1. < Breast Cancer

Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

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lcr2017 | @lcr2017 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @micheleandrew "I'm grateful I found this MayoClinic community! I am 52 years old, had bc twice -..." + (show)
@micheleandrew

I'm grateful I found this MayoClinic community! I am 52 years old, had bc twice - in 2010 and more recently stage 1 in 2020. My younger sister had it at 33 years and is doing well, no longer in treatment. I was on Tamoxifen in 2010, and now taking Zolodex (to put me into menopause) and now taking Anastrozole since 2020. I'm not sure I can take the side effects any more. I'm meeting with my oncologist next week for my 6 mos. visit. I was told the symptoms after a few months would stabilize. It's almost 2 years, I have osteopenia, but the fatigue, sleep issues and joint pain (wrists, hands, knees) and brain fog are rough. I have two teenage sons who keep me on my toes! I have a hard time working (I am a remote therapist), sitting down after extended time just makes me achy. When I'm up and moving around and don't need to focus - I'm okay. I am going to ask my dr. about my case and recurrence risk. My Dr. and team make it sound like those with side effects are not the norm - but the Infusion nurse (who happens to also be a bc survivor) tells me that all of the bc patients she sees complains of the hormone treatments (AIs) and she had to stop herself, she was so miserable. I guess it's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm tired of explaining myself to my friends, etc. who wonder why I more flaky these days - I simply don't have the energy and feel that great some days. I suppose if you haven't been there, it's hard to imagine because they think I'm done and on the other side. Thanks for listening.

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I was a teacher and my one prayer in life was to live long enough to raise my 2 boys since I had many students who lost a parent. When that worked out, and then I got diagnosed, I felt that life didn’t owe me anything. I have always been able to handle the ups and downs in life, but like someone else said, coming out the other side of this, I am not the same person anymore and no one seems to get that. They think I am okay because I got through my 5 years (stage 0, stage 1, bilateral, double mastectomy). It took 8 months to realize that it was so traumatic. I accept that people don’t mean to be unkind when they tell me about another person whose cancer is “worse than mine”. Do they think I don’t know it or that there are people truly suffering and dying? Where I have been fortunate is to have managed to stay on the AI for 5 years, but Covid helped with that. And now what? Even though my recurrence probability is low, once you are off the meds, you can’t help but think it will be back and maybe you won’t realize it since I didn’t realize it the first time. One side they couldn’t feel anything, the other side they couldn’t see anything. But now I have 2 grandkids and mostly my prayer is that my son lives long enough to raise his kids and that the other will eventually have them. I treasure my time.

Do what you can to get through. I did yoga for the side effects, particularly Sarah Beth Yoga online/ YouTube because I can do it at my own pace and for the parts that hurt the most, or just some mindfulness and as few or as many times a day as I feel. It feels better when I move, but I can’t be moving all the time! Even though the reconstruction of my breasts is beautiful, they remind me every single day. I never feel like they are not there. I also did talk therapy. For me, gulping water really helped. That’s when I knew I had forgotten to keep track of my in take.

I love watching my grandkids and I take 1 part of a day at a time since my afternoon may not be as bad as my morning,etc. But my lens is truly different now. It’s really hard not be me, plus 5 years later, I am older, so it’s hard to sort it out.

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2 replies
suejer0731 | @suejer0731 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @windyshores "That happens to me. I don't think it is a big deal. If you have a..." + (show)
@windyshores

That happens to me. I don't think it is a big deal. If you have a sustained beating in your ear it can be a vascular issue so you would want that checked out. It can be a form of tinnitus that can be addressed. Do you have any other kind of tinnitus?

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No issue in that area that I know of.. thanks

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suejer0731 | @suejer0731 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @windyshores "That happens to me. I don't think it is a big deal. If you have a..." + (show)
@windyshores

That happens to me. I don't think it is a big deal. If you have a sustained beating in your ear it can be a vascular issue so you would want that checked out. It can be a form of tinnitus that can be addressed. Do you have any other kind of tinnitus?

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No other issues.. guess I am fortunate. I did have echo cardiograph and no issues there. I guess it’s a coincidence on timing but I googled Mayo Clinic and saw this as a side effect on one of their entries..

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windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @suejer0731 "I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I..." + (show)
@suejer0731

I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I woke up with pounding sound in my right ear. I never had that before, sounding like a pulse sound. Is this a side effect? I have had no other issues with the drug and the sound has not come back again. I had an echo cardiogram and that showed normal activity.

Jump to this post

That happens to me. I don't think it is a big deal. If you have a sustained beating in your ear it can be a vascular issue so you would want that checked out. It can be a form of tinnitus that can be addressed. Do you have any other kind of tinnitus?

