Aromatase Inhibitors affect on cardiovascular system/ High ANA

Huffpuff

So my daughter(ILC, mastectomy, chemo), age 43, is presently taking Lupron and was going to take AIs, based on the SOFT protocols. However, she has high ANA (autoimmune) so her oncologist returned from San Antonio Breast conference(I am not allowed to post link to Dr.Blaes' presentation) questioning the possibility of long term affect of AIs on young person's (with high ANA) cardiovascular. Is anyone taking Lupron and Tamoxifen? Side effects? Or have any information about ANA and breast cancer? or cardiovascular affects of AIs?

voraciousreader

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/12/09/Breast-c...

Above is a link to the study you are referring to. Note the limitations of the study. This is all new information so finding clinical practice recommendations based on this data is too soon to formulate. That said, these last few years, the NCCN recommendations have been updated to recommend AI and ovarian suppression for higher risk younger women vs tamoxifen and ovarian suppression. Several years ago, there was no suggestion of premenopausal women taking an AI. Thankfully, younger women now have more choices. There is no one size fits all. If cardiovascular disease is a risk factor in your family, then she must figure that aspect in the equation in whether or not an AI is right for her. I did tamoxifen and lupron and had few side effects. I am post menopausal now and take an AI and feel no different. Since heart disease gallops in my family, i undergo annual heart disease screening under the care of a cardiologist. Perhaps she should do the same. Good luck

exercise_guru

I am 42 and had a oophrectomy and hysterectomy and BMX. I also found out I had the PALB2. I had so many challenges with Aromatase inhibitors and real concerns about the effects on the heart and bone. My cholesterol shot up to 270 also.

My MO told me that if I took Tamoxifen it would give me a good benefit and the aromatase inhibitor would at most only provide me a 1/2 percent improvement compared to Tamoxifen. I do not know anything about ILC though. I do think that this is an important conversation for her to feel comfortable having with her doctor.