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

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.

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)

@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.

I’m just switching from letrozole to anastrozole beginning tomorrow. Pre-lumpectomy with surgery scheduled for mid-March. Conversation with oncologist is now leaning to possible mastectomy which angers me. The whole idea of taking AI was to avoid mastectomy. Because I have had the lump for over 2-1/2 years, I am frustrated and disappointed in my “care” since first alerting doctor then fighting to have ultrasound and being told “nothing to worry about !” Due to fact I had breast cancer over 20 years ago, why didn’t they do a biopsy back then??😡 Instead, after quite “accidentally” finding endometriosis from an MRI due to pneumonia hospitalization over a year later, and referred to OB-GYN who forced the ultrasound which IMMEDIATELY was then diagnosed with ILC. That was nearly a year ago and here I am. Turning 79 next week and abhor the thought of 1) a possible mastectomy after all this time, and 2) taking AI for probably the rest of my life! I’m going to fight taking my chances rather than all the side effects of AI. Quality of life vs. treating multiple side effects seems worth the chances at this point.

I’m just switching from letrozole to anastrozole beginning tomorrow. Pre-lumpectomy with surgery scheduled for mid-March. Conversation with oncologist is now leaning to possible mastectomy which angers me. The whole idea of taking AI was to avoid mastectomy. Because I have had the lump for over 2-1/2 years, I am frustrated and disappointed in my “care” since first alerting doctor then fighting to have ultrasound and being told “nothing to worry about !” Due to fact I had breast cancer over 20 years ago, why didn’t they do a biopsy back then??😡 Instead, after quite “accidentally” finding endometriosis from an MRI due to pneumonia hospitalization over a year later, and referred to OB-GYN who forced the ultrasound which IMMEDIATELY was then diagnosed with ILC. That was nearly a year ago and here I am. Turning 79 next week and abhor the thought of 1) a possible mastectomy after all this time, and 2) taking AI for probably the rest of my life! I’m going to fight taking my chances rather than all the side effects of AI. Quality of life vs. treating multiple side effects seems worth the chances at this point.

@beyourownadvocate

And my genetic testing supported the shorter length of anastrozole.

Like I said, do your own research, talk with your doctor and decide for yourself.

Does anyone know the percentage of recurrence for breast cancer after 5 years of taking the Anestrozole?