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← Return to “5 year survival” starts at diagnosis or when therapy ends?
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“5 year survival” starts at diagnosis or when therapy ends?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Feb 17 9:23am | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
I was going to try to do 10 years of letrozole but the Breast Cancer Index testing showed high risk but no benefit from extended therapy. This spared me further meds but I was disappointed that more letrozole would not be helpful. I had figured even 7 years would be good, since I read that was equal to 10 in effect.
I miss my letrozole security blanket! But bones were another reason to stop, for me.
If any of you are planning on 10 years but would rather get off, the Breast Cancer Index is now in the NCCN guidelines but a few years ago my docs didn't even know about it. I read about it on breastcancer.org. Now it is mainstream.
Replies to "I was going to try to do 10 years of letrozole but the Breast Cancer Index..."
How interesting. My oncologist refused to do the BCI test - unless I promised to do another 5 years of Exemestane, which I refused, I hit my 5 year mark of the Drug on 11/1/2023 - and said I was done. I wanted the BCI test - but they said no. Then said another 5 years of AI would probably decrease my reoccurrence rate by < 3%. I just could not do another 5 years! But why refuse me the test? Very frustrating. I was stage 1 grade 3B, no lymph nodes involved, Onco was 22, No chemo, lumpectomy with 21 radiation treatments, 5 years of AI.
Every three months I have a Signatera blood test to see if I have any cancer cells in my blood. I find this very helpful. I am 2 1/2 years in with anastrozole. 2 1/2 more to go and I’ll take the index test.
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@windyshores thank you! I see oncologist Friday. She is very willing to share information about my treatment plan and I will ask about NCCN AI guidelines.