | @gwinter | May 29, 2019

In reply to @cindylb "I couldn't take any of the hormone blockers and I will be 4 years from diagnosis..." + (show)

@cindylb, I am unable to take the blockers also. I changed oncologist over meds, also. I am one year free so far. I am going to try aromasin in a week just because of the new oncologist suggesting every 3rd day.
I was diagnosed with stage 1A ductal invasive last February 2018 and had a lumpectomy

cindylb | @cindylb | May 29, 2019

In reply to @leannz "Just curious. Are there any women out there who have discontinued Anastrozole (for whatever reason) and..." + (show)

I couldn't take any of the hormone blockers and I will be 4 years from diagnosis of invasive lobular breast cancer and mastectomy in November of this year. So far, so good but I guess the magic number is five years and then ten years after that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If I find out any different at my 6 month checkup in June, I'll let you know (I hope I have no news...that's the good news). Also, I was diagnosed original about 6 years ago with LCIS (Stage 0 cancer) and then I had invasive 2 years later.....I was unable to take Tamoxifen and unfortunately, I got invasive cancer......but, it's been clear sailing since treatment for my Stage 1 cancer. Hopefully that's not too confusing.
I would also love to hear from anyone else who was unable to or chose not to use the AI hormone blockers and how they are doing...either no recurrence or recurrence
Thanks for asking this question.

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?