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. .
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.
Barbara O'Neal is incredible.
Question: Does your breast cancer feed off progesterone?
If so, please check the yam cream for progesterone or call or email Barbaras company in Wisconsin.
If your cancer is feeding off progesterone, it WILL help with osteoporosis BUT it Could actually be feeding your cancer.
Wild Yam cream may be completely different than progesterone cream as most p. Cream is Synthetic. Just a suggestion.
Amen. Amen! So affirming!
The BROAD Medical field Includes alternatives. Most Medical Schools lack training outside of pharmaceuticals and are lacking training on the Natural side.
With that said, WE decide what we want in our bodies. The choice IS ours.
And yes, there Are viable options.
Our bodies ARE designed to heal themselves. God provided all that we need. He also gave wisdom to those who have helped in making discoveries with His creation.
Pharmaceuticals are helpful. But we have seen the mass corruption to the point many distrust them.
The choice is Ours as to what is put into our bodies.
But as patients, we EXPECT our doctors to Listen to us, respect our questions etc. and give us more than 10 minutes of “Their” time.
I had such a doctor, a cardiologist, who recently passed away.
He listened, he read the info I gave him WITH ME in his office and we DISCUSSED things together and sometimes it was 40 minutes.
Yes, he even considered my cancer when I questioned him about the possible effects of staying on one of the medicines he had prescribed.
He said “ lets look at the probabilities because thats what WE need to see.”
WE came to a conclusion that staying on that med could be more detrimental to my cancer, and my life than the risk of a stroke.
Hard choice but one made TOGETHER.
Gasp! 40 minutes?
Yes. He would do that for any patient that inquired.
Heres whats extraordinary;
all his patients WAITED for their time With him.
Yes, we would wait 30-40 minutes late in the waiting room because we KNEW while We waited, his current patient was in discussion with him getting the info and assurance They needed.
The choice is OURS for what we put into our bodies.
And the choice is Ours when choosing a doctor.
Choose one who sees you as Partners in your healthcare.
Be seen. Be heard. Be respected.
I am so grateful for you sharing these studies, I could almost cry.
Thank you.
My doctor loves the word “empiric/empirically”. They empirically know the AI’s work, they empirically give AI’s to all breast cancer patients, the empiric fuse is 1 mg of Anastrazole even though they don’t do blood work to monitor you. I have her a big NO THANK YOU to the AI’s. No one is giving me a med that they cannot prove that I need and cannot prove is or isn’t working. There is a blood test to check your estrogen level lower that 5 but they won’t order it.
My 70 year old friend got breast cancer 27 years ago. She had a single mastectomy and refused the AI. It just came back in the other breast but it took 27 years. She is extremely glad that she didn’t take an AI. She lives with no regrets.
There is a real need for more research into the lived experience of people taking AIs. Let’s hope there are some researchers out there who will take this on.
I tend to be like you, want to hear the evidence. I do a lot of research and have found things they didn't bother to tell me, or research. The biggest was that women with cardiovascular issues (mine was hypertension) shouldn't take an IA. I did for 4 months and got "Labile Hypertension," unpredictable, huge spikes and lows, still plaguing me. I feel like I gave up heart health for this experiment.
Patty
We have to take charge of our own treatment/no treatment. Good for you. I have changed oncologists and saw the new one last week. He's great!! And the patient portal is current and I find that comforting. It even gives his email address, a first for me with any of my doctors over my 86 years of life. Good luck. Sending good karma your way.
I am a very active 65 year old with good bones and not overweight. Diagnosed with IDC - stage 1 with a grade 1 tumor. Had 6 rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy and am currently going thru additional 14 rounds of Herceptin because I was triple positive. Doc wants me on an AI for 5 years but computer program shows it helping me with a recurrence by a whopping 1.6%. It doesn't make sense to me to take such a debilitating med that will cripple me for 1.6% more of protection. My doc seems to be in agreement with my logic but continues to push AI. What am I missing in her argument?
In my humble opinion, what you are missing is actual communication with your doctor.
In this digital age of everything happens in an instant, and conversation doesn’t really happen, this is further exacerbated by overbooked and overburdened doctors offices.
It seems as if they are pretty much giving you everything from soup to nuts in your treatment. This makes sense since there are multiple ways to target this cancer. If this is true, I might ask why, it might be that there is something in your cancer that is a little worrying.
I took a boatload of endocrine therapy and I don’t view as debilitating.
I am not crippled in any way. Yes there are some arthritis issues but I am have always been very active and it would be expected. I am still very active and ride horses and take care of my property.
My thoughts are that I would not risk going through all of that again, not even by 1.6% based on someone else’s experience with a drug.
Did you talk to your oncology team about this worry?