Anastrozole

Maxiash

Hi Everyone I am wondering if anyone who is taking Anastrozole can share any side effects you have experienced with me. Also have your side effects stayed the same or improved of time. Also how you managed them?. I had a lumpectomy in July for an 8mm cancer in my left breast and I also had calcifications that were removed. My cancer had clear margins of 5mm and my calcifications had clear margins of 2mm. I also had 3 lymph nodes removed that were all clear. I feel very lucky. Chemo was not needed and I was given the choice to have radio and endocrine therapy. My cancer was slow growing my Ki-67 was 5 which is low. I chose not to have radio. I did take anastrozole when my surgery was delayed due to me catching covid and a 2nd virus before my surgery. My surgeon told me to stop taking it just before my surgery and I did notice I was constipated and I never get constipated. My oncologist said to take benifibre if that happens again because I have external haemorrhoids that bled for a few weeks and were painful. I was on it for less than 2 weeks and im not sure if the medication caused my problem or the effects of surgery. After reading the information leaflet I saw what other side effects I may get.

iserbrown

Hi @Maxiash
If you use the search bar you will find previous discussions on your topic, Anastrozole!
Please keep in mind that not everyone suffers the side effects mentioned in the leaflet.  
If it doesn't settle a discussion with your Specialist about an alternative AI will help.
Take care

arpie

Gosh @Maxiash - I've been on Anastrozole for just over 5 years & have never had constipation.  That would have been very unpleasant.   Everyone reacts differently to different meds, as @iserbrown says.   I was on Letrozole and Exemestane prior to that and I had the 'normal' side effects - mainly joint aches & pains & insomnia, which is why I changed to Anastrozole.   I've had much less side effects on Anastrozole.   

Did you go back onto it (or another AI) after your surgery?  Have you had continued constipation?

Had you changed your diet regime at all?  As with any changes, if they last for a fair while (or keep coming back) it might be worth asking your specialist if you can have a bowel sample tested .... 

take care & all the best

Maxiash

Hi iserbrown thank you will do that. arpie no I haven't gone back on it yet. I saw my oncologist for the 1st time recently, Ive lost time. I know my radio consult and oncology consult were close to my post surgery consult. My constipation stopped a few weeks after my surgery. I know the day of my surgery I needed to go before they took me into theatre and I was very uncomfortable and couldn't go. I didnt change my diet I always eat well.I will try the benifibre when I go back on it as my oncologist suggested if it happens again. arpie how did you manage the normal side effects as in the joint pain and insomnia? I am sleeping well again like I use to prior to being diagnosed. My arthritis is not an issue I dont need Panadol very often. How do you manage your joint pain?

arpie

@Maxiash. I was on medicinal cannabis for much of the time - it helped reduce both the aches & pains & also helped me sleep.    

I am currently cutting down on AIs as I finish up for good next year - and I have come off the oil for now too.  Speak to your Onc about it, if you think it may help.  But if you aren't on AIs ... all going well, you shouldn't have side effects. (I come from an arthritis background too, so the AIs just made all my aches & pains that much worse.)

take care

cranky_granny

@Maxiash I was on anastrozole from 2017 to 2019 then did tamoxifen for 6 months and switched back to anastrozole in 2020. 

Of the 2 Anastrozole has had the least side effects.  

Yes it’s different for each individual which side effect you might get. Most do get the joint aches. When I was  just on Anastrzole I would get a bit blocked up. Just took movacol to get moving. My biggest problem has been I don’t get enough exercise and I am a desk jockey at work,  which doesn’t help with the constipation problems that I used to get, I reduced my work hrs dramatically which helped a lot. I thought I had a reasonable diet but found I had to change the fruit I ate  Plus. Drink heaps more water. 

As for hot flushes they settled down but I still get them. Theres a new medication for that issue if it happens. 

Our Drs can only do their best to treat us, And adjust as needed. Melatonin help with falling asleep.  because I had a high % on my hormone results  98 & 97. AI was and is a must for me. 

I hope when you start back up the side effects are minimal and settle to tolerable once the body adjusts. 

Maxiash

Thank you arpie and cranky_granny I appreciate your advice. My husband and I are going away at the end of this week for 5 days and my oncologist wants me to have a bone density test done, I will get that done before we go away and I will start back on the Anastrozole next week when we get home. After reading the information leaflet my oncologist gave me on Anastrozole I have been worried and needed to hear how other people have managed their side effects. As I said I took the med when my surgery was delayed but that was only for about 2 weeks which I think wasn't long enough to feel more side effects after reading the time frame for side effects on the leaflet. My constipation was a big problem but I had no other issues in that 2 weeks. I will drink more water and get out and walk again. I will try different fruits and see if that helps. I will also buy Benefibre like my oncologist suggested. Thanks again everyone for your advice.