Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

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.

my doctor was the one who recommended Aromasin over Femura. I have not found any studies that discussed the steroid effect of aromasin so I don't know if there is enough steroid to make a difference.

Yes, I have read everything on line about exemestane. It doesn't go into enough detail about the steroid

francine6829 - Whether the doctors recommend staying on the AI's does depend on the Stage and Grade of your cancer, the treatment you received and your side effects. In my case, Stage 1 cancer, my recurrence risk (according to statistic, which are only one consideration and the genomic testing of my cancer) I am 'low risk'. The AI's would essentially reduce my risk of recurrence by 40-50% but my risk was already low at 6%, so it helped me with my decision. Serious side effects or going from 6% to about 3% risk was not worth it for me. That's not many people's situation I realize. If your risk is higher then of course, if you can get through the AI use, then reducing that risk is paramount.
I opted for a bi lateral mastectomy which put me in a situation to have some options on follow up treatment. But my cancer was lobular and had presented in both breasts over time, so .............opting for the mastectomy was also an easier decision.
There are so many factors to consider in treatment. My doctors would have preferred I stay on AI's as well. Their job is to eradicate cancer and their benchmark for success with their patients is treating and keeping cancer at bay.
Hugs to you. I hope you can keep on the full course of AI treatment and give cancer a good kick in the pants!