Hi everyone, there is a lot of information, some of it conflicting, that is being shared here. The good news is that everyone has shared information that can be interpreted as correct. Let me try to summarize.

From the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy-for-breast-cancer.html
"Because AIs drastically lower the estrogen level in women after menopause, they CAN also cause bone thinning, sometimes leading to osteoporosis and even fractures. If you are taking an AI, your bone density may be tested regularly and you may also be given bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid [Zometa] for example) or denosumab (Xgeva, Prolia), to strengthen your bones."

Key takeaway
Not everyone experiences the same degree of bone thinning, loss or osteoporosis. But bone health must be closely monitored for all women (and men) taking anti-estrogen therapy.

BreastCancer.org explains anti-estrogen therapy very clearly in plain language.
- Hormonal Therapyfor Breast Cancer https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal-therapy

(I encourage everyone to include links to the studies or information you are citing so that all members can read the original source and do their due diligence in researching for themselves.)

Breast cancer treatments have come a long way. We are luckly that there are different options for estrogen-positive tumor types of breast cancer, including the option to not take estrogen suppressing therapy.

Forums like Mayo Clinic Connect can provide valuable insight into first-hand experiences of other survivors like you. However, we are all different. Even if you have the same breast cancer type and stage, there will be other personal medical histories and personal preferences that contribute to your choice of treatment. Not everyone experiences the same side effects.

As stated in the forum's disclaimer (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/disclaimer/):
"All information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect, such as messages, images, advice, URLs, and any other material, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community."

I encourage you to use the experiences shared in the Breast Cancer Group to inform the discussions that you have with your oncologist to choose the therapy that is right for you and to discuss options when side effects are affecting your quality of life negatively. There are options that are right for you.