@kbradtke back in 2015 I was told I had a legal right to symmetry. My oncologist wanted me to have one mastectomy first to see how I handled it due to lupus and heart etc. I had the second one a couple of months later. They found atypical hyperplasia (precancer) so I was glad I did it. That breast was full of cysts! I like being flat to be honest. I would not have liked having on breast. I don't wear prostheses and clothes actually fit me better than before.

My endocrinologist at the time did not want me on Reclast but my oncologist wanted me on bone meds. The endo won out. There was concern about aggravating my afib. After cancer treatment I have done two years Tymlos which made my bones better than before letrozole. Then 4 months Evenity (most do a year, I kind of created my own protocol).

Now I am on Reclast but at a low dose due to kidneys and afib. I did 1 mg in June and 1 mg in Sept. I was due for another 1mg in Dec. but asked my endo to do a bone marker test called a CTX which showed my bone turnover rate was low. I asked my endo if I could skip the Reclast for Dec. and he agreed. I was told by the infusion nurse that a 2mg dose is not uncommon (usual is 5mg). So if the 5mg does not work for you, in terms of side effects, there are things you can do. I feel I am a little protected from bone metastasis but a full dose would be better in that regard.

If you do a Reclast infusion, hydrate day before, day of, day after (you can even ask for IV hydration). Ask for an hour long infusion, not 15 minutes. Use tylenol. I have read that 40% of women have a flu-like reaction the first time but not with second or later doses. I had a fever for 5 days, then fine, no big deal.

I was diagnosed with ILC in my left breast only after the radiologist saw something in my right breast. He ordered an ultra sound of the R breast. The tech couldn't find anything so the radiologist recommended a MRI. The right breast ended up being calcifications, but ILC was found in my left breast. Luckily it was small and no nodes were involved. I had a lumpectomy because I wanted this C out of me asap. After studying about radiation and having suspicious areas on both breasts that needed watching I wanted them both gone. Initially I wanted them gone, but feel I was encouraged to do the lumpectomy. 6 months later another surgeon did the DMX. The pathology in the left breast found ILC insitu and both breasts had numerous precancerous areas. I took Anestrozol and Exemestane for a year and found the side effects to be more than I was willing to handle. Brain fog, pain in my feet, knees, hips and back to a lesser degree. I wish so badly I could have taken the meds. My ILC was found early and was fed 100% by estrogen and progesterone. My oncotype was 12 which is good. Because I am 67 I was signed up for a study on no radiation in my age group for those who had a low oncotype score and early ILC. I don't remember the size. This was Aug 2023. In 2021 I was diagnosed with ocular malignant melanoma. It was caught early and I'm watched b-yearly for metastasis. This cancer disqualified me for the study. I hope you have good results with the AI'S. The side effects that put me over the edge on continuing them were horrible mood swings. I was so mean to those I loved. They knew it was not the real me and put up with me, but eventually I would have been alone it was so bad. My oncologist agreed with me discontinuing the AIs. She said they were recommended, but due to my stage of cancer and their side effects I should stop them. I'll continue having yearly MRIs for my breast cancer and a stomach MRI and lung xray/CTSCAN for the ocular melanoma. It's been about 2 months w/o the AI's. I still have a little brain fog but feel much better!!