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

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. My aunt was diagnosed in her 30s with triple negative, which she bravely fought for 15 years. Thinking about her and reading stories like yours makes me feel guilty about my own complaints, which seem trivial in comparison.

I have just been really angry this entire week. I'm trying not to be, but I can't help it. And every time I read a study on deleterious effects of estrogen deprivation I get even more angry or cry or both. I feel like a statistic and not a person. I'm trying really hard to be calm before my oncologist appointment tomorrow. He's a nice person, and he doesn't deserve my outrage.

I’m so sorry to hear. The book “Radical Remission” and “metabolic approach to cancer” make me see hope. Recommend you read books like these to provide hope and encourage us to make changes to improve our health. Lots of hugs to you and hope you feel better soon both physically and mind.

@songsparrow maybe stop reading about the effects of estrogen 🙂 For many of us, it wasn't that bad. I felt safe on the meds and was sorry to stop. You may do fine. It's worth a try.

I appreciate the words of support, and I am happy that so many of you have been able to take them without any severe effects. I've been on anastrozole for a year now. The side effects weren't bad at first, mostly just really bad hot flashes, but they don't bother me anymore. I have hereditary high cholesterol though, and had osteopenia at my initial DEXA scan. Haven't had intercourse with my husband since my diagnosis (too painful). I have memory loss and confusion. The pain and stiffness in my knees is pretty bad. I'm 49, but I feel like I've aged 20-30 years in the past 12 months. I have my appointment with my oncologist in a few hours though, so I will voice my concerns to him.

I had a really productive conversation with my MO today. I explained my concerns about my current side effects and any potential future side effects, and he confirmed that they are all risks, but manageable. We talked about the possibility of switching to Tamoxifen to see if my side effects improve, and he agreed it would fine (although slightly less effective) and better than not taking anything at all. We talked about my recurrence rate, which he doesn't know exactly (my conditions were so favorable that we agreed the oncotype was unnecessary), but it's going to be single digits since my conditions were so favorable. That being said, I feel like a dummy because I had thought recurrence rate referred to the chance that I would get another breast cancer like I just had. I had incorrectly assumed that if I get cancer again it would be treated like this one, so the extra 5% protection against recurrence didn't seem that significant. When I learned that it was extra protection against metastatic disease, I changed my tune very quickly. Knowing this, I will stay on the medication and just hope that Tamoxifen works for me. Even though 10% sounds low, it's not low enough for me to feel good about my odds. I don't know how it will turn out, but I am hopeful at the prospects of feeling better about myself and my life.

@songsparrow you raise a really really good point. Ther is recurrence locally, regionally, and then there is metastasis. I think the term "recurrence" is very misleading and am going to start using "spread."

Sounds like you have a very accommodating doctor and hope tamoxifen is easier for you!

I had a really productive conversation with my MO today. I explained my concerns about my current side effects and any potential future side effects, and he confirmed that they are all risks, but manageable. We talked about the possibility of switching to Tamoxifen to see if my side effects improve, and he agreed it would fine (although slightly less effective) and better than not taking anything at all. We talked about my recurrence rate, which he doesn't know exactly (my conditions were so favorable that we agreed the oncotype was unnecessary), but it's going to be single digits since my conditions were so favorable. That being said, I feel like a dummy because I had thought recurrence rate referred to the chance that I would get another breast cancer like I just had. I had incorrectly assumed that if I get cancer again it would be treated like this one, so the extra 5% protection against recurrence didn't seem that significant. When I learned that it was extra protection against metastatic disease, I changed my tune very quickly. Knowing this, I will stay on the medication and just hope that Tamoxifen works for me. Even though 10% sounds low, it's not low enough for me to feel good about my odds. I don't know how it will turn out, but I am hopeful at the prospects of feeling better about myself and my life.

I have been on anastrozole for a month now and have little side effects if any. My problem is that i am already in full osteoporosis and the anastrozole is only going to make that worse. My dr first suggested taking tamoxifen but that makes me nervous because of all the possible problems-stroke, blood clot, uterine cancer, etc. I also have a major problem in my mouth with my teeth that need treating but I can't be on osteoporosis drugs while doing dental treatments. Ugh! What to do?!