Anyone not able to do AI and stuck with Tamox?

Stage 3A sort of requires an AI and not everyone gets joint pain...even though that looks to be a great possibility. That said, many women had just tamoxifen at one time and did very well. I can't take AI's because of the SE....there are several so you might just want to try....some women find extremastane a lot less problematic on joints. Having a high ER is a good thing. Means the anti hormonal will WORK. One can work on being overweight, which I am too...and it ain;t easy.....but doable. My doctor likes the South Beach Diet.

artista, I am on Tam w/osteoporosis and osteopenia. I am not sure that the difference in the benefit from the two drugs is 5% though. I think I read that it is closer to 1-2% from studies, but could be wrong. Regardless, Tam has been good to me, so far. I have been on it for 25 months. I had a hysterectomy/opherectomy 11 yrs ago, so no ovaries here. I was post-meno when DX'd. Being Stage 3, I can see your concern and initially my MO said 2 yrs on Tam, then we would re-evaluate, to consider Als. Well, after another bone density scan in Feb., my osteo was slightly worse, but nothing to be concerned about. I am on calcium and D3 supplements, try to walk frequently. I'm hoping by the time I am at my 5 yrs, I will be done with the Tam and no Als. We can only do so much and we have to find the balance between quality and quantity of life. Maybe someone who has been on Al's and injections will chime in. You could always seek another opinion. Best wishes.

52 is “too young" for knee replacement surgery? Baloney. The average age is 55. Go find a good orthopedic surgeon. pronto. I had my R knee replaced at 61 and my L at 62 and though rehab was no day at the beach, in retrospect I should have done it way earlier. Best health decision I ever made. Because of my “bionic knees," I don't get any knee pain! (OA is basically inflammation caused by eroded and inadequate cartilage). Yes, I do get R hip bursitis (but I injured my hip months before my bc dx). I get pangs in my ankles........but I've had those almost 20 years, perhaps because of all the times I sprained them in my youth. My R thumb is triggering like Annie Oakley.....but so did my L one, starting in 2007. I occasionally get a sore back....but I've had worn spinal facet joints more than half my life. My advice? Get those knees replaced, rehab them, and then try AIs.

QOL is paramount--and it's not just about what adjuvant cancer treatments to try or reject. If your knees are killing you every time you get up and try to walk, then you are NOT too young to get them replaced! The average implants now last 25-30 years...and counting. Remember--your life and your health are more than just your cancer.

can you do exercise in water? Losing weight will help against cancer too......I was awful on AIs but find Exemestane is loads better for me joint wise, it affects me in other ways but joint wise by far the easies