Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I was talking recently with two women friends who have also gone through breast cancer. They have both decided to not take the recommended AI. They told me there was a recent study about using AI that showed a 30% chance of recurrence. I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but would love to read any current studies. Does anyone have a link?

@gwinter
That's the key thing, isn't it... sharing our experiences alerts and educates us to get help when needed! Thank you for your post,

Bressie, I'm happy to stay in touch. I started the exemestane on Monday October 28th, 2019 so it's too soon to tell about side effects. With my Kaiser insurance I always pay $5.00 per RX of any pills. Yes! It helps to chat with other "old gals"!

@kathyomaha55 when I was anastrozole, in one day I had 62 bouts of hot flashes and the following day for just a few hours I would say I had suicidal thought. Thank heavens I knew what was up (due to reading these blogs and the most wonderful pharmacist) and called the Dr
Horrendous feeling of loss of control!

@kathyomaha55 My daughter-in-law has seen the improvement since my switching to exemestane as with the other two AIs, the heel pain made it difficult to get up from a seated position to stand and walk as well as hand, leg, and elbow pain. Sure do hope it goes better for you as it has with me.

@gwinter That will do it! Yikes, aren't we the lucky duckies that get to experience this not once but twice?!

I thought my hot flashes got worse with the anastrozole. But they are better now than the first 4 months. Dead of winter & I was only sleeping with 1 sheet on me! Doctor is switching me to Exemestane - but that's to see if the hand pain will ease. I sure hope it's better.

If you're online right now, please hop over to see this live presentation by Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a diagnostic breast specialist, on achieving optimal well-being through diet, exercise, and stress management, followed by a Q&A session for which Dr. Mussallem will be joined by these specialists:

– Kristin Lothman, MSW, LCSW, Mind-Body Counselor
– Dr. Raul Rosario Concepcion, Physical Medicine and Cancer Prehabilitation
– Debra Silverman, MS, RDN, LD/N, Integrative Cancer Nutritionist

Click this link to watch live or to see the archive any time: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-about-breast-cancer-survivorship-care-planning/

@tricks yep had a total hysterectomy and oophrectomy(sp)...I think that's the hot flash problem!!
Due to cells in tumor next place cancer would have gone was ovary (I had one removed when I was 19)

@gwinter Good thing your ovaries weren't removed....you'd be in a worse pickle! These things do help: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/o2-cool-reg-deluxe-necklace-fan/3293693?keyword=neck-fans