HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Anybody taken tamoxifen after 10years of arimidex?

jaykay · 07-29-2016, 10:34 AM

Interesting conversation. My two cents: I'd rather have wooden splints under my fingernails than go back on tamoxifen. I tolerated it for 4.5 years because there was nothing else available at the time and was delighted to move to Femara for 5 years. Total 9.5 years on anti-estrogen.

Unfortunately, I had a new primary about 4 years ago and have been back on Femara for the past 3 years. My plan is to NEVER go off Femara again unless they come up with a new drug. Granted, it's killing my bones and it would be nice if I had just a little bit of estrogen in my body but the alternative stinks. Regarding the bones - my endocrinologist is reluctant to put me on biosphosphonates since I've been on a variety over the years and new studies have found that extended use is bad for the "normal" person. I've been diagnosed with osteopenia for the past 20 years but am holding my own.

I hadn't heard that your body becomes accustomed to the drug but wouldn't switching to another AI help address that?

Becky, please let us know what your doctor says.

Janis

07-29-2016, 10:34 AM	#12
jaykay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 645	Re: Anybody taken tamoxifen after 10years of arimidex? Interesting conversation. My two cents: I'd rather have wooden splints under my fingernails than go back on tamoxifen. I tolerated it for 4.5 years because there was nothing else available at the time and was delighted to move to Femara for 5 years. Total 9.5 years on anti-estrogen. Unfortunately, I had a new primary about 4 years ago and have been back on Femara for the past 3 years. My plan is to NEVER go off Femara again unless they come up with a new drug. Granted, it's killing my bones and it would be nice if I had just a little bit of estrogen in my body but the alternative stinks. Regarding the bones - my endocrinologist is reluctant to put me on biosphosphonates since I've been on a variety over the years and new studies have found that extended use is bad for the "normal" person. I've been diagnosed with osteopenia for the past 20 years but am holding my own. I hadn't heard that your body becomes accustomed to the drug but wouldn't switching to another AI help address that? Becky, please let us know what your doctor says. Janis __________________ March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010) Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70% BRCA 1 and 2 negative October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks. March 14, 2013: Finished chemo April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x May 22, 2013: Finished rads June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs. July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin December 5, 2013: Port removed Glad this year is over!