I had a lumpectomy in 2010 followed by chemo and rads, then 2.5yrs tamoxifen changed to exemestane for another 2.5yrs. The last onc. I saw said that latest research recommended another 3yrs of hormone therapy after the standard 5 and wanted me to go back to 3yrs of tamoxifen after finishing the exemestane (due Aug this year). I said I was reluctant to go back on the tamoxifen as it gave me a persistant non-infected vaginal discharge, so she said staying on the exemestane would be ok.
What I’d like to know is (and I will speak to a breast specialist nurse), what have other patients been told - does latest research show there’s no benefit being on the meds for another 3yrs? I’d just like to be free of the meds, but obviously not if it’ll definately keep the cancer at bay.
Many women are being prescribed hormone treatment for 10 years following the results of some research published last year. i have checked and I will be on letrozole only for the 5 years I was told initially. It all depends on our individual cases. You might be able to take a different drug so it’s worth discussing your problems with your BCN.
I think it depends on each woman’s personal dx and treatment.
For me, I was told in 2011 that I would have 5 years of Tamoxifen followed by 2 years of Letrozole. As far as I’m aware that hasn’t changed for me. There has been a lot of research and trials carried out in recent years that have shown that hormone treatment for some women is beneficial for longer than 5 years and that the benefits outweigh the risks. I feel that the treatment plan I was offered is the right one for me.
You could ask your oncologist how she has come to that conclusion regarding your treatment, but at the end of the day it’s your decision.
Hi again, thanks for replying, I’ve since spoken to my local breast care nurse and the helpline here and basically both have said the advice of extending hormone treatment is still recommended since it was advised for me in 2013. Of course I was hoping the advice would be that further studies since have been carried out and extension of therapy was of no benefit, but no such luck! Sounds ungrateful! I am in fact, lucky to have meds that will hopefully destroy the cancer!
So, it looks like I’ll stay on exemestane for another 3yrs otherwise, if it came back, I’d never forgive myself.
Hi everyone. I started taking Anastrozole 8 weeks ago following diagnosis and WLE in February. Went for a checkup r earlier this week with the surgeon’s team, and was told that the recommendations are always changing and I will be on this for 10 years (currently going through rads as well).
