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

Some days, my mind wanders down the road to what is worse, the disease, or the cure. Then I remember the days of chemo, I think definitely the cure is worse, but then I walk a little further down the road and I am grateful for the life I have and the ability to walk down the road, even if I am quite a bit slower than I would have been without cancer. Because I had aggressive cancer, young, I toughed it out through all of the treatments. It was grueling at times but the hope of seeing retirement age spurred me on. What Spurs you forward each day?

That's the other part. We were in the process of setting up our retirement life. Then my husband got prostate cancer (early stage, he is doing ok, then Covid hit, then I got breast cancer (also early stage) . So am coming to terms with the realization that the life we looked forward to, in general, is seriously compromised due to Covid. I feel like a big whiner, others have it so much worse. Just visited a HS classmate who has end stage Alzheimers. What spurs me forward each day? Honestly, I don't know. I need to regroup.

What spurs me forward? I try to enjoy my yard, the gifts I have received from God and a little dog whose owner died in a car accident and needed a home. I had just put my 11 year old dog down and said, "no more dogs" because I was uncertain of my future. She literally landed in my lap and is such a joy. During these times when C-19 is such a big threat and the ability to socialize is diminished, living alone was not healthy for me, I needed Sadie. I have gotten much better at not doing "what if" and instead try to live for the moment and find the strength to deal with the future when it happens. I can't change it anyway.

@sandyrob: Are your sure you did not try to imitate my situation? Same, husband early prostate cancer, me early breast cancer, and COVIDIOTS all around. Mostly, being informed on Mayo websites helps, but being surrounded by science challenged local government (known also as McDisaster/SC), equilibrium is hard to come by with also cancer treatment issues.
We did, however, make it to early retirement age, so our ditto situation was a little later (my breast cancer this spring, prostate 2 years ago). Still similar, and by no means any easier. Best of luck to you and your husband!

Wow, so my husband was diagnosed a couple months ago with prostrate cancer, we are still working on what all of that means for us. He already had multiple myeloma. You all sound so resilient, that is serious girl power. I am still shooting for retirement age. Although I am MBC now, I still plan on retiring at 65 in 9 years. I was diagnosed originally 17 years ago.

Thank you, I leave on Monday to deal with hurricane Ida damage at our house on the Gulf Coast. So have one more thing to add. Oh, and my husband retired but decided to go back to work. 1st world problems.

Be safe, I hope there isn’t too much damage on your house.

I did not have many problems on Femara. People who didn't have many problems tend not to post, so just adding that to the mix. I am sensitive to so many medications, and foods, but Femara was okay. I took brand name. I found that if I walked more than 25 minutes, any pain got better and by 45 minutes I was good. Hot flashes were minor. (I was surprised that use of an AI qualified a person for a booster as immunocompromised since these drugs don't compromise the immune system.)

Good morning All! I needed you this morning. I have struggled through the 3 AI’d and now Tamoxifen. I have been on Tamoxifen for a full 3 months and last week had such bad rib pain I discussed with onco and I am off for 2 weeks. 1 week later it is better but not totally gone. I am 71 had stage 1 BC grade 3, right mastectomy 18 months ago and no lymph nodes, onco type score of 51, so have a high percentage of recurrence so had chemo. But I am so close to stopping these pills altogether. I struggle every day and go down rabbit holes I don’t need to go down but it is hard. Is the rib pain bone cancer??? Those types of holes. I read your comments and feel such a kindred spirit. Thank you all❤️❤️❤️

I am 73 and I told my rheumatologist that same thing. He is treating my Sjogrens autoimmune deficiency. I am waiting to see how the plaquenil works with the joint issues.