Completing 5 years on Anastrozole: Did you continue or stop after 5?

If your doctor goes along with it, I would stay on it. I just finished my 10th year.

I’m completing year 2, and having either managed or adjusted to side effects, I’m hoping to stay on it for a long, long time for its benefits. I was initially told 5-10 years, but if it’s possible to go beyond that and I feel as I do now, I’ll stay on it. (To me, I would do almost anything to avoid recurrence and much worse suffering.)

I’m not on Anastrazole because of side effects so exemestane instead. Initially they said 5-10 years of ai. Oncologist indicated it would be 5 because research shows no difference in long term between 5 and 10 years. I’m only 2 years into ai so waiting to see what happens at the 5 year mark and if there’s any specific tests etc he’ll run before taking me off.

I did 5 years on it , then at the recomendation of the oncologist I stopped I wonder about the side effects is hair loss as a result of that or age ? ( I am 65)

Also had issues with Anastrazole so now on Exemestane for 2.5 years. Suffering hair loss as well. I am 62 and do not think it's due to age.

I will try to make it to 5 years and maybe 10, hopefully.

I was on an AI for 5 years (after 1 year I switched to Exemestane). She wanted me to take it for another 5, I declined. When forced to answer my question - how much will another 5 years help? She admitted it would only decrease occurrence rate by 2 or 3%. I said no thanks. My hair thinned a bit - but been off the meds 3 years now, & it seems my hair is fine now.

My oncologist encouraged me to stop.
Do research on long term use of anastrozole. After I did my own research, I agreed with my doctor.

New research shows benefits of staying on if you can tolerate it.

Yes, my doctor recommended it.

I thought that was strange because when I started, the protocol was ten years, possibly for my life.

But I did some research in medical journals. Data was showing that some patients who continued long term were prone to lung embolisms,

Ask your doctor what he or she thinks, do your own research and then decide for yourself.

@tisme

Hair loss happens as we age. But I think the drugs speed it up. I have no evidence and I’ve always had sparse hair. But I feel that the loss of hormones has to have an effect on hair, skin and body functions.