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Looking for research re: taking AI drugs vs not taking them
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 1, 2025 | Replies (152)Comment receiving replies
I've looked into the scientific research on the effectiveness of AIs. They cut the risk of recurrence in half. One study showed 8% recurrence with placebo, 4% recurrence with anastrozole. And, yes, they are old studies. That's because it's pretty much a settled question that AIs reduce the risk of recurrence. My advice: there are 3 AIs + tamoxifen. Until you've tried them all, you won't know that you can't tolerate any of them.
Taking anastrozole vs not taking it: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32955-1/fulltext
Tamoxifen vs placebo: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-023-02158-5
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@peggydobbs Thanks for your info! I'm 72, newly diagnosed, stage 1a ILC. Clean lumpectomy & 5 day radiation starting next week. I would need to take tamoxifen due to my already weak bones, according to oncologist. My question is, even if I take tamoxifen & feel that I'm "tolerating" it ok, I could still end up with serious side effects like blood clots or endometrial cancer, right? But by then it would be too late & the damage would be done. So, it feels very unnerving at my age. Taking the meds or not taking them both feel risky.