How long on Arimidex?

Im under 2 years with Anastrozole but I’m told 5-7 years, to be assessed at year 5 regarding continuance.

Did doc say that it no longer benefits you and/or that it is harmful to continue?

I'm curious to know why taking an AI beyond 10 years is not effective. If you find out or anyone knows, please post it. I have tried to search for this answer online and I can't find anything definitive.

Clinical trials have “ shown” that there is no difference … no benefit …in OS ( overall survival) In continuing AI beyond 5,7,10 years depending on diagnosis.

I was on anastrazole for five years. Off now.

I always wonder if those rogue cells that may have escaped and dormant do not respond to the AI until active. Just a thought ( that I don’t like).

Why did the doctor tell you why to get off it now? I just stopped taking it after 5 years, but a friend that has had BC twice like me has been told she has to stay on it for the rest of her life. She is in her mid 70s. I wish a doctor would comment on this.

Unless my bone density drops (still WNL at the almost 5 year mark) I can and will continue beyond 5 yr. My oncologist agrees and the most current data is suggesting the benefits.

Talk to your doctor(s) about you and your parameters. There is no one size fits all.

It definitely makes me feel safer… like I’m doing something to ward off recurrence. My onco said minimum 5 years, likely 7- 10. They reevaluate at 5.

Lucky for me that I seem to tolerate it well.

@teamweber24, such a good question. And yet another good question to which the answer is not clear-cut. It depends.

I found this information in the Discussion section of a 2023 paper:
- Optimum duration of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: protocol for a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10124296
"Both the NCCN and ASCO guidelines did not give a robust conclusion about the optimal duration of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy. The updated ASCO clinical practice guideline recommends that patients with node-positive breast cancer receive extended adjuvant endocrine therapies for up to a total of 10 years. Any one of the following extended adjuvant endocrine therapy in the ASCO guidelines was recommended: tamoxifen for 10 years; tamoxifen for 5 years followed by aromatase inhibitors for 5 years; tamoxifen for 2–3 years followed by aromatase inhibitors for 7–8 years; aromatase inhibitors for up to a total of 10 years. However, the NCCN guidelines recommended one of the following extended adjuvant endocrine therapies for patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer: tamoxifen for 2–3 years followed by 5 years of aromatase inhibitors; tamoxifen for 4.5–6.0 years followed by 5 years of aromatase inhibitors; tamoxifen for up to a total of 10 years. As a result, decisions related to extended adjuvant endocrine therapy are challenging and complex between patients and clinicians in daily clinical practice, and more evidence is needed to support the efficacy, safety, quality of life and cost-effectiveness of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

There are still major unanswered questions with respect to who should receive extended adjuvant endocrine therapy, for what purposes and for how long in patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer."

Did you discuss with your doctor why it was considered beneficial for you to stay on AIs for 17 years? And why now is a good time to discontinue? I'd be interested in learning more.

I'm in the process of getting a new oncologist so I hope to have more info soon. I was 40 when diagnosed with IDC in 2006. I did chemo and radiation then was put on arimidex. A few years ago I asked my oncologist how long would I stay on it. He looked at my chart and said I could get off now. I told him I didn't want to because I felt more confident on it so he said then just stay on it. My oncologist recently left the practice after 17 years and while in the process of finding someone new the P.A I saw said I should get off now. She said the downsides (osteoporosis, liver, etc) were worse then the advantages of being on for this long. As I said once I get a new oncologist, I will have more info on this.