Need some advice for a friend regarding the continuing of AI's

momand2kids

Hi all,

my best friend from college was dx'd in 2011-2012 . Triple positive BRCA- She had chemo, herceptin, radiation and was on tamoxifen for 5 years. at the 5 year mark, her onc put her on letrozole-she has been on it for 3 years now. She is finding the side effects (joint stiffness, etc) challenging. She is considering going off it this year- the idea being 3 years is better than nothing. Is there research that shows that 5 years is the standard for an AI after tamoxifen? I was only on letrozole and my onc only did 5 years as she felt the risks of the drugs were greater than my risk of recurrence--My friend's bc was more aggressive (but no nodes).

Just wanted to see if you wise folks had seen anything that suggests that she should stay on for the full five years.

Thanks so much

Meow13

I did 4 years on AI drugs and quit. I first did anastrozole then exemestane. Wish I never tried exemestane due to side effects. I have been off everything over 3 years. I still have lingering pain not too bad mostly at night. I am on year 8 NED. I think it a personal choice I am of course happy. I had 2 1cm tumors close to the surface no node involvement or skin involvement. One was IDC the other ILC, er 95% pr 0%, her2-. My oncodx score was 34, chemo was recommended but I didn't do it. The data didn't convince me to take the chemo risks.