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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trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I thought my hot flashes got worse with the anastrozole. But they are better now than..." + (show)
@kathyomaha55

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.

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@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.

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1 reply
gwinter | @gwinter | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I thought my hot flashes got worse with the anastrozole. But they are better now than..." + (show)
@kathyomaha55

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.

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@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!

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1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @bressie "I would like to stay in touch with you to see how you do. Does insurance..." + (show)
@bressie

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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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"!

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elizm | @elizm | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @gwinter "@kathyomaha55 when I was anastrozole, in one day I had 62 bouts of hot flashes and..." + (show)
@gwinter

@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!

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@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,

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dmgweiss | @dmgweiss | Oct 30, 2019

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?

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Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | 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??

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Listening to Q & A and if go to 9 min 30 sec point in this video, she talks about side effects hormone therapy and discusses hot flashes.

https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinic/videos/410105226608669/
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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @trixie1313 "@kathyomaha55 My daughter-in-law has seen the improvement since my switching to exemestane as with the other..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@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.

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I had hands & shoulders & toes! The shoulders & toes are so much better - I was on anastrozole for 11 months. I sure hope switching helps. Watching the Mayo clinic Video right now. They mention exercise - which I do. And acupuncture for joint pain - interesting!!

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @dmgweiss "I was talking recently with two women friends who have also gone through breast cancer. They..." + (show)
@dmgweiss

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?

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I was told - that whatever my chance for recurrence was - the AI inhibitor cuts that in Half. Otherwise I would not be doing this. If it returns, metastasized Breast cancer is essentially incurable. It only has a 22% 5 year survival rate. 🙁

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Bressie, I'm happy to stay in touch. I started the exemestane on Monday October 28th, 2019..." + (show)
@sparklegram

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"!

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Exemestane was $101.00 for 30 days (after I had met my deductible) for me.

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1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @kathyomaha55 "Exemestane was $101.00 for 30 days (after I had met my deductible) for me." + (show)
@kathyomaha55

Exemestane was $101.00 for 30 days (after I had met my deductible) for me.

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Kathy, that's horrible! It shouldn't be this way. Does anyone know of a way to avoid these kinds of prices? (besides joining Kaiser!) Kathy, do you have Medicare?

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