What to expect with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer?

Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy can be an effective approach for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, and it's completely natural to want to learn more about what lies ahead. This community has many members who have walked similar paths and can offer valuable insights about managing treatment side effects, maintaining daily routines, and preparing both practically and emotionally for this phase of care.

I am also on this path. I haven't started the treatment yet my appointment is on the 2nd. I'm actually very confused about the time frame that they want to use this treatment before surgery so I'm curious if anyone else has ever gone through this.

I’m on Anastrozole and I don’t like the side effects but it’s a personal choice between quality of life or possibility quantity of life. Each person if different on their tolerance of hormone blockers. I experience joint pain, stomach issues and sometimes emotional distress. It is like going through menopause. There are several hormone blockers so if one doesn’t work your Doctor can change your med.

I was diagnosed with ILC in December in my right breast. It is small and slow growing and ER positive. They found it through an MRI-guided needle biopsy. It had grown slowly over the course of a year that they were tracking it. I recently saw 2 surgeons and 1 option was to start on Letrazole and have a repeat MRI w/contrast in 4 months to see what, if any, effect the aromatase inhibitor had on my right breast. The other option was surgery. I chose to start Letrazole and so far have not really had any bad side effects the past 6 weeks... maybe some sleep disruption and some fatigue, but nothing I cannot handle. I was happy that both surgeons felt it was low risk to wait 3 months and have another MRI and then make a decision on next steps.