Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

There are two types of aromatase inhibitors based on their structure:
- Steroidal inhibitors, such as exemestane (Aromasin)
- Nonsteroidal inhibitors, such as the anastrozole (Arimidex) and letrozole (Femara)

Here is one study comparing them:
- Aromatase Inhibitors: Are There Differences Between Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Aromatase Inhibitors and Do They Matter? (2008) http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/13/8/829.full

The study focuses on the mechanism of action and effectiveness. It doesn't discuss side effects.

I thought everyone might also appreciate this article about exercise and AIs:
- Exercise Helps Ease Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/exercise-helps-ease-ai-side-effects

@samy,- Samy, I definitely understand your indecision and hesitation about taking an AI drug. You are only 69, though, and to me, that's YOUNG! I'm nearly 75. I have a husband, daughter, son-in-law, and two beautiful young grandchildren. I tutor children during the week. I don't want to take the chance of having a recurring bout of cancer that could possibly take my life away. I've been on Arimidex for 15 months and I have good days and not so good days with the side effects. It seems from this forum that most of the AIs have similar side effects. I guess we all have to decide how we're going to tackle this and I hope some day, a better medicine will be discovered. For now, though, I have to choose staying on the ones that are now available to us. I truly do understand your quandary, though. I hope you stay with this forum, though. It is a comfort!

I am struggling with the same decisions

Thank you all for the replies. I’ll be asking a lot of questions of my oncologist (dear God, I can believe I have an oncologist). No doubt all my questions have been asked before by some other victim of this horror. 75% are good odds, but these stories are so distressing. If the day is filled with pain sufficient to debilitate, the cure is as bad or worse than the disease. I’ll be 69 in June, and it sure doesn’t sound like taking any of this poison until the age of 74 is worth it.

samy - Once you're settled in with your other treatments, give the Arimidex a try. You could be the person who has few if any side effects and yet you'll get the upside of lowering your recurrence. You don't know until you try. I wasn't able to use any of them BUT I'm allergic to many things (antibiotics is a big one) and I can't take ibuprofen anymore either (bleeding)......so I'm just not a 'pill girl'. I take no prescription meds at all and my doctors look terrified when they have to give me one, ha ha! Give them a try because you can always quit or change meds if you're having problems.
FYI - I was Stage 1 lobular on my right and LCIS on my left----we're like twins (only opposite?).
Hugs

68 is young! I have been on tamoxifin for two years, everything is manageable. Skin and eyes are drier, no hair loss and sometimes joint pain. Rather have those problems and fight for longer life witn my family, just my thoughts. I'm 61.

75% of patients have no side effects or they are mild enough that they take it for 5 yrs. 25% stop within the first 2 years from the side effects. I do know it can raise your blood pressure. Talk to your oncologist about your concerns. I'm going for the 5 years. Mainly it dries out your everything: hair, skin, eyes. I've have mild hair loss, and the joint pain (in my hands too!) so far it's all manageable. Radiation was okay for me too - just like a sunburn & some fatigue. Hang in there.

I have not been on Arimidex, but my understanding is that the side effects of AI are pretty much the same. Went on Letrozole for 6 weeks, and had too much joint pain to continue. Am now on Aromosin and am feeling pain but not as much as Letrozole. My advice is to give it a try. You can always stop. I found radiation to be a non event. Other than some redness, I breezed through it.

Hello. New member of the club, here. Stage 1 lobular on the left, LCIS right. Lumpectomy surgery couple weeks ago. The surgeon says radiation for a month and Arimidex for 5 years. I’m 68 and wondering if I should just do the radiation and screw the hormone stuff. Former smoker with mild COPD, currently on BP and cholesterol meds that are doing fine. The internet research of Arimidex is the reason I’m here. … and … frankly, you’ve all terrified me. Quality of life on this drug sounds like an absolute nightmare.

I had a very small amount of Estrogen. After speaking with Intergrative Medicine Oncologist, I found out the food we eat is full of hormones. The doctors aren't just concerned with the hormones we make but also those we get from our food! My Doctor has asked me to go organic, hormone free dairy and grass fed meats.