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

Yes it is true. Read your Oncotype report. It says so right in the report. The score and risk are not the same number btw. Nevertheless, risk doubles without taking the aromatase inhibitor.

Tamoxifen is not an aromatase inhibitor.

You're correct. There are 3 different types of hormonal therapy medicines used in the treatment of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers.:
1. aromatase inhibitors:
- Arimidex (anastrozole)
- Aromasin (exemestane)
- Femara (letrozole)

2. SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators):
- tamoxifen
- Evista (raloxifene)
- Fareston (toremifene)

3. ERDs (estrogen receptor downregulators):
- Faslodex (fulvestrant)

Here are some additional resources to help understand the Oncotype DX tests and calculating risk of recurrence.

- Oncotype DX Genomic Tests https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/oncotype_dx
Excerpt:
"Most early-stage, estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers are treated with hormonal therapies, such as an aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen, after surgery to reduce the risk that the cancer will come back in the future. Whether or not chemotherapy is also necessary has been an area of uncertainty for patients and their doctors.

If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage, estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test can help you and your doctor make a more informed decision about whether or not you will benefit from chemotherapy."

- Online Calculator Helps Predict Risk of Hormone-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Returning Elsewhere in the Body https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/online-tool-predicts-hr-pos-recurrence-risk
Excerpt:
"Studies have shown that estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer has a more drawn-out risk of recurrence compared to estrogen-receptor-negative disease. About 50% of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer recurrences happen 5 or more years after the initial diagnosis. Most estrogen-receptor-negative disease recurrences happen within the first 5 years after initial diagnosis."
"Research has shown that about 25% of women who are prescribed hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence after breast cancer surgery either don’t start taking the medicine or stop taking it early. In many cases, this is because of side effects."

You are corect, I frequently, mistakenly lump them all together. I should refer to them as endocrine therapy.

Has anyone tried natural inhibitors like DIM or grape seed extract?

For many of us the mainstream medications work and are not hard to take. I understand the fear and desire to "go natural" but for me, the fear of cancer recurrence or spread was too great to take that chance. I respect others' choices but hope they are not based on a fear of medications that might be a needless fear.

I agree with this. A lot of people are fearful because people have written so much about the issues, but the larger percentage of people never post because they don’t have big issues. I hope that those who choose natural are reall choosing it and not making a fearful decision.

I am on DIM and oncoplex , I was on tamoxifen for 9 mos and got every horrible side effect so Dr took me off of it 10/13 , I still feel horrible !!! A couple of weeks after my final reconstruction, which is next week , she wants to try Arimidex, she was worried about giving me this one to begin with because of the joint pains it causes & she was worried it would affect my career (massage therapist). I for sure don’t want a recurrence but it’s also about quality of life. I couldn’t imagine 4/12 more years of such horror
I am praying my body tolerates arimidex

If you exercise, with, say, a walk, continue past 20 minutes. The pain eases and by 45 minutes I feel better. My doc told me she hears this from a lot of patients.