Anastrozole

My tumour was Stage 1, Grade 2 and I was put on Anestrozole after my post-op appointment in September.  I came off it for a few weeks in December as I was struggling with UTI and few courses of antibiotics. Back on it now and no serious side effects. I have trouble sleeping but never been a great sleeper. Energy levels not quite back to normal but getting to feel more energetic.Hope you get on ok with HT. One slight drawback was that my cholesterol levels rose slightly, first for me so because of my age, 74, I was advised to start statins. This I have done as I was predicted to have a 10% chance of a stroke/ heart attack.Not sure if Anestrozole has raised my cholesterol but feel Statistics change each year older you get.

I also had surgery 1st December, Therapeutic Mammaplasty with Lymph node biopsy.  Stage 2, grade 2 ER and PR 100%, no node involvement.  Just started Anestrozole yesterday, along with Vit D/calcium.  Waiting for Radiotherapy now.  I have really struggled to get my head round taking HT as the side effects are wide ranging, but I don’t want another tumour either.  Evajean, you offered some excellent advice to someone else - just try it and see how you get on.  Thank you I think I just needed to get on with it and stop reading about all the potential issues.  Alice Margaret - let us know how you get on.  

Hello Alice Margaret,  I think we hear so many stories of women who have issues with the aromatase inhibitors that it makes us leery.  I had DCIS in one breast and Stage 1 grade 2 in the other.  Both 100% ER and PR positive so knew that Anastrazole was going to be prescribed.  I started it in May 2021 and did well except for dry mouth at night and thinning hair.  But in December started to itch all over but had no rash.  I thought it was Anastrazole so went to medical oncologist and they wanted me to stay on it but gave me some antihistamines and something to sleep at night.  Well I was very lethargic from all the meds but itchy anyway.  So when my soles of feet and palms of hands got red and itchy I called Dr and off the drug for 2 weeks.  Itch went away and they put me on Anastrazole again to see if it happens again.  Have been on it for 11 days and so far so good.  I hope it stays that way as I can manage my dry mouth and thinning hair.  
By the way did you have radiation treatments? We are have concerns about reoccurrence but must be thankful that it was caught early and can take meds to help.  Constant research is a comfort to me too.  I am 74 and really feel great so can’t complain too much.  
Take care and this forum is such a great place.  
Barbara

I have really struggled with Anastrozole.  I have been taking it off and on for a year now.  I cannot cope with it every day so take it every other day last thing at night before bed.  I still get joint pain, nausea, diarrhoea, dry eyes and visual disturbance and now the horrible itching.  I feel like I am being poisoned.  I have tried to find some research to convince me to continue but found it difficult to find anything other than comparisons with tamoxifen.  Has anyone found any food research?

Hi have you tried letrozole or exemestane?  They do the same job but are slightly different. I found letrozole difficult and was changed to aromasin which is the brand name for exemestane. It is expensive but my GP prescribed it. It is an improvement although I still get joint pain, eye problems and even slight hot flushes but no nausea or diarrhea. I have been on it for about  2 years. 

Good luck x

Hi Rosalia,

Thank you for your helpful response.  I am seeing my Medical Oncologist in March so will have that discussion with her.  

Oh Carrie52,  I know what you mean about the itching, it is terrible.  Medical oncologist took me of it for 2 weeks and I am back on it.  Day 13 and no itching.  My dry mouth at night is awful and my hair has thinned a little but I am still hopeful that I get no more itching.  They told me they would switch me to another AI if itch came back.  My tumor was 100% ER and PR positive so even though early BC hormones the big factor.  I hope you feel better.  
Barbara

Hi Carrie

I was on generic Anastrozole for 9 months. After a drug holiday to check if the side effects were down it ( they were) I started Arimidex which is the brand version of Anastrozole. 2.5 months in I am experiencing minimal impact so far and so I speculate being on the "pure" version of the drug without all the fillers suits me better 

Hope that helps 

Thank you so much, that is really helpful to know.  

Thank you Barbara.  All the comments are so helpful and I now have some ideas to try going forward.