1. < Breast Cancer

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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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Mar 16, 2019

Have any of you comsidered switching to Femara ? The docs said the side effects are less

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susiebeard | @susiebeard | Mar 16, 2019

I do have arch supports which help some. Just wish it were more!

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Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Mar 16, 2019

Good Feet is a store located in MN and one in Wi that sells arch supports - https://www.goodfeet.com/

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susiebeard | @susiebeard | Mar 16, 2019
In reply to @marannolson "I have been on arimidex for 2 years. My hair has thinned some. Mostly my feet..." + (show)
@marannolson

I have been on arimidex for 2 years. My hair has thinned some. Mostly my feet and heels hurt. Wondering has anyone tried Good Feet ?

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I have been on Arimidex for 3 years and my feet hurt constantly. Mostly the top and side of my left foot. What is Good Feet?

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marannolson | @marannolson | Mar 16, 2019
In reply to @grandma41 "I took that drug, it made my knees and joints hurt so bad that I could..." + (show)
@grandma41

I took that drug, it made my knees and joints hurt so bad that I could not walk, I had to change drugs, I am now on Letrolzole, it has side effects too but so far nothing like the anastrozole. I lost my hair, it's not coming back very well, my last treatment was in April 2015.

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I have been on arimidex for 2 years. My hair has thinned some. Mostly my feet and heels hurt. Wondering has anyone tried Good Feet ?

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1 reply
elizm | @elizm | Mar 13, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "A number of people have mentioned biotin, also known as vitamin B7, to help promote hair..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

A number of people have mentioned biotin, also known as vitamin B7, to help promote hair growth. Recently, I came across these articles:
- Biotin, marketed for hair and nails, could skew some medical test results, researchers warn https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/biotin-can-interfere-with-lab-tests-study-says-1.5051992
- The FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Lab Tests: FDA Safety Communication https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/safety/alertsandnotices/ucm586505.htm

Here are some key points from the first article:
"It is known that biotin supplements can interfere with lab tests, resulting in false positive and false negative results on a wide range of clinically important tests."
"Health agencies, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-Consumer/), say there isn't enough evidence to support the claims that biotin improves hair, nails and skin, and that more research is required before it should be recommended for that purpose."

@elizm, did your doctor tell you about biotin possibly interfering with lab tests?

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@colleenyoung
Unfortunately, my oncologist did not warn me. I had gone to a neurologist for my CIPN who wanted to do a raft of tests to see if something else might be contributing to the neuropathy. One was for a thyroid test which came back as hyperthyroid. I marched off to my GP who referred me to an endocrinologist and for a thyroid ultrasound. Both doctors knew how much biotin I was taking.

I personally was unconvinced that I was hyperthyroid and started researching the condition online. That is where I found that, up until something like 2016, endocrinologists had been treating patients for hyperthyroidism when in fact it was biotin which was changing the test assay. Sooo, I passed along the news to my GP who allowed me to drop the biotin for a week and then re-take the thyroid test which subsequently was quite normal.

The lessen taught me to stop all supplements about 48 hours or so before every blood test in order to get a more accurate reading on my health. Regrettably, doctors in my area don't instruct patients accordingly.

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Mar 13, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "A number of people have mentioned biotin, also known as vitamin B7, to help promote hair..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

A number of people have mentioned biotin, also known as vitamin B7, to help promote hair growth. Recently, I came across these articles:
- Biotin, marketed for hair and nails, could skew some medical test results, researchers warn https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/biotin-can-interfere-with-lab-tests-study-says-1.5051992
- The FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Lab Tests: FDA Safety Communication https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/safety/alertsandnotices/ucm586505.htm

Here are some key points from the first article:
"It is known that biotin supplements can interfere with lab tests, resulting in false positive and false negative results on a wide range of clinically important tests."
"Health agencies, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-Consumer/), say there isn't enough evidence to support the claims that biotin improves hair, nails and skin, and that more research is required before it should be recommended for that purpose."

@elizm, did your doctor tell you about biotin possibly interfering with lab tests?

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For hair thinning - my doctor said to use Rogaine shampoo if it bothered me.

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Mar 13, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@francine6829 Yes, I think it has been helpful for both my hair and nails (all grew..." + (show)
@elizm

@francine6829
Yes, I think it has been helpful for both my hair and nails (all grew back, thick and glossy) and I haven't noticed much thinning in the meantime. AIs are hard on skin, however, and I haven't found something to help that, yet.

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My doctor told me to try the Gold Bond lotions - they have some for extreme dryness.

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Mar 13, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "Which drug or treatment caused your hair loss?" + (show)
@francine6829

Which drug or treatment caused your hair loss?

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i had hair thinning from anastrozole. I only noticed it after about 4 months On the drug.

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