How Many are doing 10 years on Aromatase Inhibitors
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Yes, and a doctor never stops practicing because there's something new or changing everyday.
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Aromasin not bad so far. I'm a little warmer and hot flashes a bit more in the morning but still not bad. Feet are sore again at times but not too bad. Mostly feet/toes stiff in the morning.
My emotional status is still normal so I can be trust with knifes again (kidding of course). It's been 2 weeks.
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Actually Lago, for some people taking AI's/Tamoxifen, knives could be a problem...LOL. Glad it is going well for you with the Aromasin. Hope it stays that way!
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I had my biannual follow-up with my MO yesterday. I've been on anastrazole for 3 1/2 years. It's the first time I asked him straight up, how many years he thinks that I should be on it. He said with my risk factors definitely 10 years. He pointed out that the Tamoxifen studies initially showed no decrease risk of recurrence between 6 and 10 years in woman who took Tamoxifen for 5 years vs those who took it for 10 years. However, between 10 and 15 years there was an increased recurrence rate in those that only took it for 5 years. He believes that this will hold true for the AIs too. My axillary nodes were 2 and 3 times as big as my primary and had ECE. I have chronic joint and muscle pain from the Arimidex but it gets better if I exercise regularly and I should be doing that anyway! So, I'm willing to stick with the AI for 10 years and hope that it keeps doing it's job!
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april485 I know. I got depressed on Anastrozole. That's what prompted me to take the brake. Been fine ever since. But knifes isn't my style. I'm more firing squad although I don't know any.
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Uh, lago, to be on safe side let's keep you away from all weapons, knives, firearms, forks, toothpicks, etc. With all the money we are spending on treatments we can't really come up with bail money.
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hahahahaha! Love it Patoo...so true!
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patoo there would be no need for bail money if I were depressed and had a weapon. I would never harm another person because I was having a bad day. It's me I'm worried about
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I will hit the 5 year mark in August. Last time I saw the MO she said we would talk about continuing Arimidex/Anastrozole)for another 5 years or switching to Tamoxifen for another 5. She also said there are studies underway which should provide more conclusive evidence. I am 100% ER+ & 80% PR+ and I did have quite a few lymph nodes involved. I am preparing myself for another 5 years despite side effects.
But I do have to ask. Does it really affect blood pressure, depression, weight gain (major cravings)? I've been blaming myself for these things.
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hrf my onc has practically told me she wants me to do the 10 years because I'm high risk for recurrence due to large tumor and high grade. She won't come out and say yes because the final studies aren't out yet. She said percentage doesn't matter (I am 30%ER 5%PR).
Yes it can effect all those things. For me it was the depression. I'm 3+ weeks on Exemestane (Aromasin) now and so far doing much better. No more back, shoulder, neck pain either. Stiffness is almost non existant.
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for me it affected my BP, done dramatically since I ended my time on the aromasin
stress, not sure as I am off it and still stressed about my yearly mamo tomorrow~~
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My pressure is still very good but that is probably due to exercise as mine was always on the low side so not it normal to low. I had a little bout with depression a few months ago but seem to have gotten past it. Weight, that's another issue. No matter what I do I can't seem to drop the pounds and I really believe it's the anastrozole.
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It is interesting reading all of these posts. I will be finishing rads this week I hope. The machine broke down last week and my last four treatments had to be pushed into this week! Talk about knives and weapons. LOL I will be seeing my MO after that and he is recommending five years and he mentioned Anastrozole when I saw him for the first consultation in April. I am already nervous about the SE. I have been bracing for five years. If he says ten I will croak!0 -
I saw my onco's NP for what was to be my final 5 year 6 month follow up yestrday.
I've been on Arimidex for 5 years. I asked if I could continue on Arimidex in light of the new studies coming out. As I really don't have significant side effects and my bones are good, she said no problem, but we will check on bone density again next year.
I go to a highly regarded Comprehensive Cancer teaching hospital. She did say the studies haven't established that it will reduce risk of recurrence yet, but that more info is coming in. I got the feeling the decision was up to me, so I said I wold take it on a year by year basis.
I had planned to grill her on whatever info I could get on the latest studies, but we didn't get to spend a lot of time on this topic-- I had just had a core biopsy for a lump they discovered on my mamogram (UGH!) and THAT was the major topic of our discussion! Possible recurrence or just scar tissue.
My NP said that since I was already 'low risk', any benefit that might accrue would only be 2-3% As I sat there with an undiagnosed lump in my breast and possible recurrence, I thought to myself 'Hey, I'll take it!"
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Lindissima - ugh - what an unpleasant surprise on your mammo - keeping my fingers crossed it's just scar tissue.
I'm 6 years out so I'm on an annual appt schedule with my MO. My appt is next week - the 10 year topic is definitely going to be on my agenda. I'll post on the outcome of our discussions.
