Aromatase inhibitors - five years or ten?

@Vangirl, the most troubling side effects are the brain fog and stiffness of all my joints. My feet are painful and I struggle to walk long distances. As I'm only 44 and was pre menopausal prior to treatment, I'm also on zoladex injections monthly. Constant ongoing fatigue also, but not sure if that's Arimadex. I'm baulking already at 5 years. No way I'm doing ten, would rather take my chances.

Nope, me neither @LMK74 !

May I ask what side effects you have experienced and whether they have subsided at all over time?

Arimadex for 5 years. I was stage 3 grade 2 and two nodes positive.
No way I want this for ten years.

@Sister I have a feeling mine is of the same mind. I am happy if he  and I have entered into an unspoken pact to only speak of five for now and worry about ten later when it becomes necessary!

Mine told me 5 years on Letrozole for now and we'll discuss what the research shows then as it's still up in the air 

@arpie definitely worth giving the AI treatment my best shot. My oncologist says five years of medication is indicated and Predict tool says I am 14 per cent more likely to still be alive in ten years if I can manage to take the medication -  just to clarify.

Definitely worth it for you, @Vangirl  to continue for the 10 years, eh?

@Josephine66 my percentages at 10 years after surgery are around 14 per cent each for chemo and hormone therapy respectively. This is with a large tumour, grade 3, lymph nodes involved. 

@Josephine66  - yes, all 3 - Breast Surgeon, Rad Onc & Onc ALL said the 1% likelihood of reduction in my particular case! Every case is different tho .... there is a program that they use that guesstimates  your 'reduction of recurrence' relevant to your age, stage, etc of surgery and followup treatment.

As @Vangirl  says - chat with your Onc & see what they reckon!

So ... I was post menopausal, caught early, clear margins, surgery & not in the nodes, had radiation ...... and they reckon that if I find it REALLY annoying, I can stop it - but so far, am keen to stick it for as long as I can, just now.

Hi @Josephine66, you can compare the affect of chemo and hormone blockers on life expectancy via the NHS Predict tool online. My oncologist says that the relative percentages are pretty accurate. 

Don't look too closely at the percentages  that relate to survival over 10 and 15 years  though. It is likely on the pesimistic side, according to my oncologist. 

Might be best to get your oncologist to go over it with you. I got more clarity and had fewer kittens that way!