Aromatase inhibitors - five years or ten?

@arpie did your Oncologist tell you 1%? Ive had the conversation wuth mine but yet to start. Likely it will be tamoxifen as im still having chronic bone and joint pain. I asked oncologist about alternatives  (there's a product called estroclear) but shes not prepared to look at. Id like to know what percentage would be for me.

Yes @primek, I'm sure that's the reason

I believe as tamoxifen has been around for much longer they  have more data. 

@kmakm I am in awe of your steely determination Kate!

I am committed to doing everything I can to prevent a recurrence or a new one. My teeth are gritted.

@"Kiwi Angel" the evidence about optimal treatment duration for Tamoxifen seems clearer, from what I have read. For AIs, not so much!

I’ve been told probably 10 years on tamoxifen- if I can tolerate it I’ll take it forever. 

I’ve been told 5 years, even tho it only reduces my chance of recurrence by 1%!!....

in the old days, (20 years ago) pretty well everyone was put on Tamoxifen for 10 years.

I've hit 5 years and my oncologist is in two minds. Research he thinks is valuable shows a higher non recurrence rate after 10 years but doesn't clarify whether it's incremental (ie each extra year yields a benefit) or whether all the benefit kicks in after year 9. He is also concerned about bone density. Mine was extremely good when I started AIs but is now down to about average for my age. So I will monitor it (paying for scans) and stop when I get too close to osteoporosis. 

Thanks @primek Yep, those of us who have been told five years may well find it's extended to ten by the time we get to that point!

I've been told five, and I do have lymph nodes involved.