Hormone Therapy after Mastectomy

Hi Ayu,

I wanted to do a little research on my own as don’t know what to tell you.  Can you tell me what hormone therapy drug your physician suggested?  Thank you.  
Barbara

Hi Barbara,

Thank you so much for your response. I am prescribed Anastrozole. I'd, of course, like to live a healthy and happy life with the highest survival rate as we all would, but I'm just so worried about all the side effects that the treatment might give me. It's hard not to ponder whether I want to take hormone therapy only to increase by 0.5% more. I need to find a fine balance.

With warmth,

Ayu

Hi there,  I read a few well respected journal articles and I did not find that statistic.  I would check with Doctor again.  I have attached a good article which goes into depth about the benefits.  I, like you, was concerned when the medical oncologist prescribed Anastrazole as I had read about so many side effects but I have it a try.  Have been on it since May and doing well with it.  I have dry mouth at night and my hair has thinned a bit too.  I really thought I would react badly but to my surprise it is all good.  Even the oncologist told me that most patients tolerate it well so I have it a go.  It is a personal decision but just wanted to share.  I have 100% ER and PR positive so didn’t want to not take it.  Happy weekend.  Live in Florida and finally having a little cooler temps with less humidity so enjoying it.

Here is the link https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/long-term-follow-supports-anastrozole-treatment-prevent-breast-cancer-recurrence

Barbara

Hi Barbara,

It is so kind of you, Barbara, for sending such a thoughtful message to me. Thank you.  I will take a look at the link that you sent me tomorrow. I live in England and it's getting cooler and pretty wet weather which is typical in England. I hope your treatment works well for you and wish you all the best. With thanks, Ayu

Hi Ayu. I started Anastrozole just over four weeks ago. Like Barbara I am ER and PR positive so I was advised that the HT would help stop the cancer returning. I felt exactly like you although I think I read the benefits are higher than what you were told. I hate taken any sort of medication but decided I would try it and if side effects were too bad I would stop. Too early to tell yet whether I will get any severe reaction but so far so good. I felt exactly the same when I started taking biophosphates three years ago for osteoporosis. The list of side effects was awful. Although I don’t like taking them the biophosphates are helping my bones and I don’t have any side effects. It is really a personal thing. You have to do what is right for you. Good luck.

Evajean x

That percentage sounds very low, is that what your oncologist mentioned to you? I had ER+ and PR+ so hormone therapy is one of the most important things to help prevent recurrence.

I think you also need to remember that survival rates tend to be at the 5 year and 10 year mark. Continued treatment after your main treatment has ended tends to be about trying to prevent it from coming back at all. Survival rates at 5 and 10 years are good for breast cancer, but I personally don't want it to come back.

I was given a choice of tamoxifen or going into a medical menopause with zoladex injections and then exemestane on top and I chose the latter - survival rates for both routes are the same, but the risk of recurrence was less if I went into a menopause, so that is what I chose.

The other thing to remember is that you can always stop taking it, or go on to something else if it doesn't agree with you. But it takes 6 months for things to settle and brands can make a difference. I have worked out what works best for me and my pharmacist and doctor are brilliant at only getting me the brand that works. There are so many options even if you find one things doesn't work. But if you have hormone positive cancer, then hormone therapy is the best thing you can do to keep it from coming back

Hi, I am on Anastrazole, and am tolerating it well. That statistic does seem low, so perhaps double check. I am ER and PR Positive, and was told by my radiology oncologist that the percentage benefit  for me was more than the chemotherapy. I am on it for 10 years. 

Thank you so much, Evajean. I am more aware that there are so many more to consider before I make my decision. I hope your treatment works well without many side effects. Lots of love. Ayu

Dear Beatthebreast,

Thank you so much for your consideration. It is kind of a good idea to try it first and see I would feel how much it might give me side effects before I make a decision not to take it at all. Moreover, I shall talk with my doctor and pharmacist about it. I wish you all well and breast cancer won't come back.

With warmth,

Ayu

Dear Cloudier,

It's good to hear that Anastrazole doesn't affect you much. There is so much information to look at but I will talk to my doctor once more to clarify my thoughts. Thank you for your comment!  I hope all the treatment goes well with you.

With warmth,

Ayu