Osteopenia, a side effect of Anastrozole: Any advice?

I'm in a similar spot -- 2 yrs Anastrozole this July, ostopenia diag at 1.5 yr mark, I take some Calcium, 6000 Vit D + K2. I walk a lot, and have recently added a weighted vest to increase the load, hoping it helps.

I was not told about connection between Anastrozole and heart disease, cholesterol, or blood sugar!! Just finding this out, on my own, and asking for additional labs this week. Why does the patient have to think of, and request these ourselves??? That's a whole other post, I guess. Anyway ... if any labs are of concern, I will consult ND (integrative oncologist) to talk about adjustments to diet, exercise, lifestyle, etc.

I already eat mostly plant-based (by choice for several years, even before bc), walk 3-5 mi a day, and willing to adjust, add, or remove whatever is needed for my best health and immunity, without adding another med. Anastrozole is my only med, and I want to keep it that way.

Question. After 18 months on Anastrazole, I have developed neuropathy in my feet. Finding a cause is impossible. They say either chemo or diabetes. I had radiation, not chemo. Members of my family are diabetic, so I have always kept a close eye on it. 6 months ago showed not diabetic. Now I am 1 number into pre-diabetic and they are attributing that to the cause of the neuropathy which came out of nowhere. You mentioned blood sugar and cholesterol. Both have changed since pain in my feet. Are these common issues caused by Anastrozole. I can't believe how much research I have to do to find answers. I feel like you. I will do anything I need to do. I changed my diet, workout daily. I am only 66. I can't believe this is my quality of life and will only get worse. Thank you.

I know exactly what you mean about the amount of research just to find answers to stuff i feel should have been part of our "education " right up front. I mean, someone is aware of all the risks/issues, why do we need to go searching for it, each one of us, and possibly each finding different answers or levels of detail?

About the blood sugar and cholesterol, those are things I've read or heard, and I'm sorry I don't recall where. I just did labs this week, my glucose is fine but cholesterol is high. Onc confirmed probably caused by anastrozole, and i may want to have a cardiovascular work up at some point. Great, what next? My "care team" keeps expanding, and none of them seem to communicate with each other either.

Good luck to you in finding the answers you need. I often feel like the squeaky wheel. I always have one more question, but we have to keep asking for ourselves, no one else will.

I was on Anastrozol from 2022 and had severe backache and body ache. Also this year my Dexa showed osteoporosis.
My oncologist has prescribed Prelia every six months and replaced the Anastrozol with Tomaxifin. My backache has definitely reduced!
I have also started Osteostrong exercises and vibration therapy.

I will have to wait for a year at least to know if it has made any difference!

You may want to check k with your oncologist the change of the medicine.

Best wishes.