prolonged use of aromatase inhibitors after 5 years

[Lien]

Hi all,

Over the next couple of months I'm going to have to make up my mind about continuing on an AI, after 5 years.

I'm trying to make a pro's and con's list. Could you help me add to it?

Pro:
A sense of "doing something" to keep breastcancer away
Possible protection against recurrence
I don't have problems with side effects, they are mild
I forgot my Zoladex shot in June and my periods haven't returned, so I'm probably post-menopausal anyway (just had a bloodtest today)

Con:
Oestrogen may protect me against heart disease and other ailments
No More Pills
There's a chance that AI's may upregulate the Her2 pathway
We don't know about the long term effects yet

Any other reasons why I should or shouldn't?
Any references or new research I should read?

Thanks for your help

Love

Jacqueline

[Hopeful]

AI's contribute to bone loss, resulting in osteopenia or possibly osteoporosis, so there is bone health to consider.

Hopeful

[Lien]

Ah, good point. Thanx! I do have slight osteopenia.

Jacqueline

[Jackie07]

If I were you (and I know I am not :), I might try to take a break to see if I could strengthen my bones a little bit first. Because of my recurrence (due to missed tumor - though with 'clean' margin,) I don't see that much importance of those 'anti-estrogen' medicine. What about the bone-strengthening medicine? Can't you get something to treat the osteopenia by improving your bone strength?

[Lien]

Hi Jackie,

I am leaning towards a break as well. My bone deterioration seemed to stop after 2 years on an AI, so hopefully it's still stable. I won't take bisphosphonates because I already have had severe jaw problems due to bad dental treatment 15 years ago. I had a huge abcess in my right upper jaw, lost a tooth and am fighting to keep two others. I'm very alleric, so implants or dentures are a no-no. Don't want to risk getting ONJ.

BTW, exercise helped with my bones, I think. I had my Dexa scan after I started running and there was a slight improvement in bone density.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Jacqueline

[suzan w]

I just finished my almost 2 year treatments of Forteo...self injected daily...bone strengthener. I saw significant improvement (for me!!!) in my DEXA scans. Forteo is not a bisphosphonate...Now, after the bone treatments were successful for me, I just had a once a year infusion of Reclast (which IS a bisphosphonate) which is supposed to stabilize the bones. My onc. says I will not need to stay on Arimidex after my 5 years because I was stage 1. I will face this decision next year. Already I feel like with out Arimidex I will be taking nothing for treating cancer...which might be a good thing, eh???!!! XO Suzan

[Barbara2]

From the beginning, even when we thought my ER could be quite low, my onc felt it was still beneficial to take the AI. At the 5 year mark, he opted to continue the AI stating that some studies are looking at using the AI for ten years...again, feeling that the benefits were greater than the risks. I was stage 2B with a 4.5cm tumor.
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