HRT alternate for ER/PR positive breast ca

Just had my first check up and argument about the same thing! You r me! What stage were you? I was 1A. Everything else you wrote is me too! I tried arimidex for 2 3 weeks periods awful awful high blood pressure, joint aches....today I agreed to arimsan (sp)...he told me 10-20 % recurrence if I do not take....you also have to decide quality of life. I am 65 and have 4 young grandsons. I want to be able to play with them not just watch. Hugs to you and your decision

GWinter - thank you! I am Stage 1, grade 3 and 68. I was chemo resistant. The second lesion noted after first lumpectomy only shrunk 1 mm and so had second lumpectomy with reduction whereupon a third lesion was found in tissue pathology that never showed up on scans/MRI. One of the 2 sentinel nodes that was cancerous also eroded so my neck nodes had to be irradiated. I'm not good at drugs/medicine so just wish there was another way.

I've been on Arimidex for about 5 months now. Some bone and joint pain at first but it's settled down now and I'm okay with it. Switched from Femara, because of severe bone pain. Went without for a month, then took the Arimidex. Lost my hair with chemo, and it came back curly, but now it's straight and much thinner. I always had thick, wavy hair. Could be old age, too. Who knows?

I feel same way...side effects of all hormone therapy are too painful and I have had osteoporosis and if I broke a home from these drugs, that would be end, of life as I now enjoy it. Also, I don't care to get another cancer....uterine from tamoxifen....also have heart problems and losing any more estrogen, which is good for the heart, might give me heart attack or worse! So I have not taken anything after lumpectomy. My oncologist d I'dif info test and score was 8....not too likely to recur...I was stage 2....did to microscopi c amt. Of cancer in first sentinel node....rest were clear. So I am just hoping and praying and forgetting I had cancer!!!!

I was Stage 1, no node involvement (caught a lucky break there).....I tried Tamoxifen, pre mastectomies, then tried Arimidex and Letrozole post bi lateral mastectomy.. With Letrozole I had severe joint pain, depression and although it might not be related -- Shingles. I came off of it and went to Arimidex....again, joint pain, depression, fatigue and blood in my stools. So, the docs and I agreed that the meds seemed to be wearing me down so much everything that could possiblyy happen was going to happen. I had virtually every side effect...the ones I mentioned were the most pronounced.
I opted to go drug free unless I have a recurrence then I would consider the AI's. My cancer risk recurrence is 8% they say it would be about 4% with the drugs. I couldn't justify all the side effects and symptoms for so little gain. Hugs to all.

Pretty much my story....8% risk recurrence....drug free. If recurrance, I did not think you could use Als..hormone....thought it would go to stage 4

I am in the same boat as a few of you. Triple positive, Stage 2- very lucky, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, and now maintenance herceptin. Three weeks on Amiridex aged me 30 years. Possibility of recurrence improves with AIs, yes, but with low bone density already, I have to weigh benefits against bad side effects and weaker bones. I feel ya! I may start a new discussion thread with a clear name for those looking to explore options besides AI. 👍😘🤗

I was on anastrozole 2 months before they had to take me off it . Too many bad side effects and I wasn’t able to live . You should talk to the dr . Some people have no problems with those drugs . Don’t be afraid of the dr it is your life and he gets paid

Have you had Oncotypedx test? I believe that shows risk of recurrence. Ask oncologist....took 2 weeks for results.