I think what bothers me is the belief that the side effects are because the medication gives it to you. In reality the side effects are an unfortunate side effect of estrogen suppression.
I went through natural menopause just prior developing breast cancer. I had mood swings, slept very poorly, had lots of hot flushes and just didn't feel like myself. As my body adjusted to the change it settled. I was concerned I would experience the same symptoms again on an AI.
Initially I had such terrible joint pain I took pandol osteo 3 times a day. Weight loss, fish oil and an improved diet settled it down. On letrozole 3 years on my joint pain then got worse. I had bilateral bursitis. I had awful sleep from pain. My oncologist suggested a break from letrozole to see if it was contributing. 3 weeks later my shoulder pain gone and movement was back, my back pain I'd become accustomed too was gone and ankle stiffness gone. I swapped then to anastrazole and thankfully it gave me much less issues. It is definitely worth trying another. I know I can manage it 10 years and my bone density actually improved over last 2 years with vitamin D and exercise.
Although AI block the bodies ability to use the circulating estrogen each drug does it slightly differently.
I know for many women they can't be tolerated. But most can. The stats really do show the advantages of taking them if you can. My concern on these articles is people deciding to not even try for fear of side effects. Our treatment for breast cancer can be brutal yes, but I'm alive 4 years on as I had options that 1,000 of women didn't and get to be here to complain about it. I'm not diminishing the struggles some women experience on AIs by saying this, but it is not all.
I remind us to appreciate the battle and less options women have with tnbc who would gladly swap the opportunity to take a medication that can make a huge statistical difference with survival even with side effects. At least we have a choice.
