I was hoping to get some advice from you all on behalf of my Mum. She was diagnosed with a low grade lobular breast cancer in late 2017, no node involvement, with lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
She managed to get the “all clear” and had her first anniversary mammogram and Breast MRI late last year showing no changes which was great. She also had bone scans and chest scans this time last year which did not show anything further (apart from disc degeneration disease and early signs of osteoporosis/arthritis. She is in her late 60s and has also suffered from back pain for most of her life).
She has been experiencing aches and pains in her legs since using anastrozole. And from around 3 months ago, she also started experiencing pain in her shoulder blade which gets worse when she’s lying down or resting.
As soon as we told the GP, she ordered a chest and bone scan/x rays. I then made the mistake of googling her shoulder symptoms which state that shoulder pain can be the first symptom of lung cancer!
Has anyone else suffered with the side effects of anastrozole including aches and pains or shoulder pains? If anyone has any info or similar side effects, or ways to manage the pain, please feel free to share your story. I’m hoping it’s nothing to be too concerned about...but there’s always that fear!
Hi EleanorNya welcome to the forum and so sorry to hear about how worried that you are.
Anastrazole belongs to a group pf drugs known as Aromatase Inhibitors and are usually given to us when we have had Lobular Breast Cancer which is Hormone Positive which I assume that your mums was when she is on that medication.
Unfortunately this group of drugs can cause all sorts of aches and pains and it is very very common when on this drug to have aches and pains. Its to do with us being deprived of Oestrogen which the drug is designed to do.
I was on another drug form the same group called Letrozole and I have had to come off it as the side effects and aches and pains were outweighing any benefit for me. This was done with careful monitoring from the Oncology team and GP etc.
I can understand your fear but hopefully it is as a result of the drug and if you have contact with a Breast Care Nurse its maybe worth giving them a call and having a chat with them re this.
Meantime Im sending some very best wishes your way.xxxxx
i just wanted to let you know that as a (now) 74 year old I’ve been on a similar drug, Letrozole , for just over a year and aches and pains seem to come with the territory, especially for those who are a bit older in years and who may already have arthritis/age related aches. Aromatase is a similar drug, designed to fight and reduce oestrogen in those of us who have the type of breast cancer that is oestrogen-fed. The body still produces small amounts of oestrogen even after the menopause.
I found keeping active plus ensuring (checking with my bcn) that I kept vitamins and minerals well up, taking vitamin B12 plus glucosamine and chondroitin.
I hope all is well with her and you find the replies reassuring..... her bcn will be happy to help even after a while....
Thank you Granny59 and moomy. Your answers have been very reassuring and at least my Mum is not on her own when it comes to suffering with the aromatose inhibitors. The aches and pains are too much (on top of the general pains she gets from her back and discs), but I’m hoping the new pain she is experiencing with her shoulder is related to the tablets and nothing sinister.
As for the breast cancer nurse, My Mother had an amazing nurse who unfortunately left her job last year. The new one we’ve been assigned is a bit more distant and very hard to contact. I will definitely keep trying to reach her in case she can be of any help.
I've been on Anastrozole since February, initially with few side effects. Initially I was taking TEVA brand but when I picked up my prescription from the pharmacy a couple of months ago I noticed it was a different brand ACCORD. OMG the joint paint was excruciating- especially at night. Shoulder (the opposite side to my mastectomy, knee, hip etc). I changed back to TEVA 2 weeks ago and it has made a huge difference - no more sleepless nights!
I wondered how long ago did your mum have her radiotherapy. I’m currently having radiotherapy and was told my shoulder might ache or have pain in it due to the way the arm is positioned during treatment. Just thought if it was the same side as her treatment it could have been that. Otherwise please don’t GOOGLE, outdated information and data and just a generalisation not unique to your mum.
I’m on letrozole, I have some aches, I’m stiff most morning when I wake up but ok after that, bit of knee pain and a hurting shoulder at the moment but I’m putting that down to position of arm during rads.
Hope all settles down for your mum.
, It’s strange isn’t it, I was on Accord for my first month and everybody was saying how good it was and how they found it the best one, I was really pleased I got that Brand, then on repeat prescription for GP I got a different brand from Sun Pharmaceuticals and it seems the same so far I guess I’ll have to see.
My Mums anastrozole is actually Accord so it may be a case of changing to Teva and seeing if that makes any difference. Thanks for the suggestion.
She finished radiotherapy a year ago and the shoulder pain is coming from the opposite side of her treatment. I’m hoping it is just related to either the anastrozole or the existing back problems she has. We also have a catch up with the oncologist next week so hopefully she can provide a bit more insight as to what’s causing the pain. I can only be thankful that she’s in good hands between her GP and oncology team and they can get to the bottom of this.
