Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Hi! @reflector75 :

I am so glad to know that you are currently participating in the UK's new research study "Roseta", and am grateful that you are sharing this encouraging news to inspire us:) Thank you!

Please keep us posted whatever you've learnt from the findings of this project.

Thanks!

My oncologist blames any issue that I might have, which have all been minor, on Verzenio and not so much Anastrozole. So who knows??????? I'm just thankful no side effects to speak of. Well, poo poo, you and I need to "force feed" ourselves. Lol. Actually, sometimes I do. I scour the computer for good food, mainly protein. I keep the Boost 530 calorie drinks on hand and drink as I need to. The drawback, they have some sugar. They taste really yummy. I like Vanilla. Also, I keep Premier Protein on hand to up my protein levels (21 grams and 1 gram sugar) and my protein is great on lab tests. I think my weight issue is because I no longer eat sweet foods, e.g., ice cream, pastries, etc. because cancer loves sugar, so my intake of sugar products is almost nil. Therefore, my weight loss. But I feel wonderful. Treadmill, walk at least 6,000 steps a day, rubber bands for stretching, etc. I think we're ok. Keep eating healthy and you should do OK. Blessings always.

I am glad for you that this is your experience and I agree that often the less positive effects garner more attention. From some of the research I’ve looked at it seems that up about a third of people do at some point stop taking the meds due to side effects which is quite a high attrition rate. I’m currently a participant in a research study Roseta (in UK) which is designed to encourage people to keep on with therapy and also to pinpoint why they drop out. Your point that individual reactions can vary widely is a good reason not to discourage people from beginning therapy. I’m one of the strugglers but hanging on in there.

@tullynut So glad you wrote about Anastrozole and your side effects. As for me, I can't GAIN weight. I eat like a truck drive and cannot get above 101. So I'm thinking that I am more than blessed. Have been taking it for 11 months. 83 years and zippy and full of energy. Thank you for sharing your positives about Anastrozole. Hugs and love.

@kandisn I’m interested by your comment ‘my hands fall asleep at night’. I have had this problem for roughly eighteen months, which corresponds to the length of time I’ve been on Anastrazole. It affects both hands but not necessarily at the same time and happens some nights more than others ,but is overall fairly frequent.
Initially I thought it was a worsening of some erosion I have in my cervical vertebrae but over time I’ve begun to wonder if the drug is causing it or worsening it. I will raise this at my oncology appointment. Some mornings ( or on waking at night) it can take several minutes before I can get correct movement back in my hands. It would be interesting to know if others have noticed this effect.

@briarrose Yes!!!!! Blessings for all of you. I'm so sad to hear your horrible stories about effects of Anastrozole. I have been on it for 11 months with practically zero side effects. I take it with cancer med, Verzenio. On occasion I have a slight nauseated feeling and that is ONLY if I take it on an empty stomach. I am 83 years old and full of energy. Again, so sorry about yall's issues. Hugs and love.

I have been taking anastrazole for over five years. I have had no negative side effects from this medication. It does make it harder to lose weight so there is that, but in the bigger picture, it provides me with some protection over a recurrence of my breast cancer. You read a lot of posts from people who have problems. That is legitimate. But you have to remember is that there are a lot even more people on medication‘s like anastrozole who do not have problems and they tend to not post as often in my opinion. I keep up on reading about medications. I am on. One thing I have learned about anastrozole over the past few years is that in addition to providing protection against a recurrence of breast cancer it also seems to be providing protection against development of dementia, which runs in my family. I trust my oncologist and when I met with him a couple of years back, he specifically asked if I was having problems with the anastrozole.I told him that I was not, the major challenge I was facing was an inability to lose weight. He told me that one of the side effects of Anastrazole is that losing weight is more difficult. I was working with my primary care doctor and taking medication which did allow me to lose some weight. My oncologist said to keep on doing that and asked if I was willing to continue to take the medication. I told him I would continue to take this medication for as long as he would continue to prescribe it because I firmly believed it was an active step in keeping me cancer, free and alive. He smiled and said he absolutely agreed with that. He was glad that I was not having some of the horrific side effects that some people do, so there is that. But you have to realize that there are probably more people out there taking AI meds and NOT having problems than those who are having legit problems. It is truly an individual, case by case decision.