Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I began Arimidex , aka Anastrazole post masec/chemo/rad and stayed on 4 1/2 yrs . Slight increase in Osteoporosis , no other side effects , not a big deal , just not effective when the cancer metastisized into lymph , pleural lung area and 1 bone lesion . So , the damn cancer mutates and outran it , as with many / most all treatments . No hair loss , tons of long curly hair after it being straight all my life . Weird , right , but so common . We call it "curly chemo hair " among my BC friends . You'll be fine , and best of luck to all of us ! PJS

The thing about changing diet is you have to stick to it, in this case meaning for me no meat, no diary, no sugar sweetening, and lots of greens, berries, nuts, olive oil, and turmeric. It goes along with what is being touted in health circles about improving sugar levels, metabolism, gut microbiome, cardiac health, and the immune system. (Discussed, for example, by Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. William Li, and The Food Revolution) As for Citracal, the Minis are easiest to take while Maximum Plus have additional micronutrients "to support bone health" but are large pills that I split. I am open to recommendations from others, especially anyone whose bone T scores have been helped by such supplements while taking an estrogen blocker.

Like madeler22, I am also almost 2 months in and so far so good! I take my pill in the morning with breakfast and calcium supplements (Citracal, K2, D3, B12, Mag). I then walk and a bit later I often go to the gym for weight bearing exercise and yoga. That and a changed diet to basically vegetarianism following the anticancer diet (Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber) and keeping within normal BMI may have a bearing on the lack of negative side effects. Time will tell, as well as the next dexascan and blood work. Best wishes to all breast cancer patients!

I’m almost 2 mos in & so far so good!

I’m almost 2 mos in & so far so good!

@madeler22 it is so helpful that you posted about your experience so far with an aromatase inhibitor. Like you, I did not have significant side effects. I am sure your post will be reassuring for many!

My oncologist and I had a detailed conversation about concerns with taking Anastrozole, 6 weeks before I started the drug. (I had to finish radiation treatments first). Fortunately for me I have already been taking Calcium and D3 for several years and have had 2 DEXA scans prior to be being diagnosed, so the baseline was there. (I have osteopenia). I also started taking Collagen 3 months prior to starting the drug to help strengthen my hair. I also have been taking a cholesterol drug for about 18 months prior to diagnosis (mine is high genetically); and one final note, I already have a low WBC and have had it for at least 15 years, so my oncologist told me that since I've been checked for abnormalities and leukemia in the past and all my tests were negative, that I am just one of those people for whom a low WBC is 'my normal'.
Having prefaced all these areas for which I had concerns, I had my first month blood review and all my bloodwork was normal. I also have had no side effects to speak of, and my hair stylists told me just this week that I have new hair growth in my part (Go Collagen!). Fingers crossed that all the supplements I already had built up in the my system beforehand, with the addition of Collagen only, have helped to prevent sore joints, hair thinning, a lower white count, high cholesterol - all things that concerned me initially. Of course I'm only one month in and I have 4 years and 11 months to go - lol - but so far, so good. I also hope that adding some weight bearing exercises to my routine will help to strengthen my bones even more.
That's my story so far - as always my thoughts and prayers for everyone on their respective journeys as well.

The study I saw about the blood vessel and heart damage was small (about 60 women, with breast cancer, half on Arimidex, half not). They showed that the use of the Arimidex may accelerate blood vessel and heart damage. The women who did not take the pills didn't have as much heart damage or heart attacks but then.........estrogen safeguards bones, the heart and keeps our hair from falling out of our heads 🙂 I lost a lot of hair when I went through menopause (about half of my hair and it never came back). Maybe if that hasn't happened yet maybe the hair loss is more extreme and happens more quickly on these drugs? I don't know of any organic shampoos or conditioners that will help it grow back or look fuller. I use a shampoo that's not organic but 'less chemically damaging' to create fuller looking hair. I am considering hormone tests to give me a starting point for my estrogen and then trying to get my estrogen levels lower naturally with diet and supplements (I'm working on that now but don't have the testing to see if it's working). Also, I wonder if that's enough or if the drugs are doing other things that help keep recurrence down? I'm seeing my oncologist this month and will be talking with her about this. A naturopath might be a good place to do some research. I have one but may be shopping around a bit. I hope the medical community figures out hormone balancing naturally soon! 🙂