anastrozole

roita
roita Member Posts: 2
edited September 2020 in General Cancer
I have had my surgery and radiation and now they want me to take anastrozole for 5 years..It has very bad side effects and I don't think I want to take it..Has anyone taken it and what do you think about it???

Comments

  • arby
    arby Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2020
    I’ve been taking it for probably four years now and I have not noticed any big side effects. I would say give it a try and see how you feel.
  • Dltmoll
    Dltmoll Member Posts: 71
    edited September 2020
    Everyone reacts differently and side effects from one may not be consistent throughout the options. I lasted on Anastrozole for about two years before the joint pain became debilitating. Tried Femara and Letrozole, pain was equalled if not worse. I have now been on tamoxifen for about a year and a half and while it has its own issues pain is not one of them, so will remain on it for at least the recommended time. It's a process, but you won't know unless you try.
  • Bengal
    Bengal Member Posts: 518
    edited February 2020
    It was recommended I stay on anastrozole for 10 years. I lasted just a little over 1 year. The side effects were robbing me of any kind of meaningful life. My energy level was zero. My joints aches so bad I could barely function. At 68 years old I couldn't face another nine years like that. I tried exemestane and letrozole and had a bad reaction to both. My oncologist reluctantly suggested tamoxifen but after reading the potential side effects I said no thank you! When I was first diagnosed I remember reading the statistics of the numbers of women who refused or gave up on the drugs. I couldn't understand how they could take that risk. After my year on anastrozole I understood completely! I don't intend to scare you off. Everyone react differently. I would say try it for a few months and see how the side effects are for you.
  • tlalex
    tlalex Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2020
    My experience was about the same only the intense side effects came on much quicker. I didn’t even last a year. Now I’m on tamoxifen (about 18 moths) and about to give it up also. My recurrence risk is low and I’ve given it almost 3 years-quality of life Is looking mighty good. That said, everyone reacts differently and I would give it a try. Every little bit helps according to my oncologist.
  • MarcieB
    MarcieB Member Posts: 528
    edited February 2020
    I fought taking it like crazy. All the possible side effects scared me until my oncology nurse said, "You know, some people don't have any side effects." Really? I decided to be one of those people. (lol!) I have been taking it for almost a year now and I have some mild pain in my hips in the morning, but it is pretty much gone by the time I get myself downstairs. My hair is growing very slow, but it is not falling out, so there's that. Some days I feel a little more tired than others, so I just take a little nap when I need to - I would not call it fatigue. I have not had hot flashes, but I didn't have any during menopause either, so I would be shocked to have one now! I'm aware some people have experience the side effect getting worse the longer you take it, but that will be tomorrow's problem, if it happens. For now, it is not a problem for me and has not impacted my life in a negative way. Everyone is different, but I agree you should give it a try.
  • grandmaann
    grandmaann Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2020
    I have been on anastrozole for over a year and have to say I have not noticed any side effects at all. Maybe a little tired - but not sure that is from the drug or from the chemo and radiation treatments. Give it a chance. You might be one of the lucky ones!
  • cllinda
    cllinda Member Posts: 153
    edited February 2020
    I have been on it since June of 2013. No real problems. And when I got the five year mark, they suggested we go ten years on it. So I'm on my way.
    It's supposed to keep both breast cancer and other cancers away. So I take it every day.
  • Ritaj
    Ritaj Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2020
    Have been on Anastrozole for approximately 3 years. I started with Letrazole but developed pain in my ankles around my achilles tendon. We switched to Anastrozole and that pain decreased immediately. I do have hot flashes and all the symptoms of menopause perpetually. However, I think it is worth the risk. Please don't rule it out without trying it.
  • akristine
    akristine Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2020
    I had a terrible time with Anastrozole as there was a contraindication with my Keppra (seizure meds). In less than 18 months, I had two grand mal seizures, shattering my radius in my left arm during the first one and shattering both radius and ulna in my left arm during the second one. I stopped taking the Anastrozole immediately and notified my oncologist. No problems after that and I've been NED 5 years.
  • PaulineJ
    PaulineJ Member Posts: 205
    edited February 2020
    I was on arimidex for 2 1/2 years out of 5.Side effects were pretty bad.Still not doing well,but far from what it was like.
    Like everybody is saying ,everybody is different though.
    I happened to be allergic to at least 21 medications I know of.I can only take tylenol for pain.They never knew what to give me for extreme pain.Once someone did find something when I had exteme pain from my back surgery in the hospital and rehab for 2 months .
  • Bengal
    Bengal Member Posts: 518
    edited February 2020
    PaulneJ, I have had adverse reactions to alot of pharmaceuticals too. One reason I am always leary of starting any new drug. Exemestane made my face go completely numb. Letrozole gave me horrible stomach cramps. Since AI's ony slightly reduce one's chance of recurrence I decided to forgo these drugs. It's a crap shoot.
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2020
    AIs greatly reduced my chance of recurrence - i was stage IIIa. I took Arimidex for 10 years, side effects be dmned. I am now 11 years NED. GIVE IT A TRY.


























  • roita
    roita Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2020
    I want to thank all for your responses..gives me something to think about...I guess the smart thing to do would be to try it...
  • fluteplayer
    fluteplayer Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2020
    I have been on arimidex for a long time and I take it at night so I have had no side effects that I can blame on it. Have alot of side effects from stage 4 cancer that has went into my lung and bones causing alot of problems
  • petieagnor
    petieagnor Member Posts: 110
    I took it for the 5 recommended years. I don't remember the side effects being bad as it was 14 yrs ago. I should have stayed on it for 10 as I was triple positive at Stage 3 BC. My Dr. was a jerk. Should have changed doctors, but since there was no sign of cancer after 5 yrs, I didn't. Love my new oncologist.
  • fluteplayer
    fluteplayer Member Posts: 13
    I am going now to the same dr. I started with . she was so good until she left and got a quack to replace her. my xdr. left my cancer go from stage1 to stage 4 ln 10 years. only seen 1 a year and no test as I looked to healthy. my pcp found it in my bones and this quack gave me a scan and found it in my lungs, gave me 6 months to live without chemo. Had another port put in and suffered terrible also left Kittanning and went to Hillman and had a wonderful dr. who killed himself last year. Had another dr. from Hillman who recommended Hospise . Talked my dr. in Kittanning to recommend it too.Have to drive 30 miles to see her but worth it,better than Pittsburgh. All I am on now is arimidex but soon chemo again as tumor marker keep rising

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