Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I think we both will do fine. There are no guarantees that the medicine will keep us from getting breast cancer again. I have read some of the other posts and even women that took it for 4 years were reporting they got it again. Goodluck! Just keep as healthy as possible and exercise. Enjoy each day and don't worry about the future.

@1aug2allis
I feel just like you. After 5 months on Anastrozole with stiffness in fingers and shoulder tendons I quit. I’m 71 and want to enjoy each day with as little pain as possible

@rbarber100 Thanks for sharing. I think for me than I made the right decision to stop after 3 weeks. It was making me not feel like I wanted to do much. Stiffness that is still bothering me and I'm a walker and biker and around your age. Getting ready to turn 72 in December. I already have thin hair, not from the medicine, but I did notice I was losing a lot in the shower just starting this, now it has slowed down to almost nothing. For me personally I want to live my life feeling the best I can. Will not try any further meds after reading other comments. You girls are amazing that are willing to stay on it. Good luck to everyone. What a way to spend our later years worrying about breast cancer.

I did have some hair fall at the start of taking Anastrozole. I use some special shampoo. I was already on Minoxidil pills and I added the minoxidil foam several times a week. My hair did return to the same level as before starting the medicine. At 20 months I had many many side effects and Terrible pain. My doctor changed me to Exemestane and I’m having less side effects. Starting the new medicine I again I’m having some hair fall, but I feel like if I do the same thing that my hair will rebound again. Good luck in your journey, everybody’s is different.

@lynnn
Thank you Lynnn. I also hope that you will be O.K..

@rbarber100

Please let me know how you only hear about the bad about anastrozole on this site.

Did you hear that the FDA just approved a drug to help with breast cancer? The name is Trodelvy. Check to see if it applies to your treatment plan.

I started on anastrozole and was on it for about 2 1/2 years. Many do not have side effects (and don’t always join these groups so you hear mostly the bad here!) but I had pain and fatigue at first, then hair loss started after the first year. Not terrible, mostly thinning, but a topper helps. After the 2 1/2 years I was feeling about 90 even though I am a young 73. When I took a break I realized I had been in a severe depression! I have switched to exemestane in September and starting to see a little of the same effects after only a few months. I guess I am stuck like this for another 8 years, oh joy.
They say everyone reacts different so I hope for you that you can sail through with no problems!

@mimi09 omg, your emotional plate is full. Stay vigilant and keep fighting for You. Feel free to reach out to me about anything. I’m here. (((HUGS))) Keep moving forward. You’ve got this! ❤️🥰❤️

I have been on letrozole for 8 months. I have joints that ache and have had hot flashes and night sweats at times. They seem to have subsided but I do shed hair. I started using Vegamour shampoo and conditioner and serum and I think the hair loss has slowed. I have to be on it for five years - had invasive lobular cancer but none in my lymph nodes so no chemo. Had bilateral mastectomies since it reduced chances of cancer returning from 15% with lumpectomy and radiation to 2% from a surgical perspective. With my oncotype score of 22 I still have an 8% chance cancer could return even with taking the AI letrozole which is the strongest hormone blocker usually used for invasive lobular cancer which is hard to treat since it doesn’t always respond to chemo. I hope this information helps. Don’t get ahead of yourself with worry about side effects. Everyone is different and I find lots of exercise and breathing and stretching helps the joint pain. I left weights. Walk and do yoga. Stay positive! You got this!