Anastrozole

Hi Poucha,  I have been on Anastrazole for 6 months and it has been okay.  A few pesky side effects but nothing to report.  I have severe dry mouth at night and my hair has gotten thinner. My hair was really thick so hair still ok but hope it doesn’t last all through the 5 years of treatment!!!  Have not heard of starflower oil.  
Good luck.  I was worried too about going on Anastrazole because I had read so many bad side effects but felt I should try as my tumor is 100% ER and PR positive.  You may be lucky and feel ok.

Barbara

Hi, I have been taking Anastrozole for just over three months and have been ok so far. I do not take star oil, so can't advise you on that Good luck with everything. . 

Thanks 

Thank u 

Hi. I'm about 8 months in, and the side effects have been minimal; ache-y feet and fingers at times, and a dry mouth right at the beginning but that's about it.  Have you spoken to your oncologist about starflower oil? I was advised not to take anything OTC unless I'd spoken to her or a pharmacist in case it reduced the efficacy of the Anastrozole.

Brat wishes

I will speak to them tomorrow thank you.

Best wishes, obviously...

I have been on Anastrozole for 18 months now , side effects have not been too bad , my problem is because Anastrozole is a hormone blocker, I had a bone density scan and was told I had slight osteopenia and would need something to protect my bones. I was put on Alondronic Acid …. Awful side effects, joint pain couldn’t get down stairs some days. .managed 3 months! I am now on Risedronate, been on that for nearly 3 months and although better ,I am not as active as I would like. I have asked my doctors if I could not look after my bones by diet and exercise, but was told a firm no. Is anyone else on this group of tablets,  (bishosphonates) would be grateful for any feedback, 

Hi Daisy May. I was put on Alendronic Acid three years ago when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I was borderline but had suffered asmall fracture to my vertebrae so felt I should take precautions. I lasted about four months, I felt so old, had problems with my hip and my hair was definitely suffering. Saw my GP and told him I wanted to stop taking it. He was concerned and referred me to a consultant to have a chat. The consultant was quite adamant that biophosphates was the only sure way to improve my bone density. He recommended trying a different one so reluctantly I swapped to Ibandronic Acid. I have been on this for two and a half years and have had no noticeable side effects. I took Alendronic every seven days but Ibandronic is once a month. For breast cancer they like you to go on a daily tablet but I asked if I could stay on monthly and they agreed.Getting a DXA scan in December, first for three years so will be keen to see if bone density has improved.  I am also prescribed Thai-cal D3 tablets which are vitamin D and calcium supplemant, really important for bones so maybe your GP could start you on these. My breast surgeon said my vitamin D levels were excellent so this must be down to my daily tablets because most of us are deficient in vitamin D. Hope this helps.  I have been on Anestrozole for 8 weeks and so far it has been ok.

Evajean x

Hi Daisy May T

i have had surgery in July removing tumour to left side and ancillary node clearance and completed my radiotherapy in September. 
I take Letrozole and Ibandronic acid (this is the bisphosponate ) . Like you, I had many issues around taking this tablet and did lots of research and asked lots of questions as not all oncologists go down the same route /thoughts in treatment plans and this raised alarm bells .
I also asked my brother , who lives in the USA and has been in the pharmaceutical industry as CEO for many years so has lots of contacts in the medical world . He came back with advice that the bisphosponates are an essential to take , as a precaution , to help keep the cancer away.  This helped me to come to the decision that I need to take them. I have to take the daily 50mg tablet unfortunately I have struggled with them but mainly due to the second batch prescribed which were a different brand to the first ones and I did not tolerate them at all. I chatted with my GP and requested him to state on my prescription that I needed the brand ACCORD. They are film coated and I tolerate them much better. He agreed to this . I have had an issue getting them from my regular pharmacy a nd have had to tiring round a few pharmacies. The larger chains do not have control over ordering specific brands so I found an independent one who is able too . 

I hope this helps in some way to you making your decision. I don’t like taking them but I feel I have to. 
I live in the UK the way and am 70 years old . Your personal circumstances might be different. 

The Letrozole side effects are bearable so far and I’m hoping they improve as time goes on. 
Good luck with your  journey .

take care, NannaJ x