Hi,
I’ve taken Anastrazole for 2 years and developed significant pain and stiffness so I’m having a break of a few weeks, agreed with my Breast care surgeon. I’m feeling a bit depressed now and wondered if this is linked with coming off.
I have just come off anastrozol after 10 years and I’ve been feeling low and depressed. I think it is due to coming off the anastrozole.
Unfortunately throughout this whole experience I feel there is no after care.
Hope you feel more yourself soon 
Hi celie1,
Thanks for your post.
Sorry to hear you are feeling depressed, you are not alone in feeling like this and many women can feel low at various times during their recovery from breast cancer and beyond. Joint pain and stiffness is also very common with anastrazole and it is understandable that you are taking a break just now.
It can be difficult to know whether you are feeling low because of the anastrazole, as @heathercora has found, or other reasons such as menopausal symptoms or from the emotional impact of having had a cancer diagnosis.
If your low mood persists then you might like to talk to your treatment team or GP about how to manage a change in mood. Some people find counselling or mindfulness helpful. Others find exercise improves their mood (which may also help to relieve joint pain and stiffness), as can complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Realising that there may be a problem with depression and reaching out for help is the most important thing you can do.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org , so they can then match you to your volunteer who may also have had experience of feeling low and depressed during treatment for breast cancer.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
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Best wishes,
Elli
Breast Care Nurse
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