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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
Peggy thank you for the study reference and that is close to research if have seen. Here is what tripped me up, which makes a SIGNIFICANT difference. If your current risk of recurrence is 8%, and you could lower your risk of recurrence by 4 percent, that is 4% of 8 percent, and to me, very little risk benefit. I was shocked when my radiation oncologist explained to me that after radiation, the AI's would lower "overall risk" by less than 1 percent. So ladies, this is an important distinction that I need to further dig in on. An overall risk reduction of 4% is something far different than a risk reduction of 4% of 8%, which is how it was explained to me. I do not want to give anyone inaccurate information, and if anyone can confirm this one way or the other let me know. I will go out and do my research again now on that topic, and speak to my oncologist again. I was told it would benefit me little considering the hefty side effects some experience. VERY CONFUSING. The difference between "overall risk reduction" and "reduction of risk of recurrence".
Replies to "Peggy thank you for the study reference and that is close to research if have seen...."
@wyowyld I'm with you on this! I see many women online like me, in our 70's with early stage 1 breast cancer & otherwise active & healthy, who are seriously weighing the decision to diminish our golden years by taking a drug that, yes, reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrance, but tacks on additional side effects & risks like osteoporosis & in the case of tamoxifen (which I would take, given my already thin bones), blood clots & endometrial cancer. For me, it's definitely a gray area. Thanks for raising this important topic.
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OK got the answer to my own question, and it is worth asking your oncologist whether they are referring to absolute risk reduction (ARR) or relative risk reduction (RRR)
🔍 Two Possible Interpretations of “4% Risk Reduction”
When oncologists talk about how much a treatment reduces recurrence risk, they may express it in absolute or relative terms.
✔️ 1. Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR)
This means:
“Your risk goes down by 4 percentage points—for example, from 5% to 1%.”
✔️ 2. Relative Risk Reduction (RRR)
This means:
“Your risk goes down by 4% of your baseline risk.”
If the baseline risk is 5%, then:
4% of 5% = 0.2% reduction → negligible change
Final risk = 4.8%
I would think ARR is more commonly used, but worth asking as we all make our decision.