Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I'm 74 and am waiting to start Radiation for Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Estrogen & Progesterone +. After my radiation I'm supposed to start Anastrazole and am concerned about the side effects. My Medical Oncologist eased my anxiety. She told me to try it and if I experience side effects we have two other medications to try. If I can't tolerate any of them I'll have done what I can and just keep up with my follow ups. I figure the stress I was putting on myself is worse for my health than not taking the Anastrazole. I'm trying to keep things in perspective, with each passing year something else could kill me before the Cancer. But I don't want to be in constant pain or end up on so many medications that I can't live my life.

Yes I experienced hair loss after 6 months of taking Anastrozole. It’s now almost 2 years on it and still experiencing hair loss.
What can I do to stop hair loss?
Thanks

Happy to hear that you are having few side effects.
I had every side effect in the book and then my left knee blew out, leading to injections of anti-inflammatory drugs (32 ml of one; 6 ml of Durolane; Tramadol for pain) and I could not walk for over 6 months. After the meniscus-tear-like symptoms abated, my left knee (which was injured in a bicycling accident in 1997) did not return to "normal." I have to brace it to walk at all, and it doesn't appear that it is ever going to be "right" again. The thing is, I had been in a nationwide study (the MOST study) of those with a family history of arthritis and/or previously damaged joints from 1997 to 2020. I made numerous trips to Iowa City, Iowa to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and was X-rayed (hips, knees) and had MRIs of my left knee each and every time, to track the disintegration of my/our fragile joints. With that history, I should never have been given any of the A.I. drugs and told the only side effect was "a little stiffness in your hands and fingers when you wake up first thing in the morning, and it goes away when you quit taking it." Because I am also a Type II diabetic I also know that my bone density declined from -1.4T to -2.4T during this time, which is from osteopaenia to osteoporosis, which gives me a whole new set of problems to deal with. It's not enough to have to worry about my onco score of 29 and diabetes and fibromyalgia, now I get to debate whether or not to take biphosphanates for bone loss/osteoporosis. I'm in the midst of $10 grand worth of dental work right now from 2 teeth simply splitting below the gumline, and my dental insurance tops out at $1500 annually. So, while I am happy to hear that others are dodging the Anastrozole bullet, it got me right where I live, and taking Anastrozole has caused me a great deal of pain, suffering and money. A good doctor would have told me to avoid A.I. drugs and possibly recommended Tamoxifen, which does not "inflame" joints and attack your bone density to quite the extent that Anastrozole, Laetrozole and Exemestane can, Obviously, my oncologist in a smallish rural area was not great, not informed, and not helpful. He only saw me 2 times in 8 months and he still denies that the side effects I mention above had anything to do with taking Anastrozole from Feb 1, 2022 until my knee blew out (Sept. 15, 2022). I've changed doctors, but the damage is done and appears to be irreversible.

so hope you are feeling better. I also had and have terrible side effects and six months in still have some. I asked about side effects and was told "well, maybe a few hot flashes" ya right!
more must be done to spread the word and help all women make good and safe choices and stop the suffering.

I am fully with you the way the possible side effects of theses AIs are underplayed. I am currently part of a research study in UK ( Roseta) looking at peoples experiences and compliance with treatment. I am emphasising in my feedback how the side effects some ( admittedly not all) women will experience are played down and the impact theses drugs can have on both mental health and physical function.