other treatment options?

@Afraser its really hard isn't it, im 2yrs so 3 more of Arimidex but side effects really are debilitating and i worry going onto another most likely Femara. Plus too its hard for me to not think too 4yrs i took Tamoxifen and still had a recurrence.  

I am four years into Femara - it's not doing my bone density much good (luckily it was very good before I started) and I have vaginal dryness, with attendant necessity to be sexually inventive or patient!! But I have no aches, pains, flushes or anything else of that ilk. My oncologist says 5 years is enough, so I will continue. 

Have a read of panadol side effects... yet most people just take them without even reading that.

Yes you may get terrible side effects. But yes you may get non other than it blocks the hormone that allows cancer cells to thrive. 

As yet you need to wait and know which pathology you are dealing with. Worrying about taking a drug you might not even need to take isn't good use of your mental energy.

I know it's hard not to Google but maybe it would help not to do any more research for a while. Kath x

Yes indeedee. When you read the printout that comes with Femara.... I've just started taking it this week. I start radiotherapy next week and have far from recovered from chemo.
I gave that fact sheet to my partner so he could have a heads up on what the next ten years or so might bring. He read it and the best direct quote I can give is "Why the F%$; would you take that?" 
The short answer is that there is nothing else. The long answer, which I think I will have to investigate, is that is may not save me and I don't want to live with what it does to my body. I don't want to be disabled by a treatment that may, or may not help me. Decisions, decisions.
Bev, there are no shortcuts. The science has come a long way, but the effects of treatments can rival stories of mediaeval torture. It's all a gamble?

Nikki yes lol thats right! Rick wasnt involved in my 1st diagnosis i didnt have an Oncologist. Only 2nd, I like Rick hes been great though he lists all ongoing side effects but hasnt got an answer really. He wanted to trial me off Arimidex so now its evident he has to switch me. 

Bevvsy yes high grade 3 will have treatment absolutely as to what depends if yr Er+ or not or Her- or +.  Best to wait and see. Only hormone blocker if it is hormone receptive so one step at a time. I know its hard but best to wait and see.  X 

Ive heard from a few that the anti hormone treatment can have some pretty yuk side effects ?

I only know mine is IDC  approx 22mm and said high  grade 3.  Just been wondering if to expect anything further, given grade

Melinda, am I right in thinking your oncologist is Rick De Boer, same as mine....or am I dreaming?!!

I did wonder about multi focal yes makes complete sense. My original was high grade Dcis he did say rads was aggressive treatment for that...uugh interesting though it didn't work he never understood why.  Oh well onward we go! X

Hey Melinda, I had low grade early multifical DCIS and one area of low grade IDC. Oestrogen+ and yep hence the Tamoxifen. My oncologist said I got the best BC to get and that if I was living in the Netherlands they wouldn't have operated, just "watchful waiting"!....I think he thought that would comfort me (I guess it did;).

Advised to have the mastectomy because though it was so early (no tumours to speak of) it was multifocal and having all clear margins, no lymph node involvement meant no chemo or radio. Xx