Five Year Femera is up

CLTann · 10-04-2010, 03:28 PM

I was hoping my onc will allow me to continue on with Femara after the completion of 5 years. But he says that he just can't do that, without any data to support the continuation. He follows the rule and doesn't want to get into trouble. So, my security blanket is being taken away from me. Anyone here is facing the same situation?

Ann

ElaineM · 10-05-2010, 11:04 AM

I posted some information about foods that are aromatase inhibitors in the nutrition section awhile back.
Perhaps you can get some ideas from that.
Otherwise I wonder what your ob/gyn, primary care doctor or an endocrinologist would advise you to do?
Perhaps you can talk to one of those people if you are not comfortable stopping aromatase inhibitors.

karen z · 10-05-2010, 03:36 PM

My situation is not exactly the same as yours but similar. I had two years of Tamoxifen and will have had three years of Femara by Feb. 2011, for a total of 5 years of hormonal therapy. At my last visit, I asked my oncologist how he was thinking about things and I know he wants me on Femara for at least two more years. There is debate "out there" on this topic and he would prefer to be more cautious. You can always get a second or third opinion, given that this issue may be less clear cut for others than it is for your oncologist.

tricia keegan · 10-05-2010, 04:22 PM

My onc was on vacation so I saw another Dr who agreed with the studies to keep me on arimidex next year.

I'm hoping this will be the case but wont know until I see her in Dec, must admit I 'd hate to stop it now while still cancer free.

Maybe look up the trials/studies done on this and show them to your onc??

Barbara2 · 10-07-2010, 03:19 PM

I have been on Arimidex for 7 1/2 years. My onc decided to keep me on it past 5 years. He said there are trials (?) now of using anti-hormonals 10 years instead of 5, so he just opted to keep it going. We didn't discuss it much because the pros/cons are not known. I was afraid to not take it, so I was happy with the decision.

Becky · 10-07-2010, 04:19 PM

I just finished 5 yrs of Arimidex in September and I am continuing on it. My onc says there are trials out there that will finish up within 18 months. He says that if there is no difference between 5 yrs and extended AI, then we will stop then, otherwise, I will continue to 10 yrs. He was cautious since I was younger when diagnosed however, I tell my mom all the hormonal stuff (she had bc that was only highly hormone positive) so when her 5 yrs were up, she told her oncologist she wanted to stay on until I told her to stop

She knows I will tell her the trial results and if 5 yrs is enough for her or not (she is 6 months behind me in diagnosis but started Arimidex about 6 months before me as she only need a lumpectomy and radiation - no chemo.

caya · 10-07-2010, 06:50 PM

I have a friend here on Femara in a clinical trial - I think her 10 years will be up next year. My onc. said the same thing - I have a little over 2 years left on Femara (5 year total - 2 1/2 years Tamoxifen, 2 1/2 years Femara). By the time my 5 years is up, the results from the 10 year trials should be in.

On the one hand, I would love to stop taking it, on the other hand, it's kind a security blanket issue, especially because I was so highly hormone +.

all the best
caya

karen z · 10-07-2010, 07:06 PM

Ann,
I think you have enough info already to see that many of us are continuing on. I would not hesitate to seek another opinion. "Getting in trouble" does not strike me as a good reason for not at least discussing options with a patient. Did your oncologist mention research or ongoing debates? If not, you might discuss with him.

CLTann · 10-24-2010, 09:16 PM

I sent all of your comments to my onc and he changed his mind. I will continue on Femara indefinitely. Thanks for the inputs.

ann

10-24-2010, 09:27 PM

My oncologist had me do 5 years of Tomoxifen and 5 years of Femara. He said they were different enough to be separately effective. I am a 12-year survivor so never had the benefit of Herceptin since it was not available to me in 1998 but I did have 4 Taxols in addition to 4 A/C's which was aggressive for the time since they weren't even routinely doing tests for HER2 at that time.

sarah · 10-25-2010, 04:37 AM

interesting so have the trials shown that staying on AIs over 5 years is beneficial?
Also I thought there was something about balancing Herceptin and AIs or there was a problem???
Is there any new news on any of this?
would be very interested to know.
Do our insurance companies continue to pay for this extended use?
I just stopped both after 6 years, my onc thought that was enough.
health and happiness
sarah

Joan M · 10-25-2010, 06:24 AM

I'm ER- but last year I heard a talk by Dr. Larry Norton, a prominent bc onc at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and he said "I look for excuses" to keep women on these drugs.

If you feel strongly about, check into switching to an onc who would keep you on these types of drugs. That would probably entail changing facilities.

Joan