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Looking for research re: taking AI drugs vs not taking them
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
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
Replies to "Hello Kelly and all, I'm new to this forum. I'm 60, had lumpectomy surgeries for Stage..."
I am currently on Anastrozole ( Arimidex) but struggle with bad myalgia and depression as side effects. I don’t like to admit defeat in things so will press on but my quality of life is quite severely impacted. I feel when I reach the two years in mark I will have a rethinking discussion with my oncologist ( she is quite receptive to the quality of life issues these medications raise) as I feel suddenly ‘old’ after 11 months of treatment. It is interesting and supportive to find this forum even though I am UK based.
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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.