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

I can certainly respect your choice of not taking AI, but I would question wether or not you need to try and look for a new oncologist. It is possible he got you mixed up with someone else but in oncology, that could be really bad if not for you speaking up.
I am guessing if you have a 62 year old son you don’t have a ton of estrogen naturally to be concerned about. With a small tumor and no history that should further give you peace of mind.
I could not imagine doing this without my husband. My thoughts are with you. When is your next appointment with oncology?

Saw onocologist April1 12, to ask about not taking anastrolozle. I had 9 questions to ask but when I handed them to him he said, no, you tell me.. So I started, he then started off how I should take the meds and I needed to go to Swedish hospital and have a masectomy...my jaw dropped. I said do you not know I already had a masectomy? and raised my blouse. He looked stunned and said to excuse him a minute. I saw him about two weeks ago and he prescribed the pills. He came back and said he understood from my question to the nurse on the phone was whether I wanted a masectomy. Really believe he did not have my chart at all. Said he respects my decision to not take pills and left. Lump was smaller than an inch and had not spread to lymph nodes. No history that I know of cancer in our family. So decided to eat lots of greens , take some recommen ded herbs. Still have fluid buildup under my arm. Drain removed two and a half weeks after operation, seemed plugged up , no drainage coming out. She.
took,one and a half cups of fluid and stiill wearing ace wrap . can do the drain one more time and then a drain will have to be installed. my husband of 65 years passed away April 9 21. I miss him to talk to about all my problems so I really do appreciate all the input I have been getting from everyone. I t has eased my mind some. Family is all in KS. I have a 62 year old son who has been helpful. Thanks all

I feel the same way. I’m about to turn 68 and had a lumpectomy almost 2 weeks ago. My surgeon told me it was very early, very small tumor, etc., and recommended lumpectomy and radiation, followed by anti hormone meds. My follow-up was supposed to be with her nurse practitioner but now I’m seeing the surgeon again because she didn’t think the margins were wide enough. So. I agree-it doesn’t seem to matter-they want to go full throttle no matter what. I had a spinal fusion less than a year ago and am very afraid of what Tamoxifen and aromotase inhibitors will cause. I want to live a long time but I don’t want to to be a horrible, painful life. I am so very confused.

Did you by any chance have genetic testing that could give you an idea of risk of likely recurrence? A post-surgical biopsy yields the information as to whether there were clean, sufficiently-wide margins. If you weren't given a copy, you can ask for it. With a lumpectomy that recent, they can likely still submit the tissue for testing. Mine was submitted by my oncologist and I didn't see him until 8 days after surgery.

I'd probably consider getting a second opinion entirely from a different oncologist.. And, if I needed more surgery, get a second opinion on that too.

As to the post-surgery adjuvant anti-hormone drugs, many people have few side effects and tolerate them. With the caveat that the aromatase inhibitors will effect the rate of bone loss. And you might want to pay special attention to that and have a baseline DEXASCAN before starting them. They might have no negative effect on the spinal fusion.

I wish that more patients with breast cancer were offered the genetic testing. Size, location and stage of tumor are data points. Adding the data derived from an analysis of that unique person's genes is a very valuable data point as well. It helped my oncologist and endocrinologist (and me) feel OK with my decisions re: radiation and drugs.

I feel the same way. I’m about to turn 68 and had a lumpectomy almost 2 weeks ago. My surgeon told me it was very early, very small tumor, etc., and recommended lumpectomy and radiation, followed by anti hormone meds. My follow-up was supposed to be with her nurse practitioner but now I’m seeing the surgeon again because she didn’t think the margins were wide enough. So. I agree-it doesn’t seem to matter-they want to go full throttle no matter what. I had a spinal fusion less than a year ago and am very afraid of what Tamoxifen and aromotase inhibitors will cause. I want to live a long time but I don’t want to to be a horrible, painful life. I am so very confused.

I feel the same way. I’m about to turn 68 and had a lumpectomy almost 2 weeks ago. My surgeon told me it was very early, very small tumor, etc., and recommended lumpectomy and radiation, followed by anti hormone meds. My follow-up was supposed to be with her nurse practitioner but now I’m seeing the surgeon again because she didn’t think the margins were wide enough. So. I agree-it doesn’t seem to matter-they want to go full throttle no matter what. I had a spinal fusion less than a year ago and am very afraid of what Tamoxifen and aromotase inhibitors will cause. I want to live a long time but I don’t want to to be a horrible, painful life. I am so very confused.

I feel the same way. I’m about to turn 68 and had a lumpectomy almost 2 weeks ago. My surgeon told me it was very early, very small tumor, etc., and recommended lumpectomy and radiation, followed by anti hormone meds. My follow-up was supposed to be with her nurse practitioner but now I’m seeing the surgeon again because she didn’t think the margins were wide enough. So. I agree-it doesn’t seem to matter-they want to go full throttle no matter what. I had a spinal fusion less than a year ago and am very afraid of what Tamoxifen and aromotase inhibitors will cause. I want to live a long time but I don’t want to to be a horrible, painful life. I am so very confused.