My oncologist has me on for 2yrs on verzenio and 5 yrs on anastrozole. No side effects thus far nothing

Ask about the break, and the possibility of trying a different AI after the break. No one knows why some women do better than others with the different meds. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this challenge! Hugs!

Thank you Julia, I think this decision would be extremely difficult if I was another stage.
My stage just means an earlier death. Other stages would have to risk recurrence. I think being stage 4 makes the decision to do nothing easier. Not so sure if I would be brave to do nothing in an earlier stage cancer.
I guess my age and general health would factor into that decision.❤️

When I was first diagnosed, I didn't want to take anything, I outright refused chemo and radiation, and it took 2 months to decide to take Anastrozole. My doctor wanted me on ibrance with it but I declined. I told 2 of 3 of my adult children about the side effects of the treatments and that maybe I would consider doing one thing, the Anastrozole but if I got bad side effects I didn't want to live with it, I would stop. They were okay saying at least try it. In reality, no one has to feel the pain I have. No one else has to have difficulty walking because of bone and join pain. I always put my kids first all through their lives but now I put myself first. My pain, my life, what I want for me. I will not suffer needlessly so I can stay alive for everybody else an extra 2 years. That might sound cold to others but I am the one who has to live with this. Very easy for everyone around me to say don't stop taking it.

Julia this is a bit easier for me since I have stage 4 BC. I am not going to be cured. While I don't give myself a time frame how long do I have, my time is limited. I am supposed to be on different drugs being stage 4 but they are even worse than Anastrozole and I refuse to take them. Anastrozole by itself is enough so the way I see it, its not worth it. If I took the drugs my doctors wanted me to I could probably live another 3-4 years, doing nothing maybe 2 but whatever the number is it will be pain free, at least the pain caused by the drug. In Nov, Dec and Jan when I was off Anastrozole, I felt great, totally normal. I want to feel like that again. 🥰