Anastrozole and Hair Loss: What Users Say (Page 2)

• MEB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Began taking this medication about a month ago. So far, have no sweating, but the arthritic pain is pretty high. Arms fall asleep when sleeping in most positions other than sleeping on my back. Have also noticed 'tingling' on the left forward part of my brain. Comes and goes. Hair loss, but not extensive. Finding it difficult to tie shoelaces - middle finger, left hand--knuckle keeps popping (painful). Lots of soreness and stiffness in the upper part of my spine. Yesterday (8/4), thought I had a chunk of donut stuck in my esophagus, but I can still feel something there today. Will need to contact the oncologist for guidance on that."

• BUF...
• April 10, 2012

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking anastrozole for almost 5 years, this is my last 3 weeks. I have had side effects such as mild aches and pains, hair thinning, arthritis, which I am not sure is due to the medicine, but it did come on very soon after starting it. Serious lack of concentration and confused at times, and in the last few months, tingling in my left hand, which is now in the wrist. I did feel extremely tired for the first year or so, but it hasn't been all bad, although I will be pleased to take the last one at the end of April 2012."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2023

For Breast Cancer "My mother had breast cancer, and after years of 'bad' mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies, I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ER-positive breast cancer in my right breast last Sept. In Dec., I had a double mastectomy as I was tired of worrying about it. Lymph nodes were clear. Was prescribed anastrozole, even though I only have a 3% chance of cancer returning in 9 years, saying it would cut the risk to 1 1/2%. I purposely did not read any side effects or reviews before I started this medication as I wanted to give it a fair chance. 5 days in, I'm losing handfuls of hair just like with COVID, so constipated I was having to take a laxative morning and night, and severe hip and knee joint pain was waking me up at night. Confused about all the changes I was experiencing, I broke down and researched this drug online and saw everything I was dealing with as a side effect. Plus, the threat of bone loss was scary! I feel the risks outweigh the 1 1/2% good I'm going to receive. I stopped."

• Nan...
• August 27, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Have been taking Arimidex for 3 years after double mastectomy for stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Have unbearable pain in legs at night, hair is thinning, memory loss & loss of words, joints in thumbs swollen & painful, hard to get up after sitting for any length of time. Went off meds for about 2 weeks but no change. Want to go off completely but afraid of cancer returning. Have had melanoma on my back and hand. Also have lymphedema in both arms & chest. Want this nightmare to be over. I see so many others have the same symptoms. Feel like a lab rat but glad to be alive!"

• Car...
• April 26, 2021

For Breast Cancer "So, I'm going on 9 1/2 years on anastrozole. I was told over 4 years ago that I had osteopenia... a side effect of this drug, but my oncologist wanted me to take it for 10 years. I'm almost there now, and I'm looking forward to coming off of it. I don't sleep well (about 4-5 hours max), but I push through the tiredness. I work out, lift weights, ride the Peloton. I was diagnosed with stage 1 intraductal carcinoma - no lymph nodes involved. Had a lumpectomy, brachytherapy radiation for (5) treatments and (5) treatments of chemotherapy. My hair has thinned, eyebrows don't grow anymore, but guess what? Everything I have been through made me look at life so much differently. I appreciate each and every day God has given me and thank Him for the doctors, nurses, and the drug available. Yes, drugs have side effects, and initially, I was distressed about being on anastrozole too, however, almost ten years later, as of November 2021, I have been blessed not to have any cancer since that time."

• Dum...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2017

For Breast Cancer "Her2+, inflammatory, stage-3b breast cancer diagnosed 11/2014 - on anastrozole since 08/15. Osteoarthritis, burning scalp, whole-body tingling and numbness. Major hair loss. I have around 2 years left on this drug. If I don't completely stop taking this drug, I am certainly going to stop taking a whole pill daily and stop taking a daily pill. I am past ready to roll the dice on a possible recurrence."

• Bli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Breast Cancer Stage 1 lumpectomy, 20 radiation treatments - advised Anastrozole - advised previous chronic problems: fibromyalgia, degenerative disc lower back. Side effects: intensified hot flashes, insomnia, and chronic fibro, hip, back pain. I was expecting these side effects, and since I was already experiencing them for many years, the intensity was not expected. The hot flashes are being treated by black cohosh and Effexor, taken morning and evening. Reduction in frequency and intensity of hot flashes. I thank you, ladies, for confirming the side effects that I am experiencing. I also have been having an increased loss of hair each day, but that seems to be abating a bit!"

• Bjs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2023

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I had a stage 1c tumor and had a bilateral mastectomy with skin and nipple-sparing surgery with immediate reconstruction. Was on tamoxifen, but I’m 60 years old, and my cancer was strongly hormone positive. I had the worst reaction with letrozole - painful blisters and rash like chickenpox. I take Arimidex now but am worried about osteoporosis, I already have osteopenia and take calcium with vitamin D daily. The worst side effects so far are weight gain and hair thinning."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2017

For Breast Cancer "Age now, 59. Stage 2b right side estrogen positive, mastectomy, chemo, radiation in 2014. Tamoxifen for one year. Anastrozole for 3 months. So far, no pain, no weight gain, no hair loss (yet), some vision problems-blurry, fuzzy, spots. Will get that checked out. Flashes and insomnia have subsided. I probably need to be on it longer to determine side effects, though. Very active, and a preschool teacher, so I'm glad that I haven't lost a step yet."

• jes...
• March 18, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I am on this drug for 10 months now. The negative effects I believe can be reversed if other supplements are taken along with it. I say this because I take them every day, and so far, the only bad effect is having cognitive dysfunction, and other than that I have no joint pain, thinning hair, depression, etc. BTW, the large mass in my right breast has decreased in size dramatically because I topically apply DMSO every night and take Iodoral (50 mg) once a day. These are the supplements/vitamins I take daily: 9,000 mg Vit. C, 2,000 mg MSM, IP6/Inositol 24 capsules, Vit. D3, Vit. K2, Boron, DMG, Potassium, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium, Strontium, Copper, Zinc, Vit. B17 (3x), and Powdered Hydrolyzed Collagen."

• Mer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2022

For Breast Cancer "ER, PR positive, Her2 negative invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1B, grade 2, size of tumor a little over 1 inch. Had lumpectomy, lymph nodes removed, followed by radiation. My oncotype score was 25. 26 would have meant chemo. Started anastrozole the middle of March, and by the first week in June, I could not walk and was in so much hip pain. Hair fell out like crazy, and my entire body was swollen. I am 56, very active-hike, swim, walk-and am happy. I was miserable on anastrozole. At first, I was headed to the ER because I was in so much pain I couldn't even move. Then I called my primary care physician, and then it occurred to me that I should call my oncologist. She said she would give me a two-week holiday from anastrozole. It is two weeks tomorrow, June 16, 2022. I feel 100% better. My energy has returned, I can walk and feel alive again. I would rather have quality of life than quantity with no quality."

• von...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 19, 2022

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer after 25 years from my original diagnosis. I have been taking Arimidex since then. The only side effect that I have experienced is hair loss, and the loss of my hair and breast has been devastating. Every time I have a mammogram, fear grips me like I have never felt, yet I am grateful for the Arimidex that has warded off this beast that wants to invade my body. I will continue to fight, and the medication will stay a part of my regimen. I hope someone reading this will be encouraged or willing to give the medication a chance. Remember we are all winners and never alone."

• Hol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2024

For Breast Cancer "Was diagnosed with stage 3B at age 36 in November 2013. I had chemo, a mastectomy, then radiation, and then started anastrozole in October 2014 along with monthly shots of Trelstar. I had another mastectomy in 2017 due to too many biopsies (scars). I will be finishing my 10 years of anastrozole, as well as monthly Trelstar shots and oncologist visits every 3 months on October 23, 2024!!! I am now 47. I didn’t have any side effects (other than my hair being so thin) until the last year or so. I have painful, stiff hands and fingers every morning. I also sweat quite a bit. So grateful for this medicine."

• She...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 25, 2022

For Breast Cancer "1st diagnosis, no lymphoid involvement, small tumor, had a lumpectomy with no chemo or radiation. 2 years later, it was in my scar and 1-3 lymph nodes. Don’t really know if they got it all out the first time. No chemo or radiation, but chose double mastectomy with reconstruction and endocrine therapy. I’m not sure when it became a do-it-all treatment, but seems to be the recommendation these days. I have been on Anastrozole for over 5 years. I thought I would jump at the chance to get off of it, but studies are showing you're better off to take it for 7 years. I might be higher risk due to no chemo or radiation. Not sure how I feel about that. I’ve had hot flashes, brain fog, some weight gain, just have to work harder. I’ve had ear ringing and dizziness at times, but it goes away. Hair loss and muscle and joint recovery after workouts has been tough. Side effects seem to be getting worse after the 5-year mark. I’ve lost interest in intimacy."

• Cha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 21, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I’ve been on Arimidex 9 1/2 years now. My hair continues to thin, but it’s okay. I don’t have cancer! I have had terrible headaches all of my life until I had cancer, chemo, and Arimidex. I haven’t had a headache since! I'm skeptical about stopping the Arimidex in a few months. I wonder if the headaches will return. And more so, what happened that made them stop? But I know I will stop the drug soon, so I’ll see what happens next."