Anastrozole and zoladex
Hi everyone. Seeking advice from anyone in similar situation. I started Anastrozole about April and so far so good. My oncologist suggested this treatment as my hormone levels indicated I was in post menopausal. I wasn’t really sure about this as just turned 50 and had no real symptoms however I have had a mirena for 10 years so probably masked it. The mirena was removed in April. Over the last couple of months my period returned so had more bloods which still states oestrogen levels low and I was continued to be monitored. My fear was that anastrozole was not working properly. My period then was more regular. I’ve seen my oncologist and latest hormone levels were up so we talked options. I could change hormone blocker to tamoxifen or continue anastrozole and have monthly ovary suppression (zoladex). I decided to stay with anastrozole and do the monthly injection but I’m worried it’s not working as effectively. He thought since anastrozole was agreeing with me not to change. Has anyone had similar experience? How about experience with zoladex. Thanks
Maybe try Starting AIs slowly 'over time' to see if the side effects aren't as savage?
I am now 71 and have been on AIs for 6 years, with varying side effects (specially on Letrozole when I first started.) I will completely stop taking them next year - but in the mean time, I am slowly 'weaning myself' off them just now .... (hehe, to be totally honest, I forget to take them most of the time! LOL) My theory is that if they started us off with one tablet a week for a month, then 2, then 3 (every other day), slowly getting up to 1 x daily - that the body should adjust to it better! I believe there could be merit in giving this a go. We really need to 'trial' this in a controlled way! MANY women stop taking them altogether (often without advising their Oncs) but then, if they get a recurrence, they'd have the 'What Ifs' and possibly never forgive themselves. It doesn't really matter WHICH AI you start off with - the body will still take a BIG HIT when you suddenly start taking them daily ..... (tho there ARE some lucky ladies who barely have ANY side effects ....) I was not one of them. I lasted 6 weeks on Letrozole, then lasted 6 months on Exemestane - and then went on to Anastrozole for the last 5 years which worked the best for me (with MUCH less aches & pains.) Yet others may START on Anastrozole & hate it as much as I hated Letrozole!! SO ....... IF you are having nasty side effects and it IS affecting your quality of life adversely - speak to your Onc about it. You DON'T have to put up with it, Have a break for a few months. Try a different one, like I did. It could make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Also consider asking your Onc about Medicinal Cannabis Oil - I've been taking it for nearly 5 years now - and it HAS made a difference! There are many online Drs who will prescribe it, if your Onc won't. SO .... If you are about to start out on AIs any time soon - maybe mention 'starting them slowly' to your Onc ..... to see if your body tolerates them better, as in the long term, the longer you are on them, the better it is to reduce the chance of recurrence xx take care & best wishes
Anastrazole side effects
Moderator moved @Sinko post to own discussion post: Sinko Brisbane Member Posts: 1 ✭ 12:12PM Hello out there I am brand new to this site. I was diagnosed with an Invasive Lobular carcinoma in September 2022 along with cancer in 5 lymph nodes. I was also diagnosed with HER-2 negative which I don't fully understand but the end result has been firstly a lumpectomy then 8 days later it was necessary for me to have a Mastectomy of my right breast. After surgery I started A/C chemotherapy also know as Red Devil x 4 hits of that horrible drug then 9 hits of Paxlitaxel as they had to stop it early due to Neuropathy. I managed to get through that lot then ended up back in hospital 5 days later with an E-coli infection in my bladder which had turned sepsis. The next step was 25 hits of radiation which was a walk in the park compared to chemotherapy. Now I have been on hormone blockers for 8 months so far and I would love to hear if anyone else is taking Anastrazole and hiw they are coping. Are you struggling with bone pain etc. My breast surgeon and oncologist have told me there are no guarantees that my cancer would not come back but this is my best chance. I would really appreciate any comments or advice please. Thank you for reading my very long blog. Kindest regards Sinko
Anastrozole side effects
Hi all, looks like I will be taking Anastrozole after my radiotherapy treatment. I understand that a side effect is reduction in bone density. Being osteopenia Im concerned about this. Is reduction in bone density a side effect for all taking this Anastrozole or just some people?Vertigo on Arimidex or other AIs? Who's suddenly 'got it'?
Has anyone on AIs experienced Vertigo? I'd always thought it a minor complaint ..... but yesterday it hit me big-time & I felt HORRIBLE! I've been on AIs for 2.5 years (letrozole 6 weeks, Exemestane 6 months, Anastrozole 2 years) & recently had a couple of episodes at night when getting up to go to the loo .... feeling dizzy & wobbly on my legs - but it passed. Yesterday morning, it started in earnest even before I got out of bed. Dizzy, Nauseous, disoriented & 'crabbing sideways' instead of walking straight ahead ... and just feeling 'really off'! The Dr has given me Stemetil for the nausea. There is a manoeuvre called the Epley Manoeuvre - has anyone tried it, to realign the crystals in the ear? It can make you may be quite nauseous (and even vomit) so have a tub handy ... Here’s a good one for explaining why we get it …… a bit technical but the culprits, (the ‘crystals’) are mentioned about the 4min 50sec mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx4mQB0QzvQ My sister sent me this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPbM8018CE Or you can have a go at doing it 'to yourself' ..... but should have your first procedure with a professional, so you know what to expect. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6063852/Documents/vertigo-remedy-english.pdf Or this one to show how the moving the head moves the crystal https://youtu.be/9SLm76jQg3g?t=130
Arimidex - first 6 months
I was terrified of this drug and the side effects and I even posted on here looking for support and info back in Jan. (The tone police intervened and I have stayed away from this site since because I was too scared to come back. Despite this, I am checking in one last time before I delete my account, in case it is of benefit to anyone newly diagnosed (like I was at the time, truly traumatised and then told I will be starting anastrazole). I want to share that my news is positive in relation to anastrazole. I don’t have any joint or muscle issues, pain, soreness, stiffness, whatsoever (which were my biggest fears). I have a few hot flushes in the evening and a bit of insomnia. I think my hair and skin is more dry and I need to use more leave in hair treatment now. My weight gain is entirely explained by what I have been eating during lockdown and not so much the drug! From the long list of worrying side effects you will doubtless end up reading, I have experienced enone that are ruinous. (I know I will have to monitor bone density.) Maybe things will change over time but I do remember I felt desperate to know or get some reassurance from someone about what the first few months would be like on an AI and was there an actual chance I would not get the worst effects? I hope this account may help someone facing anastrazole for the first time and knowing that it can be okay. Yes I could do without the hot flushes and longer term risk to my bones, but it’s not as bad as I imagined in my head, terrified and newly diagnosed, with little info to go on, or not the info I perceived as useful to me while having a very cold and underwhelming oncologist. I hope others will get the info that they need, here or elsewhere, and feel confident to speak the truth and advocate for what they need.
