Why Anastrazole if I Had a Bilateral Mastectomy?

Posted by terricull @terricull, Feb 18 10:35am

I was diagnosed with DCIS and IDC, Estrogen + in my right breast in November 2024. I had a bilateral/double mastectomy with sentinal lymph node testing in December 2024. Cancer tumor was less than 8mm in size, and all tissue removal edges and lymph nodes were negative for cancer. Since I had both breasts removed, why do I need to take Anastrazole for 5 years? I'm already dealing with hot flashes from menopause and the Anastrazole makes them far more frequent.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

cjs123172 | @cjs123172 | Feb 19 5:16am

Since you didn't have chemo, the aromatase inhibitor reduces the chance of a metastatic recurrence. If a cancer cell escaped via the blood stream, then the meds will curtail growth since your cancer needs estrogen to grow. It's a preventative measure but an important one.

salamander | @salamander | Mar 3 1:31pm

I did not take it. I am two years out. Did not get breasts removed. Stage 0, IDC, er/pr +,
Her-, onco 17percent, lumpectomy with 5 rounds of high level radiation. 6mm, clear edges, no lymph involvement. Praying it does not come back.

tullynut | @tullynut | Mar 4 6:32am

It was explained to me with hormone positive breast cancer continue to use of the azole, lowers your risk of a recurrence of breast, cancer, bone, cancer, lung, cancer, liver cancer (I think there’s another area) that would be common areas for a metastasis of hormone positive breast cancer cells. I was postmenopausal when I developed ER positive PR positive breast cancer, had a single mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, followed by use of anastrozole. I have not had any issues with the anastrozole, and I think being post menopausal might be the reason why. If you can’t take it because of the side effects, you can’t take it. But otherwise the studies strongly suggest that it has a significant protective value for patients who had hormone positive breast cancer. When I met with my oncologist a year ago, I am approaching the five year mark now when in past such medications were often stopped, that continuing to the 10 year mark or even beyond in current studies is showing continued protection from recurrence. So my plan is to continue unless I start having issues from the medication which so far haven’t happened. It’s a tough decision to make. Especially if the medication is causing bad side effects.

snakeyes | @snakeyes | Mar 4 7:43am

Yes! I’m on my 2nd bout with breast cancer. The first one was non-hormonal. Eight years later I get a hormonal cancer was then put on anostrozole and took for three months and developed major major headaches. Went to chemo doctor. He looked like he was kind of upset that I stopped the medication had brain scan MRI. Everything was normal. After stop taking medication I never got another headache so I was put on another med.