1. < Breast Cancer
Profile picture for tinalove

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for karendb
karendb | @karendb | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "@karendb - Karen, you are not dumb! There is so much technical information that happens plus..." + (show)
Profile picture for sparklegram @sparklegram

@karendb - Karen, you are not dumb! There is so much technical information that happens plus the emotional side of your diagnosis. It's truly awesome we have this group to help us understand and to give support.

Jump to this post

@sparklegram, thank you.

REPLY
Profile picture for sparklegram
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@karendb You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the..." + (show)
Profile picture for elizm @elizm

@karendb
You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the treatment plan was chemo... and these tests potentially can tell you that you're a good candidate (because of high rate of recurrence) or not to have the chemo. They basically test a sample of your tumor (following lumpectomy or mastectomy) for various genes.

Jump to this post

@karendb - Karen, you are not dumb! There is so much technical information that happens plus the emotional side of your diagnosis. It's truly awesome we have this group to help us understand and to give support.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for karendb
karendb | @karendb | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@karendb You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the..." + (show)
Profile picture for elizm @elizm

@karendb
You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the treatment plan was chemo... and these tests potentially can tell you that you're a good candidate (because of high rate of recurrence) or not to have the chemo. They basically test a sample of your tumor (following lumpectomy or mastectomy) for various genes.

Jump to this post

Thank you Elizm. I've just completed chemo and radiation a month ago so was a bit confused.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for elizm
elizm | @elizm | Apr 2, 2019

@karendb
You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the treatment plan was chemo... and these tests potentially can tell you that you're a good candidate (because of high rate of recurrence) or not to have the chemo. They basically test a sample of your tumor (following lumpectomy or mastectomy) for various genes.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for karendb
karendb | @karendb | Apr 2, 2019

Hi. I don't want to appear dumb but what is an oncotype test and how do you know if you had one? I was er+ as well.

REPLY
Profile picture for kathyomaha55
kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@francine6829 As noted earlier, I believe that the OncotypeDX is only viable for those who are..." + (show)
Profile picture for elizm @elizm

@francine6829
As noted earlier, I believe that the OncotypeDX is only viable for those who are ER- (and I'm ER+).

Jump to this post

No I was ER+ and had the oncotype test. I was a 22. So based on that, (middle range result) then chemo does not improve the survival rate.

REPLY
Profile picture for elizm
elizm | @elizm | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "Elizm, did you also have the oncocyte test?" + (show)
Profile picture for francine6829 @francine6829

Elizm, did you also have the oncocyte test?

Jump to this post

@francine6829
As noted earlier, I believe that the OncotypeDX is only viable for those who are ER- (and I'm ER+).

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for francine6829
francine6829 | @francine6829 | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@francine6829 @kathyomaha55 It's was the MammaPrint 70-Gene Risk of Recurrence which essentially told me that I..." + (show)
Profile picture for elizm @elizm

@francine6829 @kathyomaha55
It's was the MammaPrint 70-Gene Risk of Recurrence which essentially told me that I was at high risk for recurrence within 10 years without chemo and hormonal therapy. As I recall, it's the report for those who are ER+. There's a secondary report which financially is separate -- BluePrint 80-Gene Molecular Subtype -- which my oncologist did not request.

Jump to this post

Elizm, did you also have the oncocyte test?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for elizm
elizm | @elizm | Apr 2, 2019

@gwinter
A year-and-a-half ago, I might have remembered the differences, but I think it has to do with whether you're ER+ or ER-. I also noted that, on the Mammaprint report, it was noting some stats for those who are HER2-, and I'm HER2+....

REPLY
Profile picture for francine6829
francine6829 | @francine6829 | Apr 2, 2019
In reply to @gwinter "@elizm what is the difference? Why would one be viable vs the other? I had oncotype..." + (show)
Profile picture for gwinter @gwinter

@elizm what is the difference? Why would one be viable vs the other? I had oncotype and my number was 19 and found the RAD51C mutation. Thus oophorectomy / hysterectomy and 20 radiation treatments

Jump to this post

Gwinter. Google does a better job than me explaining the difference

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.