Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I'm curious how oncologists come up with their drug combinations, i.e., I was on Ibrance/Letrozole and when it stopped working was put on Faslodex (injected)/Afinitor. But I've seen Faslodex/Ibrance combos and many others. I wonder if it depends on the particular cancer (I'm mets BC) or is an institution or onco protocol, or? Can you shed any light on this? Thanks.

Hi there,
I don’t know if this would help, but it’s a product from France. I bought some years ago while visiting Paris and use it all the time (got a second time on Amazon as well). I use it on my chapped lips and a little goes a LONG way. I attached some photos of the description.
I hope you feel better!!

Seems like such a little thing but it sure is a pain right! I took to keeping eos handy all the time. I have now added systane eye drops to the mix. Apparently I am drying up. 😂 As I spend a lot of time outdoors it just adds to the problem. People joke about the toughest girl in the barn can’t leave without her chapstick.

Has anyone experienced extreme chapped lips while taking anastrozole? I have tried absolutely every product (vaseline, aquaphor, eraclear, carmex, blistex, chap stick, AND MANY OTHERS) and have found no relief. It's starting to become a disorder where I am constantly applying some product to my lips. They are very painful especially if I am sweating or eating salty foods. This is not a life-threatening problem but definitely affecting my quality of life. Are there any prescription or other remedies that work? Thanks to you all for sharing!

Hope your medications work and your upcoming scans bring good news!

SCIENCE BASED and very informative. I was confused by the "good riddance to estrogen" aspect , and now I see how the functionality is very different . Thank You so much for this help. I am trying to understand my treatment , not at all easy for a lay person . TY !

@pjsfla, you're so right. Anti-estrogen therapy is so confusing. I find this page on breastcancer.org explains all the types and the mechanisms of action plainly.
- Hormonal Therapy https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal-therapy

I'm sorry if I mis spoke . I am MORE confused , however and request clarification on a "inhibitor" vs a "downregulator" of estrogen . Please ?

Just for clarification
Faslodex (fulvestrant) is not technically speaking an aromatase inhibitor. It is also an anti-estrogen medication.but is an estrogen receptor downregulator (ERD). It works by blocking the actions of estrogen in the body.

Faslodex is used in postmenopausal women with hormone-related breast cancer that is advanced or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

Forgot to say , yes , taking faslodex shots . aka fulvestrant . That is another AI , to rid the estrogen , so to starve the cancer . 1x a month . It isnt enough alone so also on Ibrance , but hasn't been shown to work yet . Fingers crossed , scan likely in May / June to see if working or not . Been a roller coaster , and problems with slow appts at Kaiser perm . They blame covid of course . Best , PJSFLA