What's it like taking Anastrozole for hormone-positive breast cancer?

Thank you for sharing this important question about anastrozole - many people in this community are navigating similar experiences with hormone-positive breast cancer treatment. This medication is commonly prescribed to help reduce recurrence risk, and connecting with others who understand both the benefits and challenges can provide valuable support and practical tips for managing daily life during treatment.

My diagnosis was the same but stage 2. I’ve been on it since April 2025. I have had joint issues and overall aches but some improved and others I’ve learned to deal with. I had wrist and knee pain for about the first 6 months that was pretty regular and annoying but that’s pretty much gone now. What seems to be staying and is consistently bothersome is that my fingers lock up a ton and I have no grip strength to open bottles, jars etc. I also had some stomach/appetite/digestive problems but I’m also taking kisqali and I’ve determined that it seems to be the biggest cause of that.

I’ve been using some hand strength tools to helps with grip and soaking in a hot bath with epsom salts helps at the end of the day. The hand pain and stiffness seems to be most prevalent in the mornings so I usually run my hands under the warmest water I can handle. I started using a sugar scrub at the same time and I think the massaging of each finger while under hot water is super helpful also!