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Becky · 01-09-2010, 02:18 PM

I think that you need to start one and see if you can tolerate it. In trials on metastatic disease, it has been shown that they think Femara might be the most effective. That said, try that and if Ruth has so many problems that she is almost a cripple, switch to another as that many times solves the problem. It is better to be on something (even if in the future it is proved to not be the most effective drug (by a small percent)) than to not be on anything.

When I began, Arimidex was the only one out of trial AND I don't get the joint side effects from it so I am not taking any chances by switching even though some studies are pointing that Femara might be alittle more effective.

In the metastatic setting, Femara was more effective but not statistically and only in small (less than 12 women) studies. In all, I feel that they are all similarly effective and there is no doubt that they are more effective than Tamoxifen in postmenopausal women.

01-09-2010, 02:18 PM	#6
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: AI's, etc effect on estradiol I think that you need to start one and see if you can tolerate it. In trials on metastatic disease, it has been shown that they think Femara might be the most effective. That said, try that and if Ruth has so many problems that she is almost a cripple, switch to another as that many times solves the problem. It is better to be on something (even if in the future it is proved to not be the most effective drug (by a small percent)) than to not be on anything. When I began, Arimidex was the only one out of trial AND I don't get the joint side effects from it so I am not taking any chances by switching even though some studies are pointing that Femara might be alittle more effective. In the metastatic setting, Femara was more effective but not statistically and only in small (less than 12 women) studies. In all, I feel that they are all similarly effective and there is no doubt that they are more effective than Tamoxifen in postmenopausal women. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"