Can I stop taking anastrozole?

Only you, your family and Dr., can determine based on your type of Cancer, staging, Surgical outcome and Radiation therapy, what will work for you. My Medical Oncologist feels the drug has results that have been very good. Unfortunately my experience with it and the actual Brand Name Arimidex, direct from the Manufacturer, caused me such severe side/adverse effects that I discontinued them both. On day 2 of Anastrozole therapy, I began having side effects. I persevered for as long as I could, despite experiencing, every side effect listed as a possibility. Numbness of my extremities particularly of my toes, can only be described as a constant painful sensation of frostbite. It impaired my ability to walk as I could not feel my toes. Luckily, if you can call it lucky, the progression of the frostbite sensation did not progress above the ball of my right foot or else I would not have been able to drive. My feet were warm to the touch but ached and throbbed so bad. Stabbing back pain, abdominal, irritable bowel symptoms, and diarrhea made it impossible to go out for fear of public humiliation. I stayed on Anastrozole for one month. With approval from my doctor I switched to Arimidex (for 3 weeks) in the hope side effects would be less. One brief incident of palpitations/chest pain, an abnormal EKG (compared to a recent prior test) and elevated blood pressure, caused my admission to a cardiac unit overnight. With the exception of childbirth, I had never been ill or in a hospital and am healthy. I had a cardiac stress test in the hospital, my B/P remained high. I was sent home and vowed that I would never take either medication again. I have a family and myself to take care of. I am not willing to sacrifice my current quality of life. It has been 1 month since I stopped the medication. I still have the numbness and am being evaluated, to determine whether the nerve damage will be permanent. Most medications in this group according to my Dr., have similar effects. My Dr. and I agree, I WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY MEDICATION. I am a believer in Complementary Medicine as I have used it with success in the past. This will be my plan of action and I feel quite comfortable with my decision based on my Cancer.