Switching Tamoxifen for an aromatase inhibitor

I'm not sure where you are seeing a survival rate of 30% vs 40% that seems really low. Do you have the stage you are talking about?

I was on tamoxifen and the SE were too much for me. I was switched to an AI that I just started. I;m on generic Femara. So far I feel much better, but I know an AI can take longer for the SE to show up. But I actually do better with less estrogen in my body, so I'm hoping I'll be ok.

I am going to have my DR order bone density scans.

I wonder if after the 5 years on an AI if your bone density would come back or if what is lost is lost. I'm going to ask my MO about that.

Tamoxifen can keep your periods away for more than a year. On page 1346, graph "D", it gives you a 2.9%(overall) if you switch to an AI ."Death from any cause"

http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS...

Here's a hot link to the Lancet article

Hello, yes, same as you, I went into chemopause, and then after my estrogen levels were at meno levels (tested) for a year I was changed from tamox to arimidex, which gave me horrible mood swings, weight gain and joint/pain issues. My MO then swapped me to aromasin--so far none of the problems I had on arimidex. I've heard the post-meno higher survival rate if we switch from tamox argument before, and actually reminded my doc about my lack of ovulation and sent her the reports from my gyno; then she switched me.

When I went on arimidex, my MO ordered a bone density scan as a baseline. That was nearly two years ago so when I see her again I'll ask her if it's time for another, although I dislike scans and think we overuse them. I don't take extra calcium but eat tums whenever I remember.

I did Tamoxifen for two years then had an ooph and went on Femara. After seven months I'm done. I just can't do the joint pain, the claw hands, feeling like a slug. I'm not generally a whiner but I am much too young to feel this damn old. I'll take the uterine issues. I'm going to talk to my gyn and if she's fine with it I'm going back to Tamoxifen. Comparatively I found it much easier. Hopefully now that I am post menopausal I won't have any uterine issues either. Many women do just fine on AIs - I'm just not one of them.

Lala - Good to hear. In retrospect I prob should have done the hx. In hindsight T seems like a walk in the park vs AI.

My oncologist will switch me from arimidex back to Tamoxifen to prevent bone loss. I had hysterectomy and ooph last week. He said the only side effect for my situation could be blood clots using Tamoxifen since the uterus and the ovaries are gone.

I'm 4 years out from DX, 3 years out from finishing chemo/BMX/rads & starting Tamoxifen.  I took it for 2 years and did fine on it except for hot flashes, which I managed with Effexor.  After 2 full years on Tamaxifen, my MO switched me to an AI, starting with Femera (letrozol).  It was awful - leg cramps, headaches, nausea, mood swings, frequent urination (to the point of being annoying). I hated it.  I stuck with it for a few months, until my next regular 6 mo. oncologist appointment.  When I told her how much I hated it, she asked me to try Aromasin (examestane).  Within days of switching, I was fine again!  Over 3 months in, and except for minor hot flashes, I have no other bothersome side effects. 

MO wants me to stay on the AI for 5 years (after 2 on Tamox).  She's a firm believer that AIs are better at preventing recurrence in post-meno women, and even told me this is the most important part of my treatment.

After chemo & tamox, I have some osteopenia & Vitamin D deficiency, so I do worry about bone density.  I don't tolerate oral calcium & Vitamin D supplements, so I have a feeling Boniva injections are in my future.

Good luck to you, Rose_Aurora!

new2bc--I started having hot flashes about 4 weeks after my ooph. I'd have about half dozen during the day and another half dozen at night. My holistic doctor suggested Peridin-C which did help a little. Then my MO suggested iCool which has helped alot more. I have 1 or 2 during the day and another 1 or 2 at night. I actually take both. I take 1 Peridin-C am and pm and 1 iCool am. This formula is keeping the HF manageable for me.

I have a question....I know that on the Bottle o' Tamoxifen thread there is a general consensus that the Teva brand of Tamoxifen seems to have the fewest SEs followed by Watson and then others. Is there the same general consensus on AIs? I mean like is Aromason better over Arimidex which is better over something else? I'd like to talk to my MO about switching but I'd like to try whatever seems easier to take for most people first. He never told me there were different brands of Tamoxifen. It was only here on the boards that I found out so I could experiment. TIA for your opinions.

lala1,

Thanks for your update.My experience with both Tamoxifen and Arimidex was that TEVA brand had less side effects. Generic Arimidex is made in different countries and it was advised to stay away from the ones made in India because of different fillers. I just saw this regarding the outcome of recurrence for both Tamoxifen and AI for DCIS for post menopausal women. But they also mention invasive cancer in the article:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/arimidex...