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Is there anyone that had estrogen positive cancer, without use of AI?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jul 23 8:55am | Replies (190)Comment receiving replies
My advice is to try all AIs (including Fulvestrant) and Tamoxifen before you give up. I did poorly on Exemestane and Letrozole and OK on Anastrozole. Please be aware that in a sense all cancer drugs are toxic. Below is something I posted on a different thread. But it might be helpful.
Alternative dosing letrozole: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740217/
Alternative dosing tamoxifen: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11101371/
Alternative dosing exemestane: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36951827/
Alternative dosing anastrozole: No studies that I could find.
According to my medical oncologist, the studies cited above show that lower doses of AIs or Tam lower estrogen just as well as higher doses. What these studies do **not** show is that lower doses are as effective as usual (higher) dose in reducing risk of recurrence. Of course, that doesn't mean that lower doses don't work--but there's no scientific evidence that they do.
Replies to "My advice is to try all AIs (including Fulvestrant) and Tamoxifen before you give up. I..."
Peggy, These links are helpful, but did you find anything on alternative dosing for Fulvestrant? The side effects seemed small at first, but it is raising my BP, giving me muscle & joint pain, and a huge leap in my cholesterol & triglyceride levels within 3 months. I'm on another drug for NET tumors, so it may be the combo, but I'd like to reduce the 500mg to 250mg/month as a trial. The great thing about Fulvestrant is that it has shrunk my 9cm tumor down to 3cm. Quality of life at 75 is important to me too.
Thanks, Patty
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Thanks for the information. I left an email message for my doctor last Thursday, asking him if the side effects will go away with time, but I haven't heard back yet. I did stop the anastrozole though. The pain was intense. I will try them all, plus the tamoxifen, but if they're not tolerable, I'll have to take my chances. I already suffer from chronic pain, which started way before the cancer diagnosis. Lots to think about, but I will give them all a try. Thanks again for taking the time to send your reply.