How Many are doing 10 years on Aromatase Inhibitors

Ruthbru, 

My oncologist says the same. Onward and upward.

MsPharoah the reason why they are not saying 10 years of AIs is because the study results are not in yet… but it probably will say 10 is better. So since the study isn't out they say women who have been on an AI can go 5 more on Tamoxifen because we know that additional time on Tamoxifen is beneficial.

But my onc is pretty confident that she's going to be telling me that I should do 5 more years of AI when the time comes. She wouldn't recommend it now because the studies aren't published but I can tell she is so ready to jump on this band wagon. My onc feels I am high risk of recurrence due to my tumor size in spite of no nodes. I told her I thought I was at moderate risk… she had no comment.

Yes, Ruth!! My onc said the same things that you are saying! If I'd not had the positive node and the high grade, I would have stopped the aromasin at 5 years!! But, she was very honest with me and said, we still don't know the true benefits of staying on it for 10 years!! 

I had more problems wit tamoxifen than I have with arimidex. 

Hi coqui.  The SE's hit each of us differently regardless of which you are on.  Just have to find the one most tolerable to keep the beast at bay.  Good luck with your surgery.  Let us know how you make out.

My MO is recommending 10 years as well.

Cindy and Ched, I have a similar diagnosis to your diagnosis and my onc is suggesting staying on AIs for 10 years.  I have only 3 more to go.

think it is partly the reason, I was stage 0 and docs have said I could end at 5

ruthbru,  have you had a chance to read the information from the European studies?  I was 100% ER positive which according to the European studies means a higher risk of recurrence.  Also, anyway that I can keep from going to Stage 4, I will try.  Just saw a DCIS diagnosis 2007 who is now Stage 4.  She stopped her Tamoxifen after 2 years.  Although no one can say who will or will not go to Stage 4, I believe we have the right to have all of the information available to make a good decision.

I am 98% er+. - nodes, grade 1 stage1. I have done 3 years of arimidex. my mo recommends 5 then "we'll see" I'm stopping it for 3 months to see how much QOL improves. This is NOT recommended. I was told "we'll see about 10 years, when you finish 5"

I was told last appointment chance of recurrence in 10 years without AI's 20%. With 8%. ( taking them for 5 years, and of course there are no studies regarding outcome after taking them for 3)

We'll see.

My onc told me it doesn't matter what your percentage is. "It doesn't work that way." Granted I think she was really pushing me to not only stay on an AI but preparing me for 10 years. I was 30%ER and 5%PR.

So the more ER+ we are, the longer we should take them? I was >95%ER+ and >60%PR+...still may only do 5 years since I had DCIS. The MO said that if I was not so highly positive, she would not even recommend an AI but since I was so high, she said it would provide some protection and she strongly recommended I do 5 years.

april485 my MO claims percentage doesn't matter… or as she said doesn't work that way. I would be interested in what your MO says because I'm not buying it. Maybe if she did give me an explaination of how it works but she didn't. 

Oh I've had many discussion on this with a local gal I met here. We have the same BS, different MO but same place. I think she's more annoyed with the AIs than I am. Wondering if it's Voodoo 

Yes, Ruth, totally agree!! I look at my little white pill every morning, and think to myself:such a tiny pill with so many powerful side effects!!