Why Bother?

For some reason I have had a similar conversation with different women on the same topic: why take tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors after initial breast cancer treatment. Aromatase inhibitors are Arimidex (