Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Thank you but I am no more amazing than any other cancer survivor who pulls themselves up by the bootstraps, looks cancer life in the face and says I can do this! I call my metastisis my interruption.

You sound like an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing!❤

I was stage 2B lobular carcinoma 2.1 cm tumor with 3 lymph nodes invasive. I was 65 at the time of original diagnosis. I am now 75. I had a double mastectomy and did 4 rounds of adromyicin/cytoxin and 4 rounds of taxotere. My radiologist decided against radiation because of my age (65) and because my tumor was right on the margin of not doing it which she said was 2cm. My cancer was in the left breast and the radiologist said I could develop heart problems and possibly leukemia down the road because it was near my heart. I also did 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor. My metastisis was found accidentally when I went to the ER for a stomach bug (which cleared up with antibiotics) and the CT showed enlarged lymph nodes in the portahypatic area (near the liver but not in it) I had multiple types of scans and no other cancer was found in any major organs or bones, lungs, liver or brain. I am back on letrozole as the metastisis is also er positive. I get pet scans every three months. I never had any symptoms that my cancer had returned and am lucky it was discovered on my trip to the ER. I feel great and live my life grateful. If things change, and they very well could down the road, I will deal with it. Since my reoccurrence in 2022 I have met numerous women who are living anywhere from 5-20 years after metastasis. I am not dying from cancer I am living with it.

Did you have Oncotype done at time of diagnosis? I love your attitude and wish you the best. Also did you use the Predict Breast tool?

I was stage 2B lobular carcinoma 2.1 cm tumor with 3 lymph nodes invasive. I was 65 at the time of original diagnosis. I am now 75. I had a double mastectomy and did 4 rounds of adromyicin/cytoxin and 4 rounds of taxotere. My radiologist decided against radiation because of my age (65) and because my tumor was right on the margin of not doing it which she said was 2cm. My cancer was in the left breast and the radiologist said I could develop heart problems and possibly leukemia down the road because it was near my heart. I also did 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor. My metastisis was found accidentally when I went to the ER for a stomach bug (which cleared up with antibiotics) and the CT showed enlarged lymph nodes in the portahypatic area (near the liver but not in it) I had multiple types of scans and no other cancer was found in any major organs or bones, lungs, liver or brain. I am back on letrozole as the metastisis is also er positive. I get pet scans every three months. I never had any symptoms that my cancer had returned and am lucky it was discovered on my trip to the ER. I feel great and live my life grateful. If things change, and they very well could down the road, I will deal with it. Since my reoccurrence in 2022 I have met numerous women who are living anywhere from 5-20 years after metastasis. I am not dying from cancer I am living with it.

@cathyn your post is geared to DCIS, I assume. Those of us with grade 3 invasive cancers do tend to give serious consideration to these meds. Just to clarify different situations make for different points of view!

I was stage 2B lobular carcinoma 2.1 cm tumor with 3 lymph nodes invasive. I was 65 at the time of original diagnosis. I am now 75. I had a double mastectomy and did 4 rounds of adromyicin/cytoxin and 4 rounds of taxotere. My radiologist decided against radiation because of my age (65) and because my tumor was right on the margin of not doing it which she said was 2cm. My cancer was in the left breast and the radiologist said I could develop heart problems and possibly leukemia down the road because it was near my heart. I also did 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor. My metastisis was found accidentally when I went to the ER for a stomach bug (which cleared up with antibiotics) and the CT showed enlarged lymph nodes in the portahypatic area (near the liver but not in it) I had multiple types of scans and no other cancer was found in any major organs or bones, lungs, liver or brain. I am back on letrozole as the metastisis is also er positive. I get pet scans every three months. I never had any symptoms that my cancer had returned and am lucky it was discovered on my trip to the ER. I feel great and live my life grateful. If things change, and they very well could down the road, I will deal with it. Since my reoccurrence in 2022 I have met numerous women who are living anywhere from 5-20 years after metastasis. I am not dying from cancer I am living with it.

I am just curious to know if you have found another AI wich does not raise blood lipids.

You don’t “have” to take a hormone blocker. I had surgery for DCIS, and after going over everything (the biomarkers especially)and asking a lot of questions, I decided (and my doctor agreed) that it’s a very low risk of coming back invasive, we are just going to monitor more frequently. I have osteoporosis and depression, and it’s just not right for me at this time. Good luck and ask lots of questions!

I have not tried any other AI. Will ask Oncologist at next appt about other options that don’t raise lipids.