Week one in the books

 Having a first-degree relative with breast cancer, like a mother or sister, puts you at higher risk. Although not frequently seen, having a genetic mutation, such as carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, two genes linked to breast cancer, also puts you at higher risk.Being a woman and getting older are the main risk factors for breast cancer. Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.

As of 10:30 this morning I have had 5 of 20 doses of radiation.  I also had a DXA scan this morning.  That was a very easy non-invasive test that took all of maybe 20 minutes or so.  That is in preparation of the next step on this pathway which will be aromatase inhibitors which is helpful in my case because my particular cancer is 98% estrogen positive.

In postmenopausal women aromatase inhibitors stop the production of estrogen. They work by blocking the enzyme aromatase which turns the hormone androgen into estrogen.  That means there is less estrogen available to stimulate my estrogen hungry breast cancer cells.  There are three aromatase inhibitors, Arimidex, Aromasin and Femara.  I am scheduled to take Arimidex (anastrozole).  Unfortunately, one of the numerous insidious side effects is bone loss, hence the DXA scan to establish a base line.

As I said, there are a number of nasty side effects and it has caused me to question seriously whether it is even worth taking them.  The problem is I cannot find a specific percentage of how much it can reduce my chances of a recurrance.  I have read everything from 6-10% reduction to 50% reduction over 5 to 9 years. the current projection according to my doctors is that if I take the AI for 5 years I have a 6% chance or less of the cancer recurring in the next 10 years.  I guess what it will come down to is what if any side effect I experience and how well I can tolerate them.  Of course if I don't respond well to the first AI there are 2 others. There is also the chance that in 5 years or even 10, someone will come up with something better.