Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

My name is Celia, I live in Switzerland and had a cancer removed from one breast last year. my first oncologist prescribed Anastrazole, the second oncologist prescribed Aroma tase and this third Professor Oncologist said that I should quit all these terrible new medecins and take 20mg of Tamoxifen a day for 5 years - a drug of more than 20 years on the market and is the best and least harmful. I have been taking this drug now for a year and feel tired and this worries me because I felt quite vigorous before taking this drug which deprives me of my Estrogen - a very peculiar way to keep cancer at bay! Is there a better solution?
Thanks in advance for your replies and a very Happy New Year to you all.
Celia

Welcome @maryaronoff. You certainly have a unique set of considerations when deciding to take anastrozole or not. Your concerns and questions about combined side effects due to medications for breast cancer and multiple myeloma are good ones to ask your oncologist. I'll be interested in your decision after you weigh the pros and cons with your team. There are others here who, for their circumstances, chose not to take an AI, like @cindylb.

Mary, you may also interested in the discussions about multipe myeloma in the Blood Cancers group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/blood-cancers-disorders/)
– Multiple Myeloma https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multiple-myeloma-1/
– Multiple Myeloma https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multiple-myeloma-26f521/
- Darzalex Treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/darzalex-treatment/

@maryaronoff
I'm on the same ship in the sense that we are among the older cohorts who acquired breast cancer... and oncologists just don't have sufficient data on us (most of us are going to die from heart disease, unrelated to the cancer). Like you, I also have chemo-induced neuropathy and it's a bear, despite 4-5 hrs. a week of exercise designed to regain balance and coordination lost to the chemo. After reading a great deal of research, and knowing that I react negatively to most medications, I chose to take half an anastrozole a day for seven years (most bc survivors quit their aromatase inhibitors within two years because of the side effects). Yes, recurrence is high for our age group, but it's also high after five years of the anastrozole at any age. Yes, they can treat the bone-thinning, but falls (made more likely from the neuropathy) still break bones which can be catastrophic for our age group. Focusing on a good diet, a healthy weight, and exercise (which can slow bone-thinning) always are important, but are especially important for those of us on this particular ship who want a longer and healthy life. There are many pros and cons regarding anastrozole and each of us has to do the research in light of our particular situation (like HER2 status, cancer type, bone density, and other health concerns) and make a decision, always with a Plan B in mind. Wishing you the best!

I just joined this group to check out others experiences with Anastrozole. I recently (Nov 6) had a lumpectomy (stage 1 DCIS) with a very tiny "micro invasion". My tumor would have been Stage 0 if there had not been any micro invasion. No radiation but a prescription for Anastrozole. I am 79 yrs old and also have Multiple Myeloma which has been treated successfully for the last 3 years. I will have infusions of Darzalex for the rest of my life - now only 1 x a month. After reading all of the horrible side effects and talking to other survivors I have decided to take my chances and hopefully live a life of some quality. My bones have thinned from the myeloma and the thought of further thinning is very frightening. I had to have some chemo for the myeloma and it gave me neuropathy which is in itself very painful and makes me "wobbly" (I have to use a cane.) I plan to talk to my Oncologist next week about this and hopefully she can help me with diet, exercise and weight control so that any cancer recurrence would be minimized if it came back at all. I would just like to live the rest of my life without everything that goes with this drug. Has anyone else taken this path and is doing well?

My oncologist doesn't say the symptoms are directly related to the Anastrazole, but he also doesn't discount my complaints. Treatment for me would be difficult as I have issues with my kidneys and any NSAID or steroid sends them into a downward spiral! I see the oncologist later in January and I intend to bring up this issue. It has become a matter of "quality of life" for me. At age "almost 75" I am wondering if I would be better off dcing this medication.

@marybe
You're a strong, positive soul and we're all rooting for you! Go get 'em, Mary!

Background-I was diagnosed with Stage IIIB ER+, PR+, HER2+ ductal and lobular cancer last June. I was put on a clinical trial which includes taking anestrozole for 6 months and then surgery. Although my K2 numbers last September showed the anestrozole was ‘activating’ the cancer cells, the tumor neither diminished nor grew. It’s still at 9cm. The first two months of taking it were rough, but after that I adjusted to it and now I sometimes wonder if I’m taking a placebo. The only side effects are some irrational emotions and fatigue, both which could be attributed to just having cancer. Im having a double mastectomy with two different surgeries, the first one on the 23 of this month. After that I’ll go back on the anestrozole

Hello, @susiebeard, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Since you mentioned increasing symptoms of arthritis and bone pain in your hands and feet since initiating anastrazole treatment, I've moved your post here to this discussion, "Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole," so that you can talk with others who are in or have been in a similar therapy and may have some thoughts to share, especially about the symptoms you described.

If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Wondering what your oncologist has said about a connection between the arthritis and bone pain and the anastrazole? Has any treatment for these symptoms been prescribed?

I have been on Anastrazole for 3 years following mastectomy for grade 1 invasive lobular cancer of the left breast. No radiation or chemotherapy were used. Lymph nodes were negative for involvement. Since initiating treatment with the Anastrozole, I have experienced increasing symptoms of arthritis and bone pain in my hands and feet. Currently, the pain in my feet is causing me to limp significantly. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms?

@tessfair1 @ljwright4778
I had a lot of arthralgia last year during chemo (probably from the Herceptin) and consequently was not excited about taking the anastrozole this year. I looked at the research which is complex: most patients discontinue anastrozole (and other AIs) within the first two years because of the side effects; there appears to be a spike of BC recurrence following discontinuance after 5 years; AIs do prevent recurrence while taking them; older and younger patients are more susceptible to recurrence in general, etc.) Although I was stage 1, the tumor was grade 2, ER+ and HER2+. Taking into account that I am super-sensitive to most medications and age 71, I decided to take half an Anastrozole daily (500 mcg).

No, my oncologist was not thrilled, but when I reminded him that most discontinue AIs within the first two years, and that this decision might allow me to continue for the 5-7 years recommended, he conceded. Yes, the arthralgia has continued despite the low dose, but I'm focused on the long-term. I also exercise 4-5 hours/week which I believe helps prevent bone loss and insomnia, AND, with my GP's approval, have taken a holiday from my statin (which began giving me a number of indiscriminate muscle pains, despite taking Co-Q-10).

There isn't much of a win-win when you analyze all the factors. I suggest that you do the research and list all the pros and cons for your particular situation, understand that you do have choices (like switching to a different AI, halving the dose, and taking none at all), and then you'll have a clearer picture of the trade-offs for your particular situation. We're all rooting for your long-term wellness!