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Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: May 12, 2023 | Replies (1190)Comment receiving replies
I have to say that sounds like a lot of treatment for just a zero DCIS. I had a Lumpectomy for a small tumor, clear margins and no lymph node involvement, plus zero DCIS. I was told that I needed to have 'either radiation' or the 'Arimidex pill'. Nothing more than that, as I'm 79. At first it was 5 days of Radiation with no Boost, then that was changed to 10 days of radiation. I decided at that point to have the Pill instead. I read a report from a doctor to his patient that due to the side effects, she could take the Pill for three days a week and gradually bring the dose up and see how she felt. So, that's what I'm now doing. I think considering all the side effects (and remember some people have very little) it's good to 'introduce' the pill to your body in easy stages so it can get used to it? Instead of just going 'gang busters' with the whole dose immediately. I have the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer book and here's what they say about radiation. On Page 172 it states 'In some women older than age 70, there's some question as to whether radiation therapy is of benefit. A clinical trial published in 2011 analyzed women older than age 70 who received a lumpectomy followed by radiation. The women who received the radiation had a reduced risk of cancer recurring in the same breast, but there was no difference in survival rates.' So, just to confuse you, there seems to be a lot of unanswered questions about breast cancer treatments. Blessings to you on your journey.
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Ok! The problem here seems to be that we soldiers are fighting the necessary prescribed battles and literally begging for the hierarchy prescribing our future to focus, to listen to we soldiers in the trenches and help us get a grip on some definition and parameters on these very similar situations that are being dealt with in so many different ways.
I was 78 at the time. I have had a very similar experience as you. 6 mm invasive lobular carcinoma in situ. All margins were clear and negative for invasive carcinoma.
I was prescribed Anastrozole for 5 years. I had no notable side effects for the first year and then became aware of a variety of side effects of which some were manageable and others began to interrupt my quality of life and make me consider if I would need to quit my p/t job and made me feel vulnerable in my daily life involving my legs in general. I had NO issues prior to taking Anastrozole.
After back and forth with the oncologist and nurse oncologists I am currently on a 3 month hiatus. One month into this hiatus, subtle side effects have disappeared and the leg issues have ebbed significantly. My research indicates this might take longer to not be an issue. I am positive that the next 2 months will be significant.
Also, I was aware that brain fog was a possible side effect but had no idea how much it had effected me until I started this hiatus. It literally was like walking out of a fog. I was so aware and so grateful for that!!
This case is not closed for me! I will probably be prescribed Letrozole at the end of 3 months that will throw me back into what I call my intricate Sophie’s Choice syndrome.
Maybe prescribers went through this when mammograms were first offered as a path to breast Cancer diagnosis and prevention. Maybe it would help us if we knew we aren’t out here on this tree limb alone waiting so faithfully for how this possibility for a Cancer free life can be refined and be more specific.
The definition of pragmatic is:
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
Is this a fair expectation for those prescribing us at this point?!