Hi there joho44 and thanks for the post

I am sorry to hear you have the brca2 mutation and the side effects you are experiencing.

Yes, research has shown that taking anastrazole for a total of 5 years has the greatest effect in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing it.

Unfortunately anastrazole can cause menopausal type symptoms such as hot flushes, difficulty sleeping and so on that you can read more about on the anastrazole web pages.

Some people find that they can help manage hot flushes by avoiding things such as spicy foods and caffeine. Also if you aren't already try and wear and sleep in breathable fabrics such as cotton and wear layers that you can remove if heating up. Keeping your bedroom cool and having a fan available and cold water can also help.

If you continue to find things unbearable do speak to your doctor about them to see if they can suggest anything else. Some people do take a short break from treatment to see if there is an improvement of symptoms but these of course are likely to continue when restarted.

At the end of the day the decision to continue or stop the anastrazole is yours to make and the benefits versus the risks do need to be weighed up by each individual. As I say the recommendations for greatest benefit is to take it for 5 years, however there still may be a benefit for you for a shorter time frame.

I hope this helps but do get back in touch if needed. The helpline is also open weekdays 9-5 if you prefer to call us.

Best wishes

Naomi