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Low risk IDC: Using data (POLAR assay) to decide on radiation or not
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Apr 7 9:54am | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
My story and age same as yours. I chose radiation
(5 days ) and I started the Anastrozole. But after about 8 weeks I decided to stop it due to the side effects including weight gain…did not want to repeat menopause. Feel like I’m not finished with the side effects from the AI even though I stopped it 6 months ago. Hoping the XRT provides some protection, I think the odds are with us I just want to spend the next few years of my life comfortable and not feeling sick half the time from the AIs.
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No one knows how many years we have left to live. At age 74, my quality of life will probably be best during the next 5 years, barring a recurrence. According to my oncologist, my chance is very low for metastasis and 12% for recurrence in the same or other breast without taking an aromatase inhibitor. Like you, I’m not willing to give up my good years and feel as awful as I did on anastrozole to reduce my chances by 5 or 6%. Doctors say that the side effects can be managed with more meds. To me, that’s a downward spiral. More meds often mean more side effects. I was advised to try exemestane, but I declined.
I know that I am fortunate to have a relatively low chance of recurrence. I might have made a different decision had my chance of recurrence been higher. These decisions are not easy to make, but we must all do what we feel is best for us.
I wish you best of luck and many more quality years ahead.