Ibrance and Letrozole: Newly Diagnosed Treatment

Thank you
Agree!!

Hi Monigue, I think that I saw a post from you requesting the links to just a few of the studies that cite the statistic that 50% of the women who begin taking anti-hormone therapy quit taking the drugs within 5 years due to side effects. [The so-called "non-compliance" issue that the industry is trying to address.] If you did request the links, I'll message them to you. I don't want to inadvertently start a topic about non-compliance though I think acknowledgement of it is actually helpful in that, if someone does find the drugs difficult to tolerate, she might feel reassured that it's not a personal failure but just an inconvenient reality that they are very powerful drugs...and fighting a wily cancer foe.

I don't have an opinion (for anyone else but myself) about the anti-hormone therapy, but my oncology surgeon told me that many older women skip them for myriad reasons, the primary one being 'quality time remaining' versus side effects. Have fun at the reunion!

I tool Letrazole for 4 years after receiving all of my tax for Her2+ (chemo and radiation). I think it’s an added bonus to help prevent recurrence bit decided not to finish the 5th year. The prevention stats are minimal in terms of 4 and 5 years and I could no longer stand how I felt on that medication. Gained weight, incredible fatigue that prevented me from exercising, and chronic muscle, joint, bone pain. I take a lot of vitamins now and eat plant based diet. I have so much more energy and can exercise, etc. I feel like It’s much better for me to be physically active and reduce weight which can contribute to cancer and use diet and vitamins rather than feel like I’m 20 years older. I’m 69 and wish western medical approaches emphasized diet and vitamins over these other drugs. Their IS a lot of research that does prove it helps.

I am 70 with three kids in transition, nowhere near having houses or family. That is exactly the kind of personal consideration that comes into play. If I were you, I would feel the same 🙂

Thanks! I don't care much about preventing a tumor by taking anti-estrogens because they make me an irritated , emotional mess.. As I've said, I could die a few years from now anyway and these years hopefully, will be good ones. For instance, I'm 80 years old (a widow of almost 3 years )and traveling to visit my boyfriend from the 8th grade who ,as they said in the 20's, thinks I'm, "the cats meow." I'm just going to try to have fun. I live very well , have 4 great kids with college degrees and good jobs. I was able to give them money for down payments on their houses and here in California and Oregon, real estate has been a winner for us all.. My ducks are in line. ((knock on wood.)

Raebaby , I believe I have already asked why chemo and rad has been recommended after lumpectomy ?
I have my bilateral lumpectomy a year ago and wasn’t chemo of rad done .
As a matter of fact I have read that radiation could worsened heart conditions ,that is a case for my( arrhythmia) !
I better keep my heart ticking , than waiting for the cancer reoccurrence!
Therefore, at 82 I settled for Tamoxifen 1/2 ( just for possible prevention) , better than nothing .
And exercise the holistic approach to boost my immunity.
No estrogen might affect endometriosis organs for possible cancer ( so I watched)
Other than that I am with you on your life tactics !!

Risk varies for all of us, in terms of not doing anti-estrogens. You must have had a low Oncotype score with a risk of 3%. That's great!

He just said if I didn't feel good taking it, he wouldn't push it. I believe one's chances of not getting cancer are improved by about 3 percent taking anti-estrogens.
As it is, I feel really happy. I like this feeling rather than having a few extra years of life but feeling really sad.

I assume you meant something else:
"He said the odds were not greatly improved if I didn't take it. " If he meant the odds aren't greatly improved if you do take it, that's great news. Good luck!