I have been lucky in that. I have had no significant side effects from using anastrozole for the past five years. Try to keep a close eye on studies on aromatase inhibitors, and other medications that I take. I have a strong family history of dementia. Much to my surprise in researching dementia I discovered a university of Pittsburgh Study entitled “potential protective effects of AI against dementia “published in JAMA. They’re findings that are very preliminary but statistically significant suggest that AI use was associated with a 7% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dimensions. They looked at 18,000 women 65 years and older and in that group 76.1% used AI’s. So the study seems legitimate. Not everyone can tolerate AI medications and I feel that I am particularly lucky in that respect. I think I can honestly say that other than having greater difficulty losing weight, that may be one side effect, I really can’t tell anything different that seems to be related to the AI use. It is a very individual thing and I am grateful that I am able to tolerate the medication.

When I last met with my oncologist, we discussed continue use of the AI medication. He was pleased that I was able to do so and fully recognize that many people are not. He did say at that meeting a couple of years back that current research was suggesting that longer-term use of AI medication seem to be helpful, but it was all very preliminary. And to that point all very individualized because if you can’t tolerate it you can’t tolerate it.