Hello my fellow cancer warriors .. any advice on how to counter anastrozole side effects . I will start soon and hoping I don’t get them but want to be prepared as I have heard so many conflicting stories . Also if you can give tips on how to deal with the radiation side effects . Anything is appreciated .
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Hi! I’ve been on Anastrozole since last November and had no significant side effects. I did have some palpitations for about a two week period but now I have none. Sometimes i get a hot flash but not very often at all. As for the radiotherapy I had 15 sessions over 3 weeks and felt no side effects during these sessions but…. About two weeks after I had finished I had three red welts come up on the side of my neck (radiation burns) not particularly painful but just like sunburn. Apparently this two week period is when the radiation is at its peak (no one told me that until I asked!) marks are still there but very faint and my lumpectomy scar has been quite sensitive because of the effects of the radiotherapy. All in all the radiotherapy was probably the easiest bit of my treatment and radiologist staff were fantastic. Hope this helps you a bit! Xxx
Hi Loulou, I had 20 sessions of radiotherapy in October and was lucky I had no big side effects. Just a little more tired but probably due to 3 hr round trip each day for the appointment. I’ve been taking Anastrozole since October. I am getting more joint pain especially in my hips. I had a follow up telephone appointment in December and mentioned this to the oncologist. She advised me I could change to another tablet if the pain becomes unbearable. It’s mostly when I get up in the morning but after moving about for a while it helps. I’ve stayed on this tablet for now. Good luck x
I think for me the main thing i wasnt expecting was that radiotherapy side effects kicked in more so, well after treatment finished. I had nothing over the 15x3 weeks sessions.
Spider bruises and very red skin were quite alarming when they first appeared but actually turned out fine after lots of flamigel and Aveeno. I didnt get the fatigue. Now I have a tight/hard reconstruction not sure if its a late reaction or not.
Anastrozole gave me hand pain and high blood pressure so ive just been changed onto a different tablet.
Hope all goes well with your treatment xx