Looking for research re: taking AI drugs vs not taking them

Yes, great factual response. We have to understand the statistics as they pertain to us, individually. I refused AI treatment after Stage1 treatment including surgery and short term radiation. Factored in: stage, age, Onco Typing, current bone density, all factors being weighed. Risks and side effects outweighed benefits. AI treatment has multiple side effects. Do loads of research as it pertains to You. God Bless😘

Im in the same boat. I have decided not to take estrogen blockers due to almost your same issues. My radiation oncologist felt i do not need them because of my age, 72, and my tumor was small was removed and with radiation he felt my reoccurencr was less than 5%. I also went go oncologist and she thinks i should take 20 mg of tamoxifen but with all the side effects, depression etc. Im not going to. They seem to tell everyone the same thing. I have also read studies where 10 mg of tamoxifen is just as effective with lower side effects. I know its confusing and these are hard decisions to make.

I am a 71 year old woman who has always enjoyed good health. I had a very small tumor and subsequently a lumpectomy. I had no cancer in lymph nodes or in margins. Next week I begin 5 days of radiation on partial breast only. My oncologist doctor has prescribed me 20 mg of tomoxifin to begin after radiation. I have done extensive research on this drug and will not be taking it as prescribed. Studies that I have read indicate that 10 mg of tomoxifin every other day or 5 mg daily produces the same results and far less side affects. I am planning to start 10 mg every other day but will switch to 5 mg daily if need be. 20 mg seems to be the standard prescribed without taking into consideration that every woman’s cancer may be different. For me it is a personal decision after extensive research from several countries. I am comfortable in my decision as at 71 years old it is about the quality of my remaining years.

I applaud your decision. My course is very similar to yours, and with the intent of being as thorough as possible, I did 20 rounds of Radiation, and am on my 3rd AI…Exemestane, every other day. I see my memory flying out the window! I am so emotional, showing up as anger toward those I love. I’m also 71, and this is simply “not me” as I know me! I’ve decided to take a whole month off of the AI, and see if I return to “me” as I know me to be. It’s just not worth it to lose myself. My family needs me…I need me!

Hello Kelly and all, I'm new to this forum. I'm 60, had lumpectomy surgeries for Stage 1, Grade 2, HR+, Her2-, IDC + DCIS, and doing radiation now (4 wks). Having a serious dilemma about whether to take hormone therapy or not. Fearful of SERMs (I have PCOS, and my risk of uterine cancer is already higher than general population; plus heart, eye health risks, etc.), and regarding AI's, I already have osteopenia (serious level on lumbar spine).
Trying to better understand the Predict model, which if I understand correctly, predicts survivorship, not recurrence. I can't understand from this model how many of these patients may have had a recurrence, and then may have needed further surgery (lumpectomy, or mastectomy), radiation, hormone therapy, etc. but survived. Running my stats in Predict looks very good regarding survival, but it doesn't seem to be telling me about my odds for recurrence? Please correct me if I am wrong.
I was informed by my oncologist that if I took an AI (Arimidex), I should also take Zometa to combat bone loss. Has anyone followed this route and had success or issues with it?
Ideally, like anyone, I'd like to avoid hormone therapy altogether, due to my personal risks vs. benefits given my decent chances of survival, but I don't fully understand recurrence odds without hormone therapy. Is there a valid tool or study for recurrence, or am I missing something in the Predict model? Thank you for all input. LJ

I am currently on Anastrozole ( Arimidex) but struggle with bad myalgia and depression as side effects. I don’t like to admit defeat in things so will press on but my quality of life is quite severely impacted. I feel when I reach the two years in mark I will have a rethinking discussion with my oncologist ( she is quite receptive to the quality of life issues these medications raise) as I feel suddenly ‘old’ after 11 months of treatment. It is interesting and supportive to find this forum even though I am UK based.

I am a 71 year old woman who has always enjoyed good health. I had a very small tumor and subsequently a lumpectomy. I had no cancer in lymph nodes or in margins. Next week I begin 5 days of radiation on partial breast only. My oncologist doctor has prescribed me 20 mg of tomoxifin to begin after radiation. I have done extensive research on this drug and will not be taking it as prescribed. Studies that I have read indicate that 10 mg of tomoxifin every other day or 5 mg daily produces the same results and far less side affects. I am planning to start 10 mg every other day but will switch to 5 mg daily if need be. 20 mg seems to be the standard prescribed without taking into consideration that every woman’s cancer may be different. For me it is a personal decision after extensive research from several countries. I am comfortable in my decision as at 71 years old it is about the quality of my remaining years.