Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?

I am currently off of mine. Three weeks and I feel 80% better. They crippled me, and my brain. I now am in the real throes of arthritis and foot neuropathy. I may as well be in my 90s. Not feeling bad about it. If I live 5 years I will be happy. I am 67.

Was on tamoxifen for 18 months with nausea that kept getting worse. Tests showed I had gastritis. Was off of it for a month and felt wonderful. Was prescribed letrozole. Better for awhile but have light headedness often and developed some trouble sleeping. Plan to talk to my oncologist in January during my two year follow-up to see what my percentages with and without hormone therapy are. Indeed need to decide how to forge ahead and have the best quality of life. I do walk about 2 miles each day and have lowered my A1C from diabetic to pre-diabetic. I think I am in better physical health at age 69 than I have been probably since before I had our 2 daughters. Struggling with mental health though. Staying home away from family isn’t helping but must be done with the crisis we are in. Thanks for listening...it is appreciated.

The fact that you can walk on the drugs is wonderful!!!!!!! Keep your head up! Covid is not forever. This too shall pass.....

@mugs24cancer
Keep up the walking - it will help with your mental health. We walk each day as well. Can you find an online cancer support group? I find that helps me a lot.

@queenmary25
What a blessing it is that you don't require chemo or radiation due to erosion of lymph nodes. I had to do both chemo and radiation plus partial mastectomies. Keep looking at the positives...that will get you through the hard times.

I follow Toxic Free Thrivers. Great tips

@mugs24cancer Depression has been sneaking in and out of my thoughts lately. I'm the same age as you and was also diagnosed 65. Not seeing any family other than my husband and daughter is getting to me... thanks Covid. With every new pain I start to wonder is it cancer or just winter in Rhode Island with regular aches and pains. Walking does make me feel better I just have to stop finding excuses not to do it in the cold.

Totally get it. I struggle with walking because of the damage to my feet, but ..... I have a route thru the house that I take when it is ugly out. I do it 20 times for 1800 steps every day. When I start I am crippled and feet hurt immensely but by the 10th lap I am moving properly. My blood pressure drops too. So I know the importance of movement.... I also bought a vibration platform that helped with my legs. I had a very slow start to healing because of a serious fall in the hospital. I was bedridden for most of the first month. The drugs made me very depressed, and I tried 3 of them. The onco now wants me to try tamoxifin, even tho I have clotting issues. I said no. I have not felt this good all year, and I worry about what else the drugs are doing to my body. I have onset parkinsons now and my head shakes terribly, due to estrogen starvation on the brain. No one tells you anything. I had to find it out when I was looking for other things in my search. When they have a cure that doesnt cause all these other troubles, I will gladly partake, but for now, I do not want to be a guinea pig.

Everyone here is a Warrior. Brings tears to my eyes. All this information so heartfelt, but so diverse so hard to know what course, if any, to take, I go with Jane, I'm 79, active, and off the record, both my primary and surgeon agreed, they got margins and lymph nodes thankfully were clear, I'm not doing anything at this point, like Jane, listening to my body and being overall alert. Quality has to mean something. But it is a highly personal decision and certainly not easy. Sadly I'm still fighting for a proper oncologist, which I do believe is so important to all of us. I know we all pray for a cure, if they could do it with Covid, they can do it for us! Hang in!

@jeaniebean
On top of everything else, I had a stroke this year that affected my right arm and leg - still have trouble dragging a bit on the leg when I'm tired, but keep walking -- it helps with the circulation and I notice if I don't walk, I stiffen up more. Also have neuroma of foot. I've been putting arnica cream on my ankle and top of foot (I had two bad falls earlier this year and it's taken a long time to heal). The Mayo web site is a good source of information (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470). You are doing great...keep up the good work!