Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

First time I heard about someone taking an AI prior to surgery

I was on arimidez for a study after breast cancer diagnoses and prior to surgery. The depression was terrible, but stayed on for 6 months. I stopped taking right before lumpectomy surgery and depression improved within days. After surgery had chemo and currently doing radiation. My oncologist wants me to take arimidez again when radiation is done and I will probably give it another try, but very concern about depression side effects.

Laurie

@elizm, thank you for your reply. Since my diagnosis of breast cancer in May, 2018, I've been non stop afraid and depressed. My gp has put me on anti anxiety pills once a day but doesn't seem to be working. Well, maybe a little. The panic attacks have lessened. I guess I thought once everything was done with. I'd be back to my old self. Not the case at all and I miss my old self :(. I will be starting telephone counselling next Wednesday so will see how that goes.

I didn't know that......thanks for correcting that on here. I thought it was only for post menopausal woman. It's good to know that is an option.

@francine6829 They also use tamoxifen for post-menopausal as it does stop estrogen production, but the pills of choice by most oncologists are aromatase inhibitors.

I am 65 in very good health and fit. My heart, blood pressure is excellent. If the choice no AI vs taking tamoxifen, we will see what he says

I’ve been following a lot of activity of this topic in recent days and weeks and I share the fears and concerns of everyone on here. I am currently 38 months past the lumpectomy for my Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, Stage 1A. I had 20 radiation treatments, no chemo, and started on Arimidex right after the radiation was complete. I “endured” 26 months on that drug before making the decision to discontinue. I stopped first and told my oncologist afterwards. While she did not agree with my decision, I will have to say she “accepted” my decision based on believing I was informed enough and educated enough to understand the risks and benefits of my decision. It has been 10 months since I stopped. Before stopping, I made a list of every side-effect I was experiencing. That list was over two typed pages. (I handed this list to my oncologist so she would understand exactly what I was feeling.) I experienced every side-effect mentioned in the last many posts on this site and probably a few that weren’t mentioned.

I believe quality of life is a vital and valid concern for everyone making their decision about this drug. My surgeon told me she felt I was in a very good place in terms of risk of recurrence. None of us “gets out alive” so the idea of suffering with joint pain, anxiety, osteoporosis, weight gain, hair thinning, swelling in hands and feet (new shoe size, had to get rings re-sized), insomnia, mood-swings, hot flashes, excruciating leg cramps, and a few other things that escape me at the moment - this was not the way I wanted to live my life. My husband and I retired one year before my diagnosis and we both want to enjoy the best of what our remaining years have to offer. I stand by my decision to stop the medication. I feel better because of that decision. I still am under the watchful eye of my doctors so, if there is an issue in future, I will be able to jump in and deal with it early on.

Modern medicine is finding new treatments all the time. When, and if, I go down this road again, I hope and pray my options will be better for me. Until then, I believe in the quality of living this day - and every other day I may have - to the greatest level I can.

@cindylb
AMEN!

@karendb
Hi, Karen. Yes, I have had a few bouts of depression, too, but I am unable to determine if that is due to the Arimidex or due to the issues from chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. My solution was to recognize it for what it was (a likely side effect as opposed to a serious mental issue) and then increased my exercise regimen. Some people on this blog have noted that their oncologists have recommended stopping the Arimidex for two weeks in order to reset their bodies. I would suggest that you ask your oncologist if this might help... and also try doing more and varied exercise each day.

I have some thoughts on the AI's in general I'm going to share and I hope it doesn't get me kicked off this site (I love this site!)

When I was first diagnosed I was told NOT to go on sites, not to research, not to read anything but what they handed me at the doctors office because it would just scare and upset me and they were right. I went right ahead and researched and still do. The problem with research and reading and going onto support sites is that you will see the worst of the worst because people who aren't having symptoms or serious problems are moving on and living their lives but where does that leave those of us who just want to know and need to have the information? So, I read everything I can find and research every little thing because then at least I know what I don't have to worry about (ha ha).
The research I have done on the AI's shows all of the symptoms people on this site and thread complain of having. What we don't see is the people who take the drugs, have few if any symptoms and can use this treatment successfully and I'm sure there are many. However, that's not many of us and we need a place to ask questions, get support and get help deciding how to move forward. For those of us with symptoms from the AI's just know........the doctors will try to keep you on their program and on the pills as much and as long as they can because that's their job and that's what they do..........they fight cancer. They don't really know how you feel and how your quality of life day to day is affected and they don't really have any other options for you (at least not right now). The symptoms you are experiencing are unfortunately real and can be very serious. I know because that's been my experience.
I have had 4 oncologists in total for my care in the past five years and all of them recommended the AI's and all of them have pulled me off of them but then again, I have a small chance of recurrence anyway, so the decision was easier. But an important point to consider is this................the doctors will always recommend this treatment and will try to keep you on them if at all possible because that's what they do. They will tell you if you get bone issues, they have a drug for that. If you get depression they have a drug for that. If you get heart issues, they have a drug for that. It's what they do because the job of an oncologist is to cure or keep your cancer at bay....that's it. I am not saying doctors are cold hearted or don't care about how you feel, I'm sure they do for the most part but it doesn't change their protocol or options. AI's are a blanket treatment that works but for some the cost is too great.
If the AI's are causing you serious side effects it's time to ask your oncologist to explore additional options to either alleviate symptoms or possibly find targeted or immunotherapy or CBD/THC or............but please don't let them make you feel like this isn't really happening to you because as you see, there are many of us who can't tolerate these drugs and side effects.
I'm with all of you who are going through this because I've been there and still worry each day about recurrence since I can't take the drugs....but I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't function and couldn't enjoy my life. Push for treatment from your doctors that is tailored to you because it's your life and you need the support even if you can't fit into the bubble of care they have created.
Off the soapbox and many hugs to all