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

Posted by nanato6 @nanato6, Oct 12, 2018

Nanaloves: I’m about to start arimidex and just feel that the contraindications , bone issues etc. are overwhelming. I’m 70 years old, dodged a bullet I feel with zero stage DCIS but the follow up is pretty much no different then if it was more aggressive. I’ve just done 33 treatments of radiation and now they advise arimidex as a preventative. I’m not sure with the beginnings of arthritis and lower back. sensitivity already that I should take it. Anyone not take it and not have a recurrence within the 5 years.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 28, 2022

In reply to @pbnew "Congratulations on figuring out what you want! What is the Mistletoe treatment? I’m living temporarily in..." + (show)

When looking for and evaluating complementary therapies, I usually turn to NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrated Medicine (NCCIH) website https://nccih.nih.gov/

In the section "Health Topics A-Z" current therapies and conditions are listed explaining the most recent evidence, cautions and potential of future studies.

Here is their information on
– European Mistletoe https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/european-mistletoe
"European mistletoe is not a proven cancer treatment. It should not be used as a treatment for cancer outside of clinical trials."

pbnew | @pbnew | Apr 28, 2022

In reply to @shortie0650 "At age 72 (as of June), I have decided to not take the Anastrozole or the..." + (show)

Congratulations on figuring out what you want! What is the Mistletoe treatment? I’m living temporarily in Europe.

windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 28, 2022

For someone who does not yet have osteoporosis, I don't think there is a 100% chance of needing osteoporosis meds after or during an AI. Before being osteoporotic there are natural ways to protect bones and I would rather go natural with bones than with cancer!

If significant bone loss does occur, some people do short term osteoporosis meds (see Keith McCormick) and then maintain with natural methods.

With hormonal cancers the risk continues to grow so that 5% (which one test considers high risk) will continue to increase over time. With an early stage cancer that may be acceptable to some, but just want to mention that for balance 🙂

lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | Apr 27, 2022

I switched from Anastrozole to Tomoxifin because of memory loss with Anastrozole. Unfortunately shortly after starting on Tomoxifin, I broke out in severe hives. It appears that I’m allergic to something in Tomoxifin. My doctor then switched me to Exemestane. It’s better for me, but I still have some minor side effects. I don’t think any of these drugs are free of some kind of side effects for most of us. We just need to find the one that’s has the least side effects for each of is individually. It’s certainly not pleasant, but I suppose it’s better than cancer…

callalloo | @callalloo | Apr 27, 2022

In reply to @shortie0650 "At age 72 (as of June), I have decided to not take the Anastrozole or the..." + (show)

I'm also not taking any anti-hormone drugs, in part because I'd be trading a 5% chance of recurrence if the genetic testing is valid (and two oncologists I saw think it is) for a 100% likelihood of needing to go on drugs for osteoporosis. I have a few other reasons for not taking an aromatase inhibitor but wanting to avoid a certain osteoporosis threat gets my attention.

But am doing whatever else makes sense that can improve health. I haven't researched the mistletoe stuff and would be interested in reading an update about it if you take it.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 27, 2022

In reply to @pattyayn59 "I’m 63 ,dcis zero stage. Took anastrazole after radiation and couldn’t tolerate side effects. ! After..." + (show)

Welcome @pattyayn59. Have you submitted your question about switching to Tamoxifen on Mayo's patient portal?

There are others here like @francine6829 and @lisman1408 who have been able to successfully switch from an aromatase inhibitor to tamoxifen with fewer side effects.

klarsonopenfields1 | @klarsonopenfields1 | Apr 27, 2022

In reply to @kilkennyfarmwife "Americans take ten times more prescription drugs then other Industrialized countries. The medicine I was taking,..." + (show)

I tried Anastrozole and Letrozole. Different side effects with each. I was SO SICK with Anastrozole that I stopped taking it after 3 weeks. My back pain in the spine was beyond manageable. Headaches, digestive problems. I think I'm done with pharma AI's. Meeting with alternative medicine DO.
Look online for more info.

shortie0650 | @shortie0650 | Apr 27, 2022

At age 72 (as of June), I have decided to not take the Anastrozole or the Tamoxifen, and likely not the radiation because I do not want to spend the rest of my time sick and dealing with the serious side effects. Opening up myself to getting osteoporosis is just trading one serious disease (cancer) for another serious disease (osteoporosis) and I don't want to be sickly, in pain and miserable for the rest of my life. I am however, going to try as many of the natural type treatments as I can, including diet, stress management, exercise and naturopathic help. I am looking into the Mistletoe treatments that are used a great deal in Europe, but are not yet approved in America. Some people use it as a stand alone treatment instead of the traditional ones and others use in in addition to their treatments to help manage the side effects. I know that this is not the path that many would take, but for me, at my age, it is a more acceptable way of seeing my life for the time I have left. 🙂

pattyayn59 | @pattyayn59 | Apr 27, 2022

I’m 63 ,dcis zero stage. Took anastrazole after radiation and couldn’t tolerate side effects. ! After two months - I stopped it.
Now they want me to start tamoxifen! Hoping to get opinion of mayo dr.
Anyone else have this experience?