Update on switching from tamoxifen to arimidex

Hi All

Went to see onc yesterday ( see previouls post) to ask why after 2.5 years of tamoxifen I wasn’t being changed. I was worried I wasn’t getting the best treatment.

However he said that the trials which show women on aromatase inhibitors v tamoxifen do NOT include women who have had chemo - none of the trials included women who had received chemo. Therefore if you have had chemo he said the difference was minimal and the side effects would be worse because I am only 45.

He also said tha if you are PR+ as well as ER+ then tamoxifen is excellent.

Anyway he said he would review it in 6 months after blood test to check hormone levels but he thinks tamoxifen are as good in my situation.

Just thought I WOuld share!

Love to all

Alise x

Thanks for that, Alise. I hadn’t heard that.

Yes, thanks for Alise. Very interesting. Is onc recommending a switch to arimidex at some ponit though? I heard the standard treatment for those of us in our forties and those going through menopause whilst on tamoxifen was 5 years tamoxifen and the 5 years arimidex…
x
Jo

Jo,

I am now 46 (44 at dx) and my onc has told me that I will get three years of tamoxifen (had one so far) and then two years of arimidex. I will try to remember to ask him when I next see him about the ten year schedule. But I saw him last week, had my last herceptin yesterday (hurray!) and will not see him again until May 2010. Next year I will see the breast surgeon. Where I live that is the norm - one year onc, next year surgeon.