Anastrozole for postmenopausal women

Hi HelenPP welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear how confused you are. In respect of Anastrazole it belongs to a group of medicines known as hormone blockers often given to women after Breast Cancer.  They like most of the drugs in this group can and do cause bony pain which differs from person to person. So in theory you could potentially be ok with it. I was started on Letrozole but couldn't tolerate that so with much discussion and a chat with breast nurse and her using the PREDICT tool my risk was between 1 and 2% so I decided not to take these. However, whilst I have had no issues with breast recurrence I have had ongoing issues as a result of me producing minimal amounts of oestrogen which have affected my womb lining. So I think it really has to be your choice but I wonder if it worth having a chat with the breast nurse and get as well informed as you can be to make your decision..xxx

thank your for coming back.  My predict risk is 1% and that is why i'm thinking of not going ahead with it.  Please, if you don't mind, could you explain the womb lining issues?  was this because of not using the hormone blockers or because of using them?

Apparently when we have all our reproductive organs intact after menopause and I had put on weight as well we women continue to produce oestrogen and store it in our fat. I started with post menopausal bleeding which turned out to be thickening of the lining which is not good as left untreated can become cancerous so I have a coil in situ to thin the lining and reduce my risk which is working. I can't honestly say whether that would have happened with the drug or as a result of not having it. Hope that makes sense? 

Hi HelenPP

i'm currently taking Anastrozole and I'm not having any problems with it.

Best of luck with it all whatever you decide to do.

Best wishes

Daisy53

thank you. xx

thank you.  that's interesting to know.  the consultant told me about oestrogen being in fat, i too piled on the weight with menopause and have organs in tact.  I was also told that it would be very difficult to lose weight on the hormone blockers

Hello HelenPP,  Oh there are always so many decisions to make and not easy ones either.  I live in US and had DCIS in one breast and stage 1 in the other.  Both 100% estrogen positive.  I was 71 yrs old when diagnosed but very healthy and active.  I did have osteoarthritis in thumbs and back but cycled about 5 days a week and was active.  So my treatment was bilateral lumpectomies, radiation (whole breast) to both breasts and Anastrazole for 5 years.  I had whole breast radiation as my breasts are small and radiation oncologist said I could not partial breast radiation as it would have covered all my breast anyway.  I am 75 now and have been on my Anastrazole for a little over 2 years.  I am doing pretty well on it but do have hot flushes, some muscle aches, dry vagina and sleep issues.  Things that have helped me are continuing to exercise, taking melatonin time released as needed for sleep, dressing in layers, using a good hyaluronic acid vaginal moisturizer every three days, eating plant based, staying hydrated and I used to take my Anastrazole in the morning but switched to taking with my dinner and it has helped me to not have as many muscle aches during the day.  I had to change as it was impacting my bicycling and I felt like an old woman peddling along(Haha I am old!!!).

Things are changing for older women who have breast cancer and there are studies now on just lumpectomy without radiation and other things too.

 I think what you do is a totally personal decision but should depend on age, type of cancer, risks willing to take etc.

 I also took HRT for 16 years and there is a study that says the risk of reoccurrence can last as long as 30 years.  I do miss my HRT but with my history no systematic HRT for me.  I am going to ask my medical oncologist about vaginal estrogen for the dryness at my next visit and get all my research together to see if I can have that.  You can have that if you are on tamoxifen but there was one study that is always referenced that mentions slight risk of recurrence with aromatase inhibitors and the study was flawed too so I have to get busy. 
So sorry I rambled on and on.

thank you Barbara.  It is very difficult to make these decisions without some professional guidance.  So far, I am told that it will make a 1% (0.8%) difference to the risk of returning within 10 years if i have partial radiotherapy and anastrozole.  Same % for the full breast radiation.  I'm very confused about it all but am getting some professional guidance, bit by bit.   At the moment i'm leaning towards the full breast radiation (left breast) and no hormone tablets.  But, i'm still not decided.  I'm 55 and post menopausal.

the cancer was low grade/risk and 92% chance of survival for next 10 years.  with treatment would be 93%.

Hi Helen,  Dani Binnington on YouTube has a show called menopause and cancer.  Her podcast was great that I just watched When tamoxifen and AI’s become too much.  Talks about the predict tool etc.  The medical oncologist was fabulous.  I think this will help answer your questions.  I am going to watch it again.  Let me know if you like it.