Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Hello girls, I searched for members who have breast cancer who may also suffer from fibromyalgia chronic pain.
I have tried every drug available for fibro over the past 10 years…not much luck. This year after my mastectomy surgery and subsequent surgery to remove an infected implant, I found a Functional Medicine primary who started me on IV chelation therapy to remove heavy metals from my system, allowing healthy neurotransmitters to not be impeded from growth. Chelation also had helped his patients significantly enhance their quality of life by reducing fibro symptoms.

I am another success story of use of IV chelation and help for fibromyalgia!!! After only a few months, I have almost NO fibromyalgia pain and I’ve had minimal joint pain from Anastrozole as well! I recently developed “trigger thumb” overnite in both hands and upon recommendation from my Mayo Oncologist, I stopped Anastrozole for several weeks to see if there was a correlation, but there wasn’t. My Orthopod gave me steroid injections in both thumbs and severe pain is gone. About 95% of people don’t need anything more. If it comes back, it’s an easy surgery to open the A1 pulley at base of thumb to allow inflamed tendon to glide smoothly. Thumbs would still be functional…

Also, those of you who have had MRIs, scans, etc with contrast, the heavy metals from that need to be flushed out of your body. IV chelation or DMSA capsules can be used for that purpose. (chelation once a week is faster)

I’m now able to take Anastrozole with fewer and less severe side effects. I still struggle with insomnia (even on strong sleep Rx from Neurologist) and extreme fatigue, but I’m blessed to be retired and can catch up on sleep in the daytime if needed.

Another suggestion - for helping prevent metastatic cancer is a proven evidenced-based supplement called “Modified Citrus Pectin”, which my physician wants his patients on. It can be ordered online and just about any brand will do. I only take 3 capsules/day, as maintenance therapy, since I’m already doing chelation. Those not on chelation will need to take more per day.

I’m not a physician, so please don’t just take my advice for these suggestions. Ask your primary, or find a functional medicine doc near you and check it out. Go online and do research on IV chelation and also Modified Citrus Pectin and decide with your doctor what may work. I see no health risk or downside to these methods to enhance my quality of life. I pray you will feel the same and share your good results!! Here’s to less pain and a healthier body!!! 💕💕💕

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Exactly my journey as well even the 25% chance of recurrence if I don’t take estrogen blocker. I was finally put on Tamoxifen. I was on for 3 months and had terrible rib pain upper arm and upper leg pain. Took me off and had chest extras and blood work and all is fine there but going for Nuclear bone scan but now dealing with vertigo the last few weeks. I also take Prolia shot for bone loss every Six months and was researching the side effects and one of the major side effects is muscle pain In the upper arms and upper legs. So really not sure when they call me about getting back on Tamoxifen what I want to do😔

Try a brand name maybe. I had better luck with those.

I am really glad you are at Mayo! Please come back and tell me what you found out, or how you are doing.

Thank you Chris for your encouraging words. There is somewhat of a plan in place...MRI - no Node involvement(great news!) Not sure which surgery because of family history, possible genetic testing to concur, no chemo now, radiation & AI . I have questions about ovaries possibly being removed as well (postmenopausal).Tomorrow will be another learning day for us for sure! My Mayo Team is fantastic so far.
Have a great day

Thank you all for this great body of information. I have been on AZ for 2 months now. I knew it would give me hot flashes and I can work though those. Joint pains are already being managed by gabapentin since I have a preexisting condition. Lately I have felt off. Hard to explain except we know our bodies and we should listen to what it says. GI issues, depression, lack of energy are my key problems. I would have not mentioned this to my oncologist because I did not put the medication as an issue. But now I do. Thankfully I am in Jacksonville this week to see my oncologist at the Mayo clinic. This is why I love this forum everybody shares and it’s so important to have a way to communicate thank you all

Please take a deep breath, and try to not let panic take over. I know it is frightening but your mother got breast cancer in another time when there were not nearly as many nor as effective tools in the box to treat it with. I am sorry about your mom, I am sure you wish you could ask her a thousand questions right now. Today we are blessed with many safe and effective treatments to treat breast cancer, not all of them are easy and your treatment plan will likely include some side effects but you are young and have quality time ahead of you. Your pathology report will likely drive your treatment plan. You said you are meeting with the surgeon, is there a plan moving forward or are you discussing options? Any other treatments in the plan yet?

I have just been diagnosed with stage 1 ILC. Seeing surgeon this week for info. 57 yr. Old... my mother died of same breast cancer at 61. I have All Kinds of emotions and fears going on. Crazy!

Good morning @bethab. You could have written my story exactly. I exhausted all of the AI’s and I am now on my last resort Tamoxifen. I have been on them now 2 months and so far so good I think. Started to get some should pain which I didn’t have before and I always seem hungry which could be dangerous. I am going to give them my best try and if I feel that the side effects progress I will use the rule my family doctor gave me “instead of a 25% of recurrence look at it 75% of not recurring”. All the best❤️