Anastrozole. After my primary breast cancer (lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy), I was prescribed Anastrozole. I took it for five years, silently protesting about its side effects, I was so resentfully. I read that ten years could be recommended. I threw my arms up in the air in disbelief! 

I didn't understand and no one explains it to me. Yes, Moore63, take Anastrozole if your oncologist/breast cancer doctors recommend it. This is not only for the "now", it is for the much longer term, it might save your life, it might prolong it, it might lessen the risk of a recurrence of cancer. In eight, in fifteen, or decades? Anastrozole is a hormone inhibitor, it means the tablet inhibits the cancer from occuring. My understanding is that cancer cells are using our hormone as "food". 

I got the all clear after five years. I was so grateful not to continue Anastrozole! Then I celebrated eight years cancer free, climbing hills like a goat. Suddenly, one morning a couple of months ago, ouch. I couldn't walk without limping. A pinched nerve? I was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer, secondary because my primary cancer was breast cancer. Treatable with hormone inhibitors. I can, but wonder, had I been encouraged to take Anastrazole not for five years, but for ten years, would I have avoided my secondary metatarstic bone cancer? I had no idea that anastrazole was so important to prevent the return of breast cancer, or to prevent breast cancer spreading to another part of the body. I am currently taking Letrozole, another hormone inhibitor. My treatment is working and I am immensely grateful for it. Anastrazole is doable, and potentially securing extra time with loved ones. It is worth it. 

Im

sorry to hear your diagnosis , but agree with you . I had grade one 18 years ago . At the time it wasn’t deemed necessary to go on Tamoxifen as it was such low grade ( hormone receptor positive) , I was pre menopausal . Now here I am 18 years later with a grade 2 local recurrence so need a mastectomy . If I had been put on Tamoxifen then who knows if I would be facing this now . I hate taking Letrozole , absolutely hate it but realise I have to take it for the next 10 years. 

Im

sorry to hear your diagnosis , but agree with you . I had grade one 18 years ago . At the time it wasn’t deemed necessary to go on Tamoxifen as it was such low grade ( hormone receptor positive) , I was pre menopausal . Now here I am 18 years later with a grade 2 local recurrence so need a mastectomy . If I had been put on Tamoxifen then who knows if I would be facing this now . I hate taking Letrozole , absolutely hate it but realise I have to take it for the next 10 years.