Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I have been prescribed anastrozole too but am so afraid to take it !!
Wish I knew how much it would prevent a recurrence!! Just want to make sure it’s worth it 😝

Thank you all for your replies. I guess I'm just feeling anxious. I hopefully get thru radiation better than I did chemo. It just about did me in. I've never been so sick in my life. I, like you, will take whatever they tell me too. Anything to never ever have cancer again. Thank you again.

I started it about 2 months ago - so far only dry eyes (take Systane) and some fatigue. Or the fatigue could be from radiation, which they say can take up to a year to go away. Each person may react differently. I'm going to be getting 3 month checkups with the oncologist. I figure I can discuss with her any problems that have developed and decide how to react to them. It's got to be better than having the cancer return. I"m going to take it as long as they tell me - at least I hope to.

I've been taking Anastrozole for almost four years, and for the most part have not had problems. We're all different and react to drugs differently, but I have not had any of the joint pain that some people have. My hair might be a little thinner than it was, and it's possible that the drug contributed to a little weight gain - or maybe it's just because I'm not as active as I was before cancer treatment.

I have been following this thread for awhile now and am beginning to have real anxiety about taking anastrozole. Is it really as awful as most have said? I am starting 25 radiation treatments on Jan 22 and am to start Ana after that. My dr. said he didn't want to give me toxifen because it was harder on you. Am I beginning to worry unnecessarily? I know everyone is different but I'm really starting to feel panicky.

Thank You!!! I very much appreciate your response! I’m so frustrated with it. My husband thinks I’m going crazy. I also pretend to understand sometimes.

Molly, I had my two year mammogram on Dec 21. They took two hours and came back asking me to get a biopsy after the first of the year. Needless to say the word "recurring" scared me to death. I had my biopsy on the 8th, then 4 more days of stressful waiting! Thankfully, it was benign!! Keep the faith even when you are going to dark places.

I hate to say it but I am glad I am not the only one with the memory issues 😊. It is so frustrating at home and at work. I actually pretend that I remember what my co-workers or family are talking about when they say “do you remember when ...”

I'm only a some time user on this very good website....I am coming up on my 2 year mammogram. I completed lumpectomy surgery for a stage 2 breast cancer in January 2017. I completed 37 radiation treatments and then began Arimidex in MAy 2017. It hasn't been all that pleasant, but breast cancer isn't either. I would trade hot flashes and body pains for the assurance that my cancer is under control......Not much more I can add at this point. Until that next mammogram shows up negative, I will not rest easy.

@lisman1408