gwinter- I too am going to try aromasin but I am not optimistic. Is the doc allowing you a few weeks to heal from your hysterectomy before you start? That is interesting the advice from your pharmacist to take it every other day. I wonder what your oncologist will think about that AND does that impact its effectiveness?

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@francine6829 my oncologist said to ask my gynecologist oncologist when to take. She said when I felt ready to! It has been 8 weeks so I'm going to start in a couple. Pharmacist said it might add an extra year of taking if I go every other day. But I was going to start every other day for a month then try every day!
I might be changing oncologist anyway. He is a numbers man, too. So he now has me at 20% recurrence even with the surgery! Aarrgghh
Let me know how you do!! I will, too.
This one must be newer so good luck!
I have decided it's about quality of life even more.

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Kathy- which AI are you taking?

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Kathy- which AI are you taking?

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Jeannie53- I asked my breast surgeon about those tamoxifen side effects you mentioned. He said unless I smoke, which I don’t or have a history of blood clots, those side effects are very very unlikely. He thinks Tomixifen is a good choice. I have not convinced my oncologist yet

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@francine6829 Thank you Francine. My oncologist told me that the effects are not as dire as made out to be. I appreciate you letting me know that not smoking and past history should be weighed in. I have never smoked and no history of blood clots. As I said I have a friend who tolerated it very well she was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and is 6 years out cancer free. This is a very bumpy road and we are all trying to get to the same place hopefully things will smooth out for all of us.

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I hope so Jeannie. I have such a negative attitude about these drugs, even knowing it will help me survive longer.

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I hope so Jeannie. I have such a negative attitude about these drugs, even knowing it will help me survive longer.

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My lips have been extremely dry for the past few weeks. They feel like they are burning and have become a size too small! I have tried Chapstick, Vaseline ( which has always worked for me before cancer) and Blixtex. Nothing seems to comfort my poor lips. I'm taking Anastrozle. Could that be the source of my discomfort?

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My lips have been extremely dry for the past few weeks. They feel like they are burning and have become a size too small! I have tried Chapstick, Vaseline ( which has always worked for me before cancer) and Blixtex. Nothing seems to comfort my poor lips. I'm taking Anastrozle. Could that be the source of my discomfort?

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@kwanless – I also had terrible leg pain and at times could not climb stairs unless I pulled myself up by the bannister. In addition to fatigue and getting depressed because I felt awful. I stopped my pills after 6 months and saw my oncologist yesterday, I have been off of the pills for a week and started to notice the difference after 5 days. My doctor could not believe that I have been suffering and told me I should have let her know and stopped the pills when the pain kicked in. She has instructed me to take a break for 1 month to get it all out of my system and wait until I feel like my old self. I was on anastrozole and she is going to change me to letrozole. She said if that does not work we will just try different drugs until one works and if none agree with me we will figure my next step which may be no drugs. My point is please do not suffer I had no quality of life and was starting to feel very depressed. Quality of life is very important I get having some off days but every day was off and that's not living it's existing. Please talk to your oncologist and if you get no results consider getting a new oncologist that listens to you. Sending good thoughts your way!

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