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Becky · 03-25-2015, 10:38 AM

Yes. Alot of times it says how positive you are. For example, i am 50% estrogen poaitive but I am progesterone negative. Anyway, all "antihormonals" work best of you are positive for both which you are. I dont know the stats on survival improvement but it is significant as hormone positive cancer tends to recur later in the game. There is always an early peak but unlike hormone negative bc, there is a 5-8 year second peak. This peak is oddly about when the 5 years of tamoxifen/femara type drugs is over. Hence studies to take it 10 years. The 10 year tamoxifen study shows the 10 years is only marginally better at ten years but 10 years has a significant carryover effect. Giving added protection for many years thereafter. I highly recommend therapy. I have been on Arimidex for 9.5 years. I am figuring in september my doc will take me off. If you have side effects when on femara, you can switch to arimidex or aromoson or even tamoxifen. There is risk reduction but i cant tell you what it is

03-25-2015, 10:38 AM	#9
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: effectiveness? Yes. Alot of times it says how positive you are. For example, i am 50% estrogen poaitive but I am progesterone negative. Anyway, all "antihormonals" work best of you are positive for both which you are. I dont know the stats on survival improvement but it is significant as hormone positive cancer tends to recur later in the game. There is always an early peak but unlike hormone negative bc, there is a 5-8 year second peak. This peak is oddly about when the 5 years of tamoxifen/femara type drugs is over. Hence studies to take it 10 years. The 10 year tamoxifen study shows the 10 years is only marginally better at ten years but 10 years has a significant carryover effect. Giving added protection for many years thereafter. I highly recommend therapy. I have been on Arimidex for 9.5 years. I am figuring in september my doc will take me off. If you have side effects when on femara, you can switch to arimidex or aromoson or even tamoxifen. There is risk reduction but i cant tell you what it is __________________ 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"