Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Hi, Jamie. I had a bone scan about a week or two before I started chemo, and it was above average for my age (and no signs of osteopenia) which I attributed to exercise, and lots of vitamin D. But my body is struggling these days with the considerable nerve damage from the chemo (and subsequent loss of muscle mass), and I don't expect the next bone scan (August of 2019) will be as rosy. I remember too well my mother's spontaneous hip fractures in her eighties and I don't want to repeat that scenario.

Hello, my friend! I am so sorry that your husband is struggling with a cancer diagnosis. It is all I can do to handle my own diagnosis. I have so may ups and downs and for some reason I am now feeling somewhat calm. However, I'm never sure when the very troublesome ups and downs syndromes will strike. Yep, the colonoscopy was negative, thank goodness! I pray for acceptance of what is to be ~ Be well, my friends ~

Molly Miller -- I apologize for having just now gotten your last post. You've been hanging for my response since April 10 and I sincerely apologize. I don't know what happened with the post and I'm sorry if you didn't get the whole thing. How are you doing? I see you've had your colonoscopy (good for you) and I'm glad all turned out well (?) It looks like it did from your last post. I haven't done that yet (the colonoscopy) but will sometime this year. I've been overwhelmed with my husband's cancer diagnosis. Poor man has had every test they can think of now and they still can't identify the source of his cancer. It's been a mess. I guess it keeps me from worrying about my cancer. I had a little scare with a lump in my right underarm area which they say is fine. I still don't know what that lump is but they don't believe it's cancer. I'll go with that until my next checkup unless the lump changes dramatically. Sometimes we just have to relax and live even though that's difficult when you have cancer and are waiting for the next shoe to drop. Again, sorry for the delay in responding and my post not coming over to you correctly.

Hi, Elizm ~ I could have been the one to write parts of this letter, with some (minor?) differences! I am 69, diagnosed with 2A BC 12/16, Estrogen progesterin positive, HER negative. One node involved, 16 clear. I had the nodal resection when I decided against chemo! Perhaps if all 16 were positive I would have chosen a different route. My oncologist gave me the statistics and choice about chemo and was OK with my decision. I had radiation and did well with 37 treatments and then began Arimidex on May 20, 2017. There are days when I think I am going to ask for a different drug and then other days I feel fairly good. Depression, arthralgia, joint and bone pain are my biggest problems...Also inability to concentrate. As you pointed out, these symptoms could just have come with our age. I do have pretty constant anxiety over metastisis. When I can get busy doing something I enjoy, I am at my best. I just had my 10 year colonoscopy and the week before, I read many articles about breast cancer and colon cancer connection. All was well, but I think of a wasted week of worry and anxiety. I am working on "mindfulness" but relying on Ativan too. I have come to think that whatever makes my life more pleasant without going overboard is the way I must lead my life. I enjoy eating and the Arimidex has added 10 pounds to my almost "Obese" BMI. Some days I can control my cravings and some days I splurge. SOme days I walk the dog at a brisk pace and some days I don't. At the end of whatever kind of day I have, I look forward to trying harder the next day, but that doesn't always happen! It's beautiful here today (although our area is infested with mosquitoes and if it goes above 80 degrees I sweat exhaustively) ! So ~ You can see it's a challenge to me to rid myself of anxiety. I am thinking of you and our mutual anxiety problem, my friend!

Hi, Tina. I was diagnosed last year with Stage1A, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, ER+ and HER2+++. Following surgery and three months of Taxol and Herceptin infusions, I was a wreck. Being age 70 probably didn't help. I then chose to discontinue the 9 additional months of Herceptin, and not have radiation. The last recommended treatment was Arimidex (anastrozole). I assessed all the damage from the chemo and targeted immune therapy and decided that i would take half a dose each day and see what the side effects might be. (If, for example, my next bone density test -- in about a year -- shows significant loss, then I will re-evaluate taking Arimidex for an additional five years or so. If I have a recurrence of breast cancer, then I likely will opt for mastectomy and a full dose of Arimidex, etc.) It's been difficult to tell whether it has made my neuropathy and chemo brain worse or whether they would be this way in any event, but I definitely am experiencing increased arthralgia, and bouts of toe cramps and depression (which is unlike me). As my hair still is growing out following the chemo, it's hard to tell if the Arimidex is messing with that or not. I seem to react negatively to even small doses of medications, so each suggested med. can be a problem.

My oncologist indicated that, if I had trouble with Arimidex, there were others which I could try. If you go to breastcancer.org, you'll find a Hormonal Therapy Side Effects Comparison Chart for seven different aromatase inhibitors (displayed side-by-side). As you can see, none are without potential side effects; not all patients experience the noted side effects; and other side effects can't be ruled out. (You'll note that hair-thinning is not specifically associated with Arimidex.) The trade-off for me is whether the side effects from any AI are preferable to the risks of awakening one day with metastatic cancer.

One year for me too. Somedays are better than others but my goal is to fight recurrence, so I'm in for the long run ~ Hang in there! Thumbs up for the OT for osteoporosis prevention!

Just read your post
I am 66 with very thin bones so i will probably do the shots. Did you do this and what ls the cost. Not looking forward to this. I will start on Monday June 4th. Had the surgery and the radiation which I was badly burn and skin breaking down. I know i shd not be concerned with cost but for me i have to be
Thank you

Hi. I just talked today with her. Two more years after the first 5 years of treatment. By July 2019 the treatment will be finished!! I prefer to keep the treatment for this period and try to make more gymnastic 🙂

@elizaj and @silviabeatriz- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

Eliza, how was your bone scan?
Silvia, have you consulted your physician about not taking them?

Hi. My name is Silvia from Uruguay. I have Been taking anastrozole since 2012. I received Also trastazumab. 18shots and also chemo. The problems associated with anastrozole Must be related with aging. But I cant have a negative control. Pain in joints (knees) but It could be relieved with gym. Running in my case. Hot flushes, problems yo fall to sleep and gaining weight. But what could happened without pills? I dont know