Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Thank you for your feedback!

I had almost the same diagnosis as yours, only left breast,in May of 2015. I switched to Letrozole because of the aches/pain side effects. I also experienced the hair loss and thinning. I no longer have the aches with the different medication, but I still had the hair issue. Now, though, it seems to be leveling off. I don't have as much hair in my brush and my hairline seems to be staying as is. I'm hoping this is the way it will continue; I was told it's very rare for someone to lose all their hair on these meds....so I'm hopeful!

I was treated for Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the right breast fourteen months ago. I had a lumpectomy and 20 radiation treatments. I have been on Anastrozole for one year now. Some aches and pains that I can live with. Some weight gain which I am fighting. Main concern is the thinning hair. Does anyone have longer term experience with that issue? If it stopped right now, I could live with it. I'm just afraid of what will happen in another year or any time between now and four years from now when I expect to be finished with this. Any success in fighting back against the hair loss? I have researched but dont really know if there's a good answer out there that won't cause some other issue.

Hi Kat,
We took your question about finasteride to a Mayo Clinic pharmacist. This is what she responded:

"Finasteride is used for male pattern baldness in lower doses than those used for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). In rare cases male breast cancer has been reported with finasteride use. Even though this is rare I would expect an oncologist to avoid finasteride in someone with a history of breast cancer especially if other options are available. Around 5% of patients using anastrozole (Arimidex) will have hair thinning. Hormonal therapy does not usually cause complete hair loss. You can find tips on managing hair loss at http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/side-effects/hair-loss-or-alopecia

@wandering and @kat9606 how are you managing the thinning of hair?

I wonder if we can use Finseteride to prevent hai loss, or thinning, with the Arimidex?

Hi, sent you the wrong email add. this is her web add. just in case or you know someone.  identify with you on the runaround it tends to wear me out at times however i just have today to get through and thankful when i do.  try to stay positive however sometimes it is hard and not realistic yet when i talk to someone on Connect it is real as want to help make their life happier however need to be realistic.sounds like you live in the mtns. i had thought about moving to showlow in fact a mgr. of apts there called me the other day, it is beautiful yet very cold.Hope to talk to you again and will keep in touch.starrlighthere is her site http://checkforalump.org Holly Rose

Thanks for the wig information. I don't need one yet. We are snowbirds. The hospital at our summer place has a service for free wigs. Their supply is pretty low right but they should be getting some in soon according to the nurse navitator. It is my understanding that at this time metastatic breast cancer is not "curable". My hope is to keep it under control and enjoy my life as much as possible. If some of the facilities I go to (labs, etc.) could get their stuff together it would make my life much easier. When I have to do things over and over and over it's very frustrating - i.e. spend 30 minutes registering every time I go to the lab, then wait an hour to get my labs done only to have to request results several times - what a waste of time. These are issues with our winter facility - the guys at our summer place in Montana are excellent. Still working through getting the winter labs organized - have changed locations for my blood work next month so we will see how that goes. Should be pretty simple - take blood, send the results to my oncologist, post on the patient portal. So far this has not happened but I am eternally hopeful. It's raining here in southern Arizona so I am enjoying my quiet time inside. Best wishes to all.

Hi Wandering,Sounds life you are on the road to a soon recovery that is awesome, stay on your path it is the right one as you have all these positive results.  As far as your hair goes i will share with you this wonderful woman who also has or had canc.  Holly Rose she has grants for wigs that she offers to Brst canc. women, i have rec'd one from her and if was a good one .  there is no cost to the patient, if you are interested please go here  checkforalump.org  she is in Az, however think she can offer this to anyone in any State, once you have been approved she will suggest a wig shop for you to go to in your State, i will contact her as well to make sure.  Thank you for the info above, i do not like the Faslodex shots either one in each buttock, i was told by the canc Dr. i go to that this injection was to keep the canc. from spreading anymore, as i to have metastatic in my spine, my Dr. says one thing and the nurse says something else, says that this shot was to work on tumor in my rectum!!!!!!!  i research a lot online as have had so many different diagnosis from so many different dr's,  however had a CT scan two weeks ago and according to the canc. Dr. it has halted and not spread, the Xgeva must be working as well, the only thing that did not work was the Anastrozole, as was told that was suppose to shrink the Brst tumor.  Will be starting the Ibrance pill which is chemo, i fought this as do not want chemo have researched it and it is a very scary drug the IV yet there are so many that have come through it if canc. is caught in the beginning.Have an enlightening Daystarrlight

Hi,would like to hear from you especially if you would like to talk.Have a great day,starrlight

Hi Kanaazpereira,So nice to hear from you and appreciate your concern.  I have no advice on the two drugs mentioned above, have taken then for over one year, just had a PT. scan two weeks ago, and according to the Dr. no new cancer and guess it has come to a halt which i am very thankful for.  Have had no side affects that i am aware of from them.  The Brst Canc. had progressed to a large tumor as did not address it soon enough.Do you have breast Canc? Awaiting the Ibrance, the Dr. wanted me to have a break after quitting Anastrozole, you know i truly do not dwell on the canc in this body, however talking to others that have Canc. also makes it a reality and helps us to come to a point to continue the fight to overcoming it, their are so many new Techniques on canc that coming up everyday.May you have a wonderful day, thanks for the above information.Starrlight