Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@laurapix ask your oncologist but I believe that lab tests on estrogen don't show levels below a certain number, and the estrogen produced by adrenals is below that number (and presumably it is that low level that fed our cancers). Just because you get "undetectable" on your estrogen test does not mean your body is not producing estrogen. They just don't have a test that is sensitive enough. That is what I have been told but check with your docs.

@meme5 the BCI test should have given you a yes or no answer as to the benefit of extended hormonal therapy past 5 years, not just risk of recurrence.

Yes they are all aromatase inhibitors. You initially said they were all the same drug with different manufacturers and I was just clarifying that they are different drugs, but yes they all suppress estrogen produced by the adrenals.

I ended up finally going on a low dose statin, mine started rising within a year of endocrine therapy. When I tried to go off statin for 6 months my cholesterol started climbing. So I am resigned to a low dose statin. Life is full of cost vs benefit decisions. I will accept it because I can feel like I am doing my best for myself.

I tried all of Dr's estrogen blockers. asked Dr. to please check estrogen levels, I am 77. Dr. said no. I asked primary care Dr. to check estrogen levels, she did. My estrogen is below the charts I have no estrogen. side affects are not tolerable so I stopped anestrazole. Did have radiation.

It’s discouraging to hear that a drug to help your bones (Fosamax) causes joint pain. I recently started adding vitamin K2 to my daily calcium and D3 to see if that helps keep the osteopenia from progressing. I am 18 months away from my next DEXA scan.

I, too, have noticed a rising cholesterol. I'm on anastrozole for a year now and since I have MBC stopping it is not an option. By the way, it was during my annuals that the cholesterol was checked. My oncologist neither checks it nor is aware of its current level. Do fellow friends here on anastrozole for a while have any tips on how to keep cholesterol levels down?

I am in the same situation with rising LDL and I am thinking of switching to Exemestane. it should not affect blood lipids at all. Do any of you ladies have experience with AI change in order to get blod lipids lowered?

This info is from Mayoclinic.org

All three aromatase inhibitors work the same and reduce the production of estrogen in your body.
...
Medications that stop the body from making estrogen after menopause
Anastrozole (Arimidex). ...
Exemestane (Aromasin). ...
Letrozole (Femara).

I did have the BCI test done and it showed that I had a higher than average chance of reoccurrence. Because I took the letrozole for five years I was so tired of taking it I decided not to continue.
Please explain the difference between letrozole and anastrozole for me as I thought they were both estrogen blockers. I did not mean they were both the same drug but they are both estrogen blockers
P.S. During my five years I tried all three estrogen blockers.. letrozole, anastrozole and exemestane. I took letrozole the longest but all three drugs gave me the same side effects.

@meme5 so sorry to hear about your cancer recurrence. I also took letrozole for 5 years. I had the Breast Cancer Index test at that point that told me there was no benefit to extending it. I originally wanted at least 7 years because I read that was as good as 10.

If you really regret stopping at 5, you could still have the Breast Cancer Index done with your original slides. I am sure you have better things to do right now though.

ps letrozole is not the same drug as anastrazole.....there are different manufacturers for both but they are different medications