Are Aromatase Inhibitors prescribed Longer than 10 years?

Posted by elc @elc, Aug 18, 2022

Do doctors ever prescribe aromatase inhibitors longer than 10 years?

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@kathyomaha55

I was on a statin for years before my diagnosis and taking D3 oil has kept my vitamin D levels good. My density scans are all good. I asked if I could stop at 4 years - and Oncologist said no since all the studies are based on 5 years. She said taking it for another 5 yrs would only add less than 2% to my chances of reoccurrence. Not worth another 5 years to me - one has to balance life quality as well.

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So will you take the AI for the one more year then stop it? It's great that four years of the anti-estrogen drug didn't cause bone loss as that's a primary concern many women have in losing the so-called 'estrogen shield' protecting bones.

I've not seen the 2% risk reduction number quoted in studies but yours might be specific to your body and genetics. At any rate, it sounds as if you've done well and that's encouraging.

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@callalloo

So will you take the AI for the one more year then stop it? It's great that four years of the anti-estrogen drug didn't cause bone loss as that's a primary concern many women have in losing the so-called 'estrogen shield' protecting bones.

I've not seen the 2% risk reduction number quoted in studies but yours might be specific to your body and genetics. At any rate, it sounds as if you've done well and that's encouraging.

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Yes - I plan to take exemestane to Nov. 2023 and then stop. Not sure where she came up with the 2% - but I have all the confidence in her. I also managed to lose some weight using intermittent fasting. The AI's are known also for weight gain. When I asked her about the AI adding to high cholesterol she said that was true. I'd also read about it adding to high blood pressure & high blood sugar - she said those 2 items were false. I go to a teaching hospital and my oncologist is retiring to teach new oncologists. I'm sad I won't see her again.

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@kathyomaha55

Yes - I plan to take exemestane to Nov. 2023 and then stop. Not sure where she came up with the 2% - but I have all the confidence in her. I also managed to lose some weight using intermittent fasting. The AI's are known also for weight gain. When I asked her about the AI adding to high cholesterol she said that was true. I'd also read about it adding to high blood pressure & high blood sugar - she said those 2 items were false. I go to a teaching hospital and my oncologist is retiring to teach new oncologists. I'm sad I won't see her again.

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The aromatase inhibitors can cause some changes in epithelial tissue so maybe that affects high blood pressure? I kind of think that just having cancer, and treating it, is such a big life change that it gets hard to separate out what is causing what under already stressful circumstances. I had a reaction, twice, to anastrozole of a kind of low 'burning' in my mouth, as if I'd eaten hot chiles or very spicy food. It went away both times I discontinued anastrozole after trying it. [I quit anastrozole over a different side effect. But never found anyone else who had that reaction to the med.]

The odds are that your doctor knows who are other great doctors and hopefully can match you up with another winner since it can make all the difference as we know!

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