REPLY
2 replies
lisajoann | @lisajoann | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @micheleandrew "I'm grateful I found this MayoClinic community! I am 52 years old, had bc twice -..." + (show)
@micheleandrew

I'm grateful I found this MayoClinic community! I am 52 years old, had bc twice - in 2010 and more recently stage 1 in 2020. My younger sister had it at 33 years and is doing well, no longer in treatment. I was on Tamoxifen in 2010, and now taking Zolodex (to put me into menopause) and now taking Anastrozole since 2020. I'm not sure I can take the side effects any more. I'm meeting with my oncologist next week for my 6 mos. visit. I was told the symptoms after a few months would stabilize. It's almost 2 years, I have osteopenia, but the fatigue, sleep issues and joint pain (wrists, hands, knees) and brain fog are rough. I have two teenage sons who keep me on my toes! I have a hard time working (I am a remote therapist), sitting down after extended time just makes me achy. When I'm up and moving around and don't need to focus - I'm okay. I am going to ask my dr. about my case and recurrence risk. My Dr. and team make it sound like those with side effects are not the norm - but the Infusion nurse (who happens to also be a bc survivor) tells me that all of the bc patients she sees complains of the hormone treatments (AIs) and she had to stop herself, she was so miserable. I guess it's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm tired of explaining myself to my friends, etc. who wonder why I more flaky these days - I simply don't have the energy and feel that great some days. I suppose if you haven't been there, it's hard to imagine because they think I'm done and on the other side. Thanks for listening.

Jump to this post

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering. Unfortunately these meds are different for all of us. I think your doctor will tell you to try to continue with them if you can. You said you had bc twice, and your sister also has had it. So maybe the doctor feels with the history here it’s important for you to try and push through. I know it’s controversial as to these meds working or not but the proof is out there!!! You are young and you have a long life ahead of you, and as you said 2 teenage boys!!! You may not feel the same as before, you may not move as fast and I am sure you have bad days… but you are here!!!! Please don’t give up…♥️♥️♥️

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suejer0731 | @suejer0731 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @suejer0731 "I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I..." + (show)
@suejer0731

I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I woke up with pounding sound in my right ear. I never had that before, sounding like a pulse sound. Is this a side effect? I have had no other issues with the drug and the sound has not come back again. I had an echo cardiogram and that showed normal activity.

Jump to this post

About an hour.. then never came back.. just curious if that was from drug as I have had no other side effects.

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Oct 22, 2022
In reply to @jaynep "You hit the nail on the head. I’m not the same as I was and as..." + (show)
@jaynep

You hit the nail on the head. I’m not the same as I was and as you said the ship has sailed and that girl is gone. I am really struggling with that….

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To me, this is a daily revelation. Today, I learned that my patience with petty rules being more important than people has run out. When I was stronger, physically and mentally, it was easier for me to just look for ways to find solutions and stay within whatever is allowed.
Today I am contemplating learning to be an unrepentant rule breaker. Lol
Last week I learned I can’t stay awake all night with a sick relative and work all the next day. I just can’t figure out what happened to me.🤷🏻‍♀️😂
What kinds of things are forever gone for you?

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Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 22, 2022
In reply to @suejer0731 "I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I..." + (show)
@suejer0731

I have been taking this only 2 months.. 1 mg daily. About 3 weeks ago I woke up with pounding sound in my right ear. I never had that before, sounding like a pulse sound. Is this a side effect? I have had no other issues with the drug and the sound has not come back again. I had an echo cardiogram and that showed normal activity.

Jump to this post

Hello @suejer0731. Glad to hear that the pounding sound went away and that your echo cardiogram was normal. How long did the pounding sound last?

REPLY
micheleandrew | @micheleandrew | Oct 22, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "I also had a chemical oopherectomy and then endocrine therapy. Like @windyshores I found that an..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I also had a chemical oopherectomy and then endocrine therapy. Like @windyshores I found that an hour walk a day really helped me with the achiness, and joint stiffness. The symptoms of menopause are still around some years later. I am so grateful it has gotten cooler because it at least slows down the water loss from the hot flashes. Lol Taking these drugs is a cost vs benefit decision for each person and every person reacts a little differently. Luckily we can share tips. Here is a few of mine. Walking outside, rain or shine, helps me feel less achy and gives me a chance to clear out the cobwebs in my brain to better focus on the day. It is also according to the Mayo doctors, the single best exercise for your bones. A small desk fan aimed at my head and chest area at night helps me sleep through the night. If I feel like I am a bit scattered or struggling with a thought, and I had to teach myself this……let it go. It will probably come back later.
It is hard when we are done with the surgeries, and the chemo, and the radiation, and everyone expects us to be the same as we were before cancer. The truth is I am not that person, and the hardest thing I had to accept is, that ship sailed away and will not be back.
Have you developed any tips or patterns that seem to make things better for you?

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Thank you for the post. I’m glad to hear walking helps you. I enjoy walking. I have found movement and drinking lots of water, these help the most. Sometimes I’m so tired and I forget to drink water more frequently. Someone told me sip the water or herbal tea, not gulp it down!
I do make myself a smoothie most mornings and put 2 scoops of turmeric powder (Costco) in it. I do notice more joint pain especially at night if I forgo my smoothie. Im wondering if any other supplements might help.

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suejer0731 | @suejer0731 | Oct 22, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "This is a new thing for me to hear. I went back and read quite a..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

This is a new thing for me to hear. I went back and read quite a bit of different effects from a lot of different people. I didn’t find this, I did find the occasional ear ring or buzzing, but without disturbance. You said this happened a month ago, anything since? Could this have been a sinus issue?

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No sinus problem. I did notice on google/Mayo clinic the “pounding in ear was a side effect. Saw it only there and not under the general drug side effect information .,

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