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Breast cancer and anastrozole

Veralynd
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Hi All,

I was diagnosed three weeks ago with Stage 1 cancer. 12mm and hormone positive . I was put on Anastrozole and have been taking it for almost a month but I feel terrible and worse each day. 

I have hot flushes, relentless nausea, itchy skin and tiredness ( but then have restless sleep). Now I also seem to be suffering from really low mood and am both tearful and irritable. 

i am beginning to now dread the five year stretch of feeling like this. At the time of initial diagnosis I was ‘being it on, I’ll attack it with everything I’ve got’. But now I’m just like a different person . 

I know I should throw everything at this thing but ……

  • Offline

    Hi

    I've been on Anastrozole for nearly 4 years and its been hard. The hot flushes and nightly cold sweats made me miserable. I went to my GP and was prescribed Sertraline (anti depressant). It made a huge difference to the frequency and severity of sweats. The night sweats stopped after taking Sertraline for a couple of days.

    Unfortunately, I have severe joint pain in hips and knees, which means I have to take strong pain killers to be able to get on with my day. 

    The problem I have is I wasn't given a dexa scan before taking anastrozole and only now being offered one. Might be too late for me if anastrozole has destroyed my bones. So if you haven't had a dexa scan then demand one. 

    I found my breast team useless when it came to side effects but have a great GP, who is far more sympathetic and works with me to manage the side effects so I can continue to take anastrozole. 

    Hopefully you also have a GP you can turn to for the issues you have and will offer solutions to help you. 

    I personally won't stop talking anastrozole until the 5 years are up. 

  • in reply to Magpiemaggie

      So sorry read how Anastrozole is affecting you. I’ve been on it for 2 months and have the boiling hot / freezing cold and also brain fog.

    I wanted to say that I, like wasn’t offered a bone scan. (My hunch is they’re rationing them unless you specifically ask).

    When I realised I’d been passed away from the breast surgery team and wasn’t getting one I started asking at my Oncology appointment about side effects and she started talking about bone loss. I asked her how they’d know if I hadn’t had a baseline bone scan to which she didn’t have an answer and so then she said she’d order one for me. So please do ask for one if you’ve not had one.

    I hope things improve for you. I am finding this a lonely and terrifying time too. Hugs xx

  • Offline in reply to really_scared

    In my case they said I was too young for a dexa scan. I now have the mobility of someone 30 years older. My hip pain is bone on bone. My knees crack when moving. Needless to say but if Anastrozole has ruined my bones, I will sue the NHS 

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