Looking for research re: taking AI drugs vs not taking them
I am currently taking Exemestane. I’m 61. Took a while but I’m doing well on it (doing yoga, pranayama and acupuncture). I now have osteopenia after taking it six months. I’m trying to find research on taking AIs vs not taking. What I’m finding there is not much difference between taking and not taking. But more likely to get arthritis and osteoporosis.
Can anyone post links. .
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there is a current clinical trial for early stage bc in which the AI is only taken for 2 yrs, will be interesting to find out if 2 yrs is equal to 5 yrs
Good to know. Who’s doing it ?
In Canada, ‘la least’ trial, in Quebec and also in Vancouver, BC i believe
Yes, great factual response. We have to understand the statistics as they pertain to us, individually. I refused AI treatment after Stage1 treatment including surgery and short term radiation. Factored in: stage, age, Onco Typing, current bone density, all factors being weighed. Risks and side effects outweighed benefits. AI treatment has multiple side effects. Do loads of research as it pertains to You. God Bless😘
You are so right! I went to two other reputable organizations, Dana Farber in Boston and Sloan Kettering and they told me the same thing. these two other oncologists were women. They all agree that there are no studies for women over 55 years old and that is the problem itself. No studies and fear of suits. It is up to us to research and choose the path we instinctually think is best.
Hi
For myself I did the research and decided not to do any of the hormone blockers. I already have osteoporosis in my spine with a compression fracture.
I guess you have to weigh the odds.It's a personal decision. I did not want to take a medication.That made me take three other medications to cope with one medication. It's bad enough not being able to take hormones anymore and having all those side effects.
I totally agree. I had a lumpectomy. Stage 1 estrogen driven. I took radiation and have been taking Temoxifan. I started with three of the others before switching to Temoxifan and tolerated it better. However I took a break from it in November and decided to discontinue it. I am finally feeling so much better. I stayed on the drugs for three years and decided I would rather feel good with whatever time God gives me. I just turned 70. I exercise and try to eat healthy. It's definitely a personal decision. I have no regrets!
Hello Kelly and all, I'm new to this forum. I'm 60, had lumpectomy surgeries for Stage 1, Grade 2, HR+, Her2-, IDC + DCIS, and doing radiation now (4 wks). Having a serious dilemma about whether to take hormone therapy or not. Fearful of SERMs (I have PCOS, and my risk of uterine cancer is already higher than general population; plus heart, eye health risks, etc.), and regarding AI's, I already have osteopenia (serious level on lumbar spine).
Trying to better understand the Predict model, which if I understand correctly, predicts survivorship, not recurrence. I can't understand from this model how many of these patients may have had a recurrence, and then may have needed further surgery (lumpectomy, or mastectomy), radiation, hormone therapy, etc. but survived. Running my stats in Predict looks very good regarding survival, but it doesn't seem to be telling me about my odds for recurrence? Please correct me if I am wrong.
I was informed by my oncologist that if I took an AI (Arimidex), I should also take Zometa to combat bone loss. Has anyone followed this route and had success or issues with it?
Ideally, like anyone, I'd like to avoid hormone therapy altogether, due to my personal risks vs. benefits given my decent chances of survival, but I don't fully understand recurrence odds without hormone therapy. Is there a valid tool or study for recurrence, or am I missing something in the Predict model? Thank you for all input. LJ
Im in the same boat. I have decided not to take estrogen blockers due to almost your same issues. My radiation oncologist felt i do not need them because of my age, 72, and my tumor was small was removed and with radiation he felt my reoccurencr was less than 5%. I also went go oncologist and she thinks i should take 20 mg of tamoxifen but with all the side effects, depression etc. Im not going to. They seem to tell everyone the same thing. I have also read studies where 10 mg of tamoxifen is just as effective with lower side effects. I know its confusing and these are hard decisions to make.
Thank you for sharing, Irene. Hard decisions, indeed. Best of luck to you.