hello, my hospital wrote to my doctor saying i no longer needed to take anastrozole. I have been taking it for 5 years after surgery and radiotherapy. What is the most recent research on this? I understand in Denmark they keep patients on inhibitors for 10 years. I thought i would be celebrating when I came off the drug but I am in a panic that the cancer will return. Do you know the current thinking on this? How do I contact my oncologist to discuss this?thankyou
Dear Painter
Thank you for getting in touch with the Macmillan online community, my name is Pauline and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support line.
I can see that you have joined our breast cancer online forum. I hope you are finding this helpful.
I can understand why you feel concerned about stopping anastrozole after having taken this for five years. This is a common concern however there is evidence that Anastrozole continues to work in the body after the five years taking it.
There have been a lot of research into hormonal therapies and what the best length of time is to take them. The studies have shown a mix of results. Therefore, the amount of time that a person takes it can vary depending upon the individual circumstances. It may be helpful to have a chat with your team and explain your concern to them. They will be able to access your notes and explain why five years is the optimum time in your particular situation.
Please feel free to give us a call on our helpline, 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us if you would like to discuss further.
Ref PG/AMc
Best Wishes
