Switching from Tamoxifen to Femara after three years?

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Cat123
Cat123 Member Posts: 296
edited October 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all,

I've only been on tamoxifen for three years.  I thought I would be taking it for five.  Now she wants to put me on Femara.  My friend with BC is four years older than me and she is still on tamoxifen.  It is so confusing when the oncs give such different advice.  How long were you on Tamox and how old were you when you switched to an AI?

Thank you!

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited September 2014

    Hey Cat,

    Did your MO say why they wanted to switch you?  I'm 36 and decided not to take tomoxifen but instead take Lupron and Leterzole (femara) because there are studies that indicate it is more effective than tomoxifen.  

    Renee

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited September 2014

    I was on Tamoxifin for 5 years (2001-2006) but the onc said 'now that you have been on for 3 years it's time to switch to Femara!

    SHEESH!

    When I reminded him that it was ALREADY 5 years, he said 'oh, ok, - either is good'!!    Snooze       

    I was then on Femara for 5 years.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited September 2014

    Switching me to an AI was brought up at my last MO appt. I'm approaching 3 years of tamox. I'm 55,52 when diagnosed & cleary NOT menopausal at that time. Since late menopause runs in my family, I'm still not convinced I there yet. The reason my MO brought it up was all the GYN problems tamox has given me. For now, I'm staying on tamox. I'm use to the side effects & have no clue what an AI will due to me especially if I'm not quite menopausal yet

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited September 2014

    My oncologist insisted on two sets of blood work a couple months apart to be sure my hormones were indeed menopausal before letting me switch after 2 and 1/2 years. Also did a bone density scan prior to changing the Rx. I wanted off tamoxifen and on to letrozole given the better estrogen suppression it has demonstrated in cases of lobular cancer. I'm in my mid-fifties and doing fine.

    Perhaps the OP's older friend has the beginnings of osteoporosis or her MD is just reluctant to "rock the boat" if everything is going well. One thing this beastly disease proves is that every case is different and you need to try & educate yourself as much as possible (along with asking the doctor why they advocate a particular treatment approach).

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2014

    Read the professionals version (red logo) of the 2014 NCCN breast cancer treatment guidelines beginning on page 100 on their website. It discusses all of the current endocrine therapy studies.  The latest preliminary data regarding the SOFT and TEXT trials, which compare ovarian suppression with an AI vs ovarian suppression with Tamoxifen is still being evaluated.  Too early to see any difference in survival. Possibly be more info will be released at December's San Antonio meeting.

    With respect to how many years of each?  Read the NCCN guidelines...no right or wrong answers.

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  • FeelingtheMagic
    FeelingtheMagic Member Posts: 155
    edited October 2014

    Voracious, thanks. Again. Saving me from even having to search page numbers!  

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  • lyzzysmom
    lyzzysmom Member Posts: 654
    edited October 2014

    I have been post menopausal for years but my MO just put me on tamoxifen for 2 years then plans to switch me to AI. He is concerned about hair and bones if he puts me on AI for 5 years as hair is already quite thin in places. I have no reason to think I have bone density issues currently.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited October 2014

    My MO offered to switch me to an AI after 2 1/2yrs on Tamoxifen. Said I was most likely menopausal since I was 55 at that point. I declined because late menopause runs in my family. As for the lab work to determine menopausal status, no one has offered/suggested it, I read it is not always reliable & I haven't asked for it.  I'm not sure I'd have more favorable SEs on an AI. I'll see what he says at my next appt.

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