Thanks for your replies ladies. The fact that I have not had one single response from anyone taking an aromatase inhibitor and saying it's all fine, only confirms my fears about them I'm afraid. I think the reason the fill-in oncologist was pushing them was that recently I took myself off to the GP and got a referral for a pelvic ultrasound. There was thickening of the uterine lining, as there usually is with tamoxifen patients, and I was sent off to a gynaecologist who recommended a D &C which I had recently. My regular oncologist has dismissed the idea of having an ultrasound saying it would inevitably lead to a D&C which would be a 'waste of money'...!
I'm glad I had it done. It provided me with some peace of mind that there are no cancerous changes going on down there and I expect I might need to get it done again as I'm not even quite half way through my five years. But I think the fill-in oncologist saw this as me obsessing about the uterine cancer risk. I'm not really, I just want to be doing everything I can to safeguard my health and well-being.
You're right Robyn and Deanne, there is so much to weigh up. Do you risk your long term health with tamoxifen - possible uterine cancer and damage to the liver - or do you suffer a daily misery of aching bones and joints and zero libido (I read in a book by a well-respected breast cancer oncologist John Boyages that women on AIs are often unable to climax). I know I'm getting older (49) and I have to accept the changes that come with that but I'm not ready to feel like an 80 year old yet. I think I will be sticking with the tamoxifen for now at least.
