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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gwinter | @gwinter | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @trixie1313 "@gwinter I underwent surgical menopause at age 44 (removal of uterus and ovaries). It was brutal...." + (show)
@trixie1313

@gwinter I underwent surgical menopause at age 44 (removal of uterus and ovaries). It was brutal. At that time they gave us estrogen pills twice daily which helped immensely but then the Women's Health Study came out and that was stopped. I think back then my Gynecologist gave me some sort of psych pill for a short time, but I don't remember the name. I do take my aromatase inhibitors at night and will awaken with sweats, but daytime hot flashes are minimal then. They tend to start about an hour after I take my pill. I stay away from alcohol as that tends to start them off more. I've also upped my exercise doing water time and a lot of walking. I think staying active helps a lot. With the fire here in northern California, I have both of my kids' families and animals living with us so am doing a LOT of cooking and baking and having huge hot flashes...I have one of those little fans that hand around your neck and it helps immensely!

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@trixie I am taking nothing as far as AI, but had a hysterectomy February this year. Oh boy do I have days and nights! Tried all the special jammies, too! Getting very very old!
Stay safe and keep on baking!! Hugs!

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @gwinter "@trixie are you taking anything for your hot flashes? Anybody ideas??" + (show)
@gwinter

@trixie are you taking anything for your hot flashes?
Anybody ideas??

Jump to this post

@gwinter I underwent surgical menopause at age 44 (removal of uterus and ovaries). It was brutal. At that time they gave us estrogen pills twice daily which helped immensely but then the Women's Health Study came out and that was stopped. I think back then my Gynecologist gave me some sort of psych pill for a short time, but I don't remember the name. I do take my aromatase inhibitors at night and will awaken with sweats, but daytime hot flashes are minimal then. They tend to start about an hour after I take my pill. I stay away from alcohol as that tends to start them off more. I've also upped my exercise doing water time and a lot of walking. I think staying active helps a lot. With the fire here in northern California, I have both of my kids' families and animals living with us so am doing a LOT of cooking and baking and having huge hot flashes...I have one of those little fans that hand around your neck and it helps immensely!

REPLY
2 replies
gwinter | @gwinter | Oct 29, 2019
In reply to @trixie1313 "@sparklegram I've been on the exemestane for about a month now. Still having some bone pain,..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@sparklegram I've been on the exemestane for about a month now. Still having some bone pain, but not severe and all over like with the other two AIs. Have a few hot flashes, but nothing like when I had surgical menopause. I do take my pill at night time so that may help alleviate some of the hot flashes, possibly going on while I'm sleeping because I will wake up with sweats. I do get insomnia..go to sleep and wake up 1-2 hours later and can't sleep. I keep my Nook near me so when I can't sleep, I just read for 1 or 2 hours and then fall back to sleep. The fatigue from all three is rough, but I'm dealing better with it from walking and therapeutic water exercise. For me, after trying out all 3 aromatiase inhibitors, the exemestane seems to be tolerable.

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@trixie are you taking anything for your hot flashes?
Anybody ideas??

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2 replies
bressie | @bressie | Oct 29, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I..." + (show)
@sparklegram

bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I simply can't take the side effects. My doctor has prescribed Exemestane. I'm hoping I can tolerate it better than the other. Like you, I'm in my 70's (I just turned 75) and quality of life is important! I will continue taking the meds for the 5 years. i don't want a recurrence, so...fingers crossed!

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I would like to stay in touch with you to see how you do. Does insurance cover it. I have united health care and medicare. Ill keep you in my prayers. Keep me posted wish you the very best us old gals need to stick together

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1 reply
bressie | @bressie | Oct 29, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "Why don’t you try Tamoxifen - less side effects" + (show)
@francine6829

Why don’t you try Tamoxifen - less side effects

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I dont fit into the catsgory. I was just diagnosed in july had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer smaller than a cheerio abd only my estrogen receptor was 1. No radiation or chem needed and all lymph nodes and edges were clean.

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gwinter | @gwinter | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @bressie "Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin..." + (show)
@bressie

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

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@bressie I am 65 and tried 2 different meds and decided with 4 grandsons and a life of moving around I could not handle that kinda quality of life!
My BC was 1A hers negative, pro+, er+ 2 lymph nodes nothing in them or marginal tissue, 20 radiation treatments, and a hysterectomy
You can do it!!
Decide what you want to feel like and the quality of life!!!

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I..." + (show)
@sparklegram

bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I simply can't take the side effects. My doctor has prescribed Exemestane. I'm hoping I can tolerate it better than the other. Like you, I'm in my 70's (I just turned 75) and quality of life is important! I will continue taking the meds for the 5 years. i don't want a recurrence, so...fingers crossed!

Jump to this post

Did you doc offer up Tomoxifen ?

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @bressie "Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin..." + (show)
@bressie

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

Jump to this post

Why don’t you try Tamoxifen - less side effects

REPLY
1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @bressie "Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin..." + (show)
@bressie

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

Jump to this post

bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I simply can't take the side effects. My doctor has prescribed Exemestane. I'm hoping I can tolerate it better than the other. Like you, I'm in my 70's (I just turned 75) and quality of life is important! I will continue taking the meds for the 5 years. i don't want a recurrence, so...fingers crossed!

REPLY
3 replies
bressie | @bressie | Oct 28, 2019

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

REPLY
3 replies
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