Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Im on anastrazole for 13 month . I just realize that my hair is getting thinner. Having the same concern like you.
Wondering if im going the be bold

I assume you are taking anastrazole b/c you need an estrogen blocker. There are other estrogen blockers that might have fewer side effects for you. I'm taking it b/c for me it had the fewest side effects - and yes it is thinning my hair, but that is better than the severe joint and muscle pain that the other 3 blockers I tried caused me. I agree w/ cautious. Talk to your doc about trying something else. As she said, everyone is different and one of the other blockers might work better for you. Ten years of the pain you are describing PLUS thinning hair sounds a little over the top to me. Nothing else you try is going to make you feel WORSE than you already do, so there is no downside to trying something else. Good luck.

Yes, the side effects you mention from anastrozole were the same for me. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago. I have since switched to letrozole, with much fewer aches and pains. Unfortunately my hair is still thinning and breaking. Every body is different, but I'd see if you could switch meds...life is too short!

I took Anastrozole for 3 years along with Arimodex. (No bad side effects but quit working so my doctor put me on a different medication.) My hair did seem to thin somewhat. I was not sure if it was the meds, old age or heredity. My sister started taking some over the counter pills which thickened her hair. Since I am taking meds for my Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer I did not want to "muddy the waters". I went to my local health food store and started using a shampoo that contains bioten. The brand I use is Avalon Organics because we have detoxed our house and use only organic products when possible. It took many months for my hair to stop falling out and thicken (at least 6 months). Side benefit: my fingernails are stronger and thicker than ever. I think that's from using the shampoo - not sure but --- As an aside, the medication manufacturer sometimes will help you pay for the meds if you don't have insurance. I started taking those before we were on Plan D. The pharmacy at the hospital furnished the manufacturer with my tax return and they mailed my a 3 month supply (worth about $350) free of charge. This carried me til we got Plan D. Hope this helps - best of luck.

Hi . Is my first time. Hello everyone. I was diagnosed with breast cancer stage 1. After 10 radiation, 17 chemo 12 Herceptin But I'm here.
Have to take Anastrazole for 10 years I just start it.
A lot pain all over, legs, back , shoulder hands, everywhere. After I finish the chemo hair start growing. Beautiful. After I start Anaztrazole my hair become extremely thin .
Is anyone has the experience

Thanks

Not sure what you thought the funny part was . . . But it's always better to laugh than cry. Very glad to hear you have lots of support, especially a caring spouse. I lost mine very unexpectedly right after I finished my chemo tx. I went through the second cancer without him. It's been a tough 10 years, but I'm still here.

Best of luck to you. Sounds like you have a good team.

Are you a "stand up" comedian? Got some chuckles from this post. I think I have different outlook. We are all going to die from something. Now I have a pretty good idea what that is - just not when (when we run out of money?). We know the enemy and we have some people who are working on the battle with us - medical support, new meds, family, friends, people on this post, and for me most of all my spouse. My father died of heart disease at age 53 and I always thought that would happen for me. I am well past that age. Always wondered what I would do with my time when I retired - now I know - doctors appointments, labs, etc. How well, keeps me out of the bars (ha, ha).

Hadn't heard about shampoo with biotene - thanks for the heads up. I've been hiding my widening part w/ eye shadow which works fine but I already had fine hair so anything that can make it thicker is all to the good. If it helps nails, even better. I had given up that fight and switched to acrylics. They look VERY nice, but I wouldn't miss not spending the money.

I'm hoping very hard that the new meds work for you. Keep us updated, please.

Hi wandering,
I wasn't sure if your post was directed to me or not but I thought I would respond anyway. Boy have you been through the ringer! Amazing how the fun never stops, isn't it? It's not easy to strike a balance between empathy and optimism. i don't want to hear about people who have died either. On the other hand, people who tell me how important it is to have a "positive attitude" piss me off too. I feel like, gee whiz, not only do I have cancer, I have to be HAPPY too??? I'm left feeling that if a succumb to a moment of depression it's my fault if my cancer comes back. What a burden to dump on someone who already has plenty of them!

We have what could turn out to be a terminal illness. There is not one of us who doesn't know that. We don't need to be reminded of it. On the other hand, I resent people who tell me "everything will be fine" based on nothing. Only God knows (and by God I mean the real deal, not our oncologists) how this will all turn out and He is not sharing the information. So I also don't want to hear from people who belittle my perfectly reasonable fear and occasional panic.

That's why I joined this group. If you are not living with it you just don't know what it is like. Plus, I've found that women who have not had cancer just don't want to hear what we are going through. i understand that, but it is isolating all the same. That's why this group is so great. Kindred souls.

Understood. Thank you for staying with the group. Your messages are much appreciated.