I have just clocked over 10 years on hormone therapy with at least 9 of the years taking Arimidex. My surgeon is my go to for yearly follow up appointments and he recommended that I carry on after the 5 years and more recently he has been indicating the possibility of staying on it indefinitely. Some of the initial side effects I have accepted and others I have learned to manage or overcome. Most of the time I don’t think beyond taking the daily tablet but if I was to stop taking it I feel it would be like taking away my security blanket. I have done a little online research and the best indication I have been able to find suggests that 10 years is maximum. I am wondering what other women’s medical teams are suggesting for maximum duration on Anastrozole? cheers Jennikens
OMG @Jennikens ..... You actually want me to WALK to my fishing destination??? ..... Hmmmmm ... yeah, I suppose that's 'do-able' (at a pinch!)
Mind you, I usually have my fishing kayak with me & have to drag that to the water's edge, pedal it all around our lake & then pull it out again & drag it back to the car ...... that is my most 'usual' exercise!!
HOWEVER ... I HAVE noticed a bit of a muffin top appearing in my belly area ..... I used to be quite proud of my flat tummy .... not so much now tho! (Just lazy, I think!) I may even have to consider that 'other 4 letter word' ... WALK! Uuuggghhh! ;)
I'll had my congratulations, too @Jennikens 10 years - wow! I started taking Letrozole in August this year and while the side effects haven't been horrendous for me, they are noticeable.
Arpie you are obviously a bit if a character! Mind over Matress - I love it. perhaps you could park further away from your fishing destination- the walk would then come with a reward. Just a thought. I dare say fishing is a good relaxing activity which would in turn be healing. All good!
Hi @Jennikens ..... You are Definitely worth a BIG congrats!! xx
You've been thru the hard yards ...... been thru the surgery, with chemo & rads & hormone tabs so totally deserve Congrats! Yet our family & friends like to think you are OK just from the outside that they 'see', which is often a facade of how you are coping.
You may definitely help others here on the blog, re long term use of Tamoxifen ..... have you read this article, recently on it in the UK?? Also the blog on Liz O'riordan? DEFINITELY worth a read! Work thru her blog, re her treatment - she was a VERY FIT Breast Surgeon who was diagnosed with BC - and had a recurrence (and she was treated by the BEST!) http://liz.oriordan.co.uk
Yes, family & friends only see you on the 'outside' and what appears to be totally 'under control' and 'normal' is really masking a massive numbers of insecurities & worries for all sorts of things. Every one 'WANTS' you to be better, so it is convenient for them to 'think' you are, follow your active treatment. We are often very good at putting up a bit of a front, when in reality, we are a tad 'vulnerable'@ :(
Good on you for doing your regular exercise .... I personally find it very difficult to get up & go for walks - and i know that I SHOULD lose 5-10 kgs ..... if I have a fishing rod in my hand whilst I 'do it' - it would be easier to manage - but straight 'walking' ... I find to be incredibly BORING! :( LOL
Thanks Arpie, I haven't had anyone congratulate me for a long time in regard to my BC progress. I think to all my family and friends they think I look fine, so to them it is all behind me. That in itself is a good sign but from time to time I read or hear something that reminds me reoccurrence is a possibility. I live in the lovely Adelaide Hills, was diagnosed in September 2007 at the age of 43 with early stage BC. I had a sentimental node biopsy and lumpectomy. Two nodes showed up so it was back under the knife for a full auxiliary clearance. This also added chemo to my treatment plan as well as radiotherapy. My surgeon approached the news that my cancer was hormone receptor positive with great positivity, suggesting that the ability to take the hormone therapy drugs was a great insurance policy to have. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I sailed through the treatment, but I did have a fairy good run with some uplifting stories along the way. That was until the last stage when I started on the Hormone Therapy tablets (Tamoxifen at the beginning) and from the very first day I felt like I had entered a dark dark tunnel and I felt extremely anxious. A few months down the track I changed over to Arimidex in an attempt to improve things, there was no noticeable difference and in the end and ever since I have been on an antidepressant tablet. The difference was phenomenal and I was out of the dark tunnel. Another upside was it almost completely stopped my hot flushes, making a huge difference to my sleeping. I never take a good nights sleep for granted now. The other way I manage my symptoms is with exercise. Nothing drastic but regular. 30 minute walks 5 times a week ( I have a walking partner - neighbour, we’re on our tenth year ). I also do 3 x 35 minute resistance and stretching routines a week (needed to combat the loss of bone density) and one session of Pilates a week. The important thing I would recommend here is not to try and get all these things happening at once as that could be a recipe for failure. Without an overall plan I just accomplished one of these activities until they became second nature, then along came another suggestion or need and I was then in a good place to take on another challenge. Exercise is something that each person can control which can be a contrast to the control that same person doesn’t have as they progress through treatment so it can also be great mentally. Again thanks for your lovely response Jennikens
Hi @Jennikens - welcome to the forum - this the best place to ask questions & get support from those who've been thru what you have! I am fairly new to all this - having been detected this time last year & diagnosed & surgery in Jan this year followed by Rads. I am currently on Exemestane/Aromasin as I had severe side effects with Letrozole/Femara! But not everyone has the extreme side effects!
BIG Congratulations on taking your AI for 10 years already - that is an awesome milestone!! I have 3 friends my age (65 plus) who's Mothers have had BC 30 years ago - back then, I think Tamoxifen was the only choice of Hormone Blocker. Most of them were on it for 10 years straight up - and none of them have had a recurrence. Mind you, they'd also had BIG CHEMO as well - cos back then, it was BANG IT ON THE HEAD - not so much streamlined as it is to individuals these days.
I think it's only been in the last 10-15 years that they started cutting the active treatment back to a suggested 5 years - and I would not be surprised if many continue on to the 10 year mark as well!
So even MORE, well done you - on reaching the 10 year mark!! And how fantastic is it that you are managing your side effects so well - tell us your secrets. ;)
I think you've possibly already made your decision in a way (to stay on it) - cos I reckon if I get to 10 years on MY tabs and haven't had a recurrence - I reckon I'd just keep going too!! ;)
Yes, they are a security blanket .... and as your surgeon is suggesting you CAN stay on it - I reckon I'd be following his advice!! Have you chatted to your Oncologist as well, just to be sure, to be sure? I am sure he wouldn't have you continuing on it if they were bad for you! I think mentally - staying on would be the way to go, rather than worrying about recurrence, if you went off them
I am sure some other lovelies who further down the track then me, will be only too happy to add their two bits shortly .....
Feel free to share you story with us! Where abouts do you live (roughly) - we may have fellow members nearby!!
Take care & all the best with your ongoing treatment xxx
