hormone blockers

I have had this very conversation with my DH. Dx below, onco type dx score 3. None of my maternal Aunts were able to tolerate Tamoxifen. I promised to try, the AI's, along with prescriptions for Wellbutrin and Metformin, to pre manage depression and weight gain. But I also told both DH and MO that screwed up hands, weight gain, or depression and all bets were off. Many women have no problems, and with luck that will be you and I, but I won't lose my hobbies or what little optimism I have left to SE's. My fingers are crossed for us both

I was 71 at diagnosis, with a low-risk tumor (stats, including oncotype# below), and decided to decline messing around with Mother Nature's and her hormones because of, as lyzzysmom says, what may or may not happen. Furthermore I saw no logical reason for taking (1) a drug (tamox) that would cause weight gain, when all the literature says weight loss is key to lowering one's risk; or (2) a drug (AI) that would keep me from continuing to lower my risk by regular exercise--resistance, abs, cardio--and that would render my hiking riskier than a possible bc recurrence because of the likelihood of breaking an osteoporidic leg somewhere at 10,000 feet; or (3) a drug (either tamox or AI) that would lead to prescriptions for even more drugs to counteract side effects that then bring on their own side effects;or (4) a drug (tamox) that would increase my chances at my age of having a stroke or blood clots, both of which are undetectable (unlike a bc recurrence) and usually life-destroying. If I have a recurrence, I will deal with it as need be, and have no regrets or second thoughts about my decision. Since my surgery two and a half years ago, I have summited several peaks, hiked umpteen mountain trails, white-water rafted, romped with my granddaughters (now 11, 7, and 4), lost weight sensibly, and also done long-haul flights to Asia (twice), South America, and Vienna without fearing clots and deep vein thrombosis.

But I made this decision at age 71, and my age certainly was a factor in it as well as my favorable tumor stats and prognosis. My husband and I were newly retired and still had so much health and energy, so many mountains to climb (literally and figuratively), and so many new places to see, that it was the best decision for us, especially since the recurrence might not even happen at all or might happen at an age when we either won't fret about it or perhaps even have enough wits about us to know about it! Lomalley, you are younger by almost half than I so your situation is different, and your concerns are also different. And lyzzysmom, I didn't think twice about being a "bad patient"--in my book, a good patient is one who questions doctors, researches the treatments being suggested, evaluates them, and makes his/her own decision about whether to follow the doctor's advice (note, I say advice, not "orders.") Good luck as you wrestle with this decision.

Hi Lilly, i know we have been on the same threads in the past, it looks as though we have a very similar situation. And I too am not tolerating these AI'S well at all and I have been on just on just about everyone and they all end badly😒 I too am very active and these ses are ruining my quality of life, I have a call into MO office to tell them that I have decided not to continue as many of the ses can be non reversible, I have already gotten Trigger Thumb with 1 cortisone injection so far, it has seized up again, my Achilles Tendon is seized up and my joints have swollen to the point that I cannot wear my wedding ring for the first time in 26, years.

Shary

Lilly, I think that is a really good idea, I think there arecalot of us either contemplating stopping these med's or already have..... We are faced with very difficult situations as we continue on our BC journey's, I too want to live and enjoy my life, not just exist and accept that this is the new normal... I accepted surgery, chemo and radiation but on this side of the journey I want to enjoy my life again.

Shary