I agree with @A MyBCTeam Member to at least try because it is vitally important to starve your body of estrogen. You can always try different ones and side effects are reversible. I would suggest if you do take them do not take the bone injections and infusions, take D3 with K2 to protect your bones like many of us here do. We take high doses of D3 ( between 3000-6000 IU's daily) or you can take half of that and get the rest from foods high in D .

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A MyBCTea...

Marjorie, you did not say why you did not want to take the AIs. I am not hormone receptor Positive, so it is not a suggested part of my protocols. However, I have seen several women reluctant to take them because of their fear of side effects. You are not locked into it- you can try, and if the side effects are too challenging, they can adjust the dosage or switch you to a different one. No one knows why some women tolerate one better than another. I read an article where the stats showed 50% of women tolerated them very well, 30% felt the side effects were there, but manageable, and 20% found them challenging enough that they were considering dropping the therapy.

Chemo and radiation get rid of the cancer cells currently in your body, the AIs are to limit future risk of the cancer repeating itself since the "fuel" for it is reduced with the meds. Ultimately, it is your body and your choice, but it may be worth a try.

Hi Marjorie, no one wants to do the hormone blocking drugs but if your cancer is estrogen dependent and any cells that might be circulating elsewhere, if your immune system/good cells don't destroy stray cancer cells then you will have no protection if you don't take the blockers. Radiation is to the breast only and sometimes radiation doesn't kill off every cancer cell so what could become of that? It could travel through your blood stream/ lymph glands so a hormone blocker would be the best defense to take care of that problem.

Thinking about you and wishing you wonderful and healing results! Endless hugs!