Kathy, not everyone has bad side effects. I would put mine in the mild category. I have seen women on this site say they had no side effects, then I have seen people with poor quality of life side effects. Doctors can't predict what your side effects will be. I would suggest at least giving them a try if your Dr. recommends them. And there are different AI's. Some people have had problems with one, but switched to another and were OK. The biggest PRO is that they do reduce the chances of a reoccurance. My oncologist said they reduce the chance by about 50% and that is what I have read on reputable websites that are linked to reputable studies. Several women on this site they say they have stopped taking the AI's due to side effects have said the side effects went away fairly quickly after stopping. I felt that I had to try them to be able to weigh the pros/cons realistically since all women respond differently. I have had mild side effects, so for me, the pros did out weigh the cons. I was 61 when I started them and I have been on them 20 months.

I am not hormone positive, but I think- if the odds were significant- I would be willing to give it a go. Approximately half of women taking the AIs say they have minimal side effects, and of the ones that do, many say they are tolerable. If the side effects are challenging-, you can try a different med, or the dosage can be adjusted. If it is still too challenging, you can always stop.

I was offered a one year oral targeted therapy for HER2+, the most common side effect was chronic diarrhea. Working in a school, and already having Crohns- I decided to pass, as it was only offering me- at best, a 2% improvement in my odds.

Weigh everything- and then make the decisions that are right for you. Hugs!

Hello Kathy, I was against these drugs fiercely but then decided to take Anastrozole in October 2023 and for a year it has kept my stage 4 cancer stable and even eliminated a cancerous node under my arm that was viewed on a PET scan in July 2023. I would certainly recommend taking an AI for at least a year. You had DCIS and radiation but there is always the possibility of a stray cell lurking somewhere. My side effects were leg stiffness and bone pain in the 5th & 6th month, I stopped taking it the 7th month for a month and then restarted so I have been back on it for 5 months. Leg issues didn't come back, they actually feel as good as they did prior to this whole thing, I just get stiff when I sit too long. I started losing hair a few weeks ago, not clumps but strands. Like @VirginaValley said, every woman responds different and at different times. You can at least try. After you stop the majority of side effects reverse, they are not permanent. Good luck to you, I know these decisions are hard.