After tamoxifen/aromatase inhibitor

gardenbird

Hello All,

Is there anybody out there who has finished with recommended treatment and how are they getting on now? I was diagnosed in February 2007, stage 3 with LOADS of positive nodes.   I had TAC x 6, 37 weeks radiation, 2 years tamoxifen and now on 3rd year arimidex.  I'm also taking alendronic acid (one a week) and sachets of Vit D/Calcium.  I really suffer from bone pain on and off, and feel like an old lady. I'm 55, but feel like a teenager in my head lol.   As the protocol here in Holland is to finish with medication after 5 years, I will be finished next October.  Has anybody reached this stage, with no further treatment?  How are you feeling now - have the aches and pains subsided?  Are you doing anything else to keep the beast at bay? Would be grateful for your experiences. 

sweetbean

You know, doctors are talking about keeping women on hormone therapy for 10 years now.  Maybe you should talk to your doctor about that?

diana50

i will be hitting the 10 year mark in feb NED.  i talked with my oncologist about this my last appt.  i was concerned because my estrogen level was 30.  she said she would not put me on another AI because of the damage to bones....body...etc.  (i had done almost 6 years on arimidex)  anyway, i said to her..."so, the hypothesis is that the treatment worked....and she said yes"  i also had many fully encased lymph nodes...my surgeon said he was sure there were more then he actually got) but so far i am doing well.  i think there is a point where you do need to trust the treatment and hope and pray for the best.  stage III get very aggressive treatment and for me, i really believe in what i got and it was also time to stop.  i exercise a lot; cycle every day and walk 45 minutes a day. i eat good and take a few vitamins.  i also have a friend who is starting her 12 th year NED with similar diagnosis but very larget tumor.  it is kinda a crap shoot; why some people end up with more cancer...and some do not.  who knows.  but again, at some point...for me, i was done with treatment and AIs  i think strenuous exercise is the key and eating good. oh, i pray a lot and tell God how grateful i am for my life and peeps.

many

Some oncologist prefer an extended treatment beyond 5 years ,if your bone density permits it

Bugs

Hi Irisheyes,

I completed my 5 years on Tamox. last summer.  My onc and I discussed going on an AI and he just felt that there wasn't enough data out there to show that it helps more than it hurts to be on something longer than 5 years.  I was on the fence about that, but as of right now, I'm done.

I do notice MORE achey's since going off Tamox.  Sucks, cuz I was hoping for the opposite.

Bugs 

gardenbird

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to me.  I really appreciate your input.  Looks like it's a bit of dilemma.  I will wait untill the my check up in the Summer and raise the issue again with my team.  I have to admit I would love to be finished with treatment, emotionally and physically, but no side effect is worse that a recurrence. 

many

Dear Irish

i had a word with my wifes onco surgeon and he told that he would put her on 5 years of tamoxfen and additional 5 years of AI to be decided in 2017 january

i hope this helps