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NPs are great but in general always refer to your MD. I've caught my NP recommending or not knowing things. I remember when I got bad nose bleeds during chemo. Told her I felt it was Herceptin. She said no… told my onc and before I finished my sentence she said "Oh that's from Herceptin. We don't know why that happens). My NP was also ready to switch me to Tamoxifen when I was having issues with Anastrozole. My onc said no… Generic Aromasin and would only consider Tamoxifen if I refused the Aromasin. She said "Tamoxifen is better than nothing." Ha HA. My onc really hates Tamoxifen. Cracks me up.
I've caught my NP a few other times too. She's good but she isn't an MD
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Last March my onco said only 5 years. I would prefer to walk on hot coals than go through another 5. But I would consider it if the data is convincing.
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As much as I hate to admit it cause this drug has been hard on me physically, all of the research points to it (AI's and Tamoxifen) being the single best tool in the arsenal to prevent recurrence and/or a new breast cancer. That is the ONLY reason we put up with the dreadful side effects. As for ten years, I am praying that I get through 5 years before "going there" in my mind. I admire those of you who complete the first five!
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I think menopausal people switch from AIs to tamoxifen if the SEs are too difficult. At least that's what my MO had me do. 1 year on aromasin, now about 10 mos on Tamoxifen. He thinks I'm better, and maybe I am. But when I see him in August I'm going to ask.
My oncotype was 38 which indicated that I had a higher risk of recurrence.
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Lindissima, I hope all is well. Let us know, OK?
My oncologist was adamant that the research doesn't support staying on an AI (in my case, letrozole) more than five years. That said, mine was a small, node-negative tumor.
As with everything else in medicine, individual circumstances dictate what course of treatment you should follow.
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@Septembersong and Natsfan, Thanks for your concern!
I will defintely reconfirm continuing the Arinidex with my oncologist (not the NP) when all is settled.
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LindIssima, I'm hoping that you have just some scar tissue. It's so stressful to go through the waiting game......again.
I'll hit my 5 years next month. I see MO in September and she also said we would be having a talk about continuing either on AI or Tamoxifen. My tumour was 100% ER +
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Thanks to everyone for your concern. I got my biopsy results and thankfully it was just fat necrosis. No further treatment needed, except another mammo and sonnogram in 6 months. I'm glad they took it seriously and I was very relieved.
I will continue with Arimidex for 6 more months (I am at the 5 year point) and then take the issue up with my MO at my next appt.
@hrf, I was 80% Estrogen positive. I have almost no SE's from the Arimidex, so I am ok with continuing, at least in the short term. I see you live in Canada. I wonder if there is a different consensus on this issue there. Best of luck to you and let us now what your MO says next month.
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Lindissima - woohoo!!!! Great news on the biopsy!!!!! So glad for you!
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hmm, I had that fat necrosis on mine once, dang scarey till they figured it out but so glad for you it all worked out!
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Have my annual MO appt this afternoon and this is going to be Topic A. I finished my 5 years of Femara last year, and am not eager to even think about going back on it, so we'll see what she says. Oh yeah, the continued hot flashes will also be a topic of dicussion! Are those stupid things ever going to calm down??????
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Had a long talk with my MO Friday about the 10 year AI question. She said that the studies are still ongoing, and there have been no interim reports issues showing any reason to go with 10 years as of now. At this point she's not recommending that I resume letrozole because there's nothing out there to support it, but did say she'd call if anything changed before I see her again next year.
I asked her about the studies that show a benefit to staying on tamox for 10 years, and why that wouldn't likely be true for AIs as well. She said not necessarily. Her take on the matter was that tamox and AIs are both strong effective meds, but AIs are stronger than tamox. She said given that, it's not surprising that women who are on the weaker drug would see a reduced recurrence rate if they stayed on it longer, but that might not necessarily hold true for women who were on the stronger drug right all along. Bottom line: For right now, there's no answer to that question. We're all still stuck making the best decision we can for ourselves.
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Mary, that sounds pretty much like my onco said when I asked her this past spring. She did not suggest I continue after the 5 years and I know that a few years ago, when I complained about SEs...she was very against my switching to Tamoxifin. So...enjoying my lower BP since ending the dang pill.
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Mary, thanks so much for your info and input! I am going into my 10th year on Aromasin!! But I did have an aggressive case!! However, I have had enough , and when I see my onc next week! I am going to see if I can wean myself off!! She had suggested earlier that I could maybe start taking it every other day! We will discuss next week! I am tired of being chubby, cranky and tired!! Ha!!!! I have a 6 month supply of aromasin left!! I go through Express Scripts!!
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You don't have to commit to ten years. If you feel you are getting benefits from taking an AI you can just go year by year until the studies are published.
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