Diagnosed in 2023 at age 60, with stage 1a breast cancer, had preexisting osteoporosis and high cholesterol … unfortunately AI’s used to treat cancer tend to worsen both conditions.

AI’s are the default treatment for post menopausal women. Tamoxifen may be less effective at reducing recurrence, but it can actually help prevent bone loss and it doesn’t affect cholesterol (but it can cause blood clots and uterine cancer among other side effects).
Tam isn’t typically offered to post menopausal women, I had to specifically ask about it.
I asked my oncologist to walk me through the benefits/side effects/risk of recurrence of each med, based specifically on me … my tumor characteristics, Oncotype, family history, osteoporosis, cholesterol, etc.
My recurrence risk was very low to start with, so in conjunction with my oncologist, I was able to make an informed decision to try Tam.

Like you, I don’t like all of the medications, and I try to make informed choices, knowing that for me, quality of life is my goal.

I had a Reclast infusion in September, another this coming September, then another DEXA and will decide what future treatments are warranted.

I encourage everyone to research and advocate for themselves - ask questions - if your provider gets defensive or dismissive, it might be a sign that they are not a good match for you.