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Lani · 05-18-2006, 01:07 AM

Everyone who is not metastatic (to distal organs, not the lymph nodes which are considered regional) is considered early breast cancer--like everything else in this story lots of patients are lumped together artificially who probably shouldn't be. But this has been the nomenclature and artificial divisions that have been utilized historically trying to fit many different square pegs into round holes.

I do not believe one AIs is considered worse than the others with respect to osteoporosis-- that doesn't mean that one is or isn't--it is just that the comparative studies are just beginning to accrue patients. Scoliosis does not make one more prone to osteoporosis than others, in fact it should not make one more prone to back pain than others, since 90% of adults experience back pain at one point or other in their life (it is hard to beat that 90% even if you do have scoliosis!)

I haven't really read up on whether to start the AI during or after radiation therapy, but in the past I think they waited for the radiation to be over. Again, new research makes it look as if closing the ER pathway may be necessary to avoid herceptin resistance, so maybe that is why they want you on an AI as early as possible (just guessing!)

Sounds like you don't trust your oncologists. If you are in northern California, I think I read of a free second opinion service for breast cancer patients in the SF Bay area that oncologist staff voluntarily. See if you can google it.

Hope this helps!

05-18-2006, 01:07 AM	#2
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,783	Everyone who is not metastatic (to distal organs, not the lymph nodes which are considered regional) is considered early breast cancer--like everything else in this story lots of patients are lumped together artificially who probably shouldn't be. But this has been the nomenclature and artificial divisions that have been utilized historically trying to fit many different square pegs into round holes. I do not believe one AIs is considered worse than the others with respect to osteoporosis-- that doesn't mean that one is or isn't--it is just that the comparative studies are just beginning to accrue patients. Scoliosis does not make one more prone to osteoporosis than others, in fact it should not make one more prone to back pain than others, since 90% of adults experience back pain at one point or other in their life (it is hard to beat that 90% even if you do have scoliosis!) I haven't really read up on whether to start the AI during or after radiation therapy, but in the past I think they waited for the radiation to be over. Again, new research makes it look as if closing the ER pathway may be necessary to avoid herceptin resistance, so maybe that is why they want you on an AI as early as possible (just guessing!) Sounds like you don't trust your oncologists. If you are in northern California, I think I read of a free second opinion service for breast cancer patients in the SF Bay area that oncologist staff voluntarily. See if you can google it. Hope this helps!