10 years still for AI or Tamoxifen?

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Coping with fear and anxiety
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So how long is it recommended to stay on tamoxifen and or AI’s now? Is it still 10 years?

My 10 year point was March 2025 but I’m still getting Anastrazole every month. I wonder if I’ve been forgotten and should have stopped at 10 years?

Why do we stop at 10 years anyway and what happens if you take for longer?

Thanks in advance! :blush:

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Hi sunflower25, hope you are well. I am on tamoxifen for 5 years. Only 2 to go :smiling_face:

Best wishes x

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Hi @sunflower25 I asked my oncologist about this and she said that the unwanted side effects of aromatase inhibitors outweigh the minimal impact of restricting cancer recurrence after 10 years. She specifically referenced the negative impact of Letrozole (which is what I took) on the heart and on bones. I don’t know if the same applies to Tamoxifen I’m afraid. Generally you get a letter at the end of the course of treatment but I expect, as you haven’t had one, your surgery, which handles the repeat prescription, hasn’t been told to stop dispensing it. A call to your BCN or possible GP surgery should clear it up.

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Thankyou!

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Hi, I would check with your GP. My ten years was up on 2025 but continued to get tamoxifen until I checked with my GP and was taken off it. I think it is because my Tamoxifen was prescribed by my surgeon and not my GP so the GP didn’t have an end date. Communication between GPs and hospitals is not good from my experience. :heart: