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Old 08-15-2017, 01:42 PM   #30
Barbara2
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: South Dakota.
Posts: 621
Re: Tumor Profiling Lab Tests

Wonderful to hear, Becky. I wonder how many oncs let their patients go beyond 10 years. Not many, I'd guess.

On year #12 of being on Anastrozole, my onc suggested I see a specialist to ask any questions I may have about anything, in general; so I did. She (specialist) told me that she has very few patients on hormone therapy beyond 10 years.

She suggested that I switch to Tamoxifen because it might be time to try a different mechanism (not sure if that is the word she used!) vs what I'd used for 12 years. I took her advice, but was uncomfortable with changing what had been effective for me in the past, so I went back to Anastrozole after a couple of months.

A couple months ago, I had my regular 6 mo check up with the onc I've had since this journey began. He suggested that after 14 years, I should stop the Anastrozole. I was in such shock, I didn't have many questions for him! He wanted me to come back in 3 months for a CT scan of the chest & abdomen, so see if it had returned.

WHAT? I was having a hard time grasping what was happening. 3 months passed, the tests were OK, knock on wood. Very thankful, counting blessings as always.

He had justified the change by saying he had read recent new info on side effects of long term hormone therapy; that going so long might be too much. Side effects after that much time are unknown, etc.

I told him I felt like I had lost my life jacket, but he tried to reassure me that this was the right thing to do. It took a while to get used to the idea.

Have you & your onc talked of the future, in terms of how long you will continue your hormonal therapy? I also had issues with bone loss; osteopenia.

Also have questioned my memory since way back after finishing chemo. Shutting off estrogen with hormone therapy, also might take a toll, as estrogen is needed by the brain for normal functioning. Poor memory may be a symptom of estrogen deficiency.

Gotta run, thanks!
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Blessings and Peace,
Barbara

DX Oct 02 @ age 52 Stage 2B Grade 3 Mastectomy
"at least" 4.5 cm IDC 1+node ER+61% /PR-
Assiciated Intraductual component with Comedo Necrosis
Her2+ FISH8.6 IHC 2+
5 1/2 CEF Arimidex
Celebrex 400mg daily for 13 months
Prophylactic mastectomy
Estradiol #: 13
PTEN positive, "late" Herceptin (26 months after chemo)
Oct 05: Actonel for osteopenia from Arimidex.
May 08: Replaced Actonel with Zometa . Taking every 6
months.

Accepting the gift of life, I give thanks for it and live it in fullness.
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