Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Hormonal Therapy

Questions for people who just have been diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer:

For my situation, what are the benefits and risks of aromatase inhibitors?
For my situation, what are the benefits and risks of tamoxifen?
Do you think an aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen makes more sense for me?
Can you compare the side effects of tamoxifen with the side effects of aromatase inhibitors?
How many years will I take hormonal therapy?
Do I need any tests to determine if I am pre- or postmenopausal?
Do I need a bone density test?

Do you think I should switch to an aromatase inhibitor? Why?
How much longer would I take tamoxifen if I didn't switch to an aromatase inhibitor?
How long would I take an aromatase inhibitor if I did switch?
Will I have different side effects if I switch to an aromatase inhibitor?

Are there any reasons I should now take a different type of hormonal therapy for an additional 5 years? (Tamoxifen for women who have finished 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor; an aromatase inhibitor for women who have finished 5 years of tamoxifen.)
Are there any reasons why I should keep taking my current hormonal therapy medicine for longer than 5 years?
How many years would I take an aromatase inhibitor? How many years would I take tamoxifen?
What side effects might I have with an aromatase inhibitor? With tamoxifen?

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Last modified on July 20, 2016 at 10:50 AM