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Old 03-28-2019, 09:23 AM   #1
Donna H
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 307
5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Hi All-
I am nearing my 5 year NED anniversary. My MO wants to keep me on Femara for another 5 years (10 total). I really would prefer to stop taking the AI. I've done some research about the benefits of staying on for 10 years total but results seem to be mixed. So any insight/comments from this group are welcomed. I have found the advice from people on this sight to be as beneficial as that from my medical team....sometimes more beneficial. I was stage 2, no node involvement. Went thru TCH 6x plus additional 11 H and 33 radiation visits.

Thanks.
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Old 03-29-2019, 03:21 PM   #2
tricia keegan
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Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Hi Donna, many congratulations on reaching five years almost!! When I was diagnosed I was told five years was the norm, by the time I completed that it became ten. When I reached eight years my Onc told me to stop it as newer studies say five years are fine..only to call me the following year and tell me to take for another two years due to the latest study results! They don't make it easy, I was surprised to not feel any better once I had stopped and perhaps it was old age rather than the side effects creeping up on me lol. I think if you really feel you need to stop then I would as who knows what results will be in next. Wish I could be more help but I was as confused as you.Good luck with your decision.
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Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 03-30-2019, 12:58 AM   #3
Becky
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Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Donna

How hormone positive was your tumor? I think highly positive makes a difference and longer term therapy may be beneficial.
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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"
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Old 04-01-2019, 08:26 AM   #4
Donna H
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 307
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Hi Becky-
I think it was 1% progesterone and estrogen receptor was really high %. Is there a test that can be done to see how much I currently have overall? I feel like all the hormones have been sucked out of me.
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Old 04-01-2019, 02:33 PM   #5
Becky
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Posts: 4,179
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

I think highly estrogen numbers in your tumor is an important indicator on staying on. I think the progesterone number is insignificant to high estrogen and you should consider staying on longer unless you are having a poor quality of life. Only you know that for sure. Secondly, even if it doesn't affect your personal recurrence rate, it does help in the prevention of a totally new bc forming.
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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"
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Old 04-01-2019, 05:49 PM   #6
jaykay
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Hi Donna, congrats on the five year mark!

I was told 10 years is the “new norm” for AI’s. This is my second “stretch” with femara (almost 6 years). First time was 5 years and I developed a new primary in the other breast after being drug free for 2 years. I’ll never know if it was her2+, er positive or a combination of the two but, as others have said, if you can tolerate the quality of life issues, i’d follow your oncologist’s suggestions.

Janis
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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!
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Old 04-27-2019, 04:44 PM   #7
Jean
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

To All,
I just had my recent check up with my onc. I am now way over the 10year mark on Femara. During the recent check up my dr. had suggested I stop.
As Becky mentioned regarding estrogen levels when dx. my estrogen was high. I told my dr. that I would rather elect to remain on Femara. I am feeling fine and have no issues from taking the Femara.

I am now celebrating my 14 year breast cancerversary!
Sending love and all good wishes to all of my brave sisters - keep strong and positive.

Hugs,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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Old 04-30-2019, 02:51 PM   #8
tricia keegan
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Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
Re: 5 yr or 10 yr Femara

Huge congrats Jean!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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