HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Question about Continuing Arimidex past 5 years

Becky · 03-30-2011, 04:25 PM

You can just stop. The half life is short (I think about 27 hours).

As for taking it longer - for Bassett Girl, I am still on it. 6 years ago I started with Tamoxifen then got the ovaries removed. I have been on Arimidex since September 2005. When I went to my onc in December, he at first (a few years ago) was very pro me staying on but in December, he hesitated but gave me a 6 month prescription instead of one for a year. I see him in June and I think he won't be giving me more (although my prescription will take me through August so if he doesn't want me to take it anymore, I may tell him I will finish when the pills are gone). I will let you know then.

I was only 50% ER+ and PR negative so the benefit is probably behind me at this point. We'll see.

The study on taking the AIs longer is not complete. I suppose if there is a great benefit, any of us hormone positive ladies can just go back on.

03-30-2011, 04:25 PM	#7
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: Question about Continuing Arimidex past 5 years You can just stop. The half life is short (I think about 27 hours). As for taking it longer - for Bassett Girl, I am still on it. 6 years ago I started with Tamoxifen then got the ovaries removed. I have been on Arimidex since September 2005. When I went to my onc in December, he at first (a few years ago) was very pro me staying on but in December, he hesitated but gave me a 6 month prescription instead of one for a year. I see him in June and I think he won't be giving me more (although my prescription will take me through August so if he doesn't want me to take it anymore, I may tell him I will finish when the pills are gone). I will let you know then. I was only 50% ER+ and PR negative so the benefit is probably behind me at this point. We'll see. The study on taking the AIs longer is not complete. I suppose if there is a great benefit, any of us hormone positive ladies can just go back on. __________________ 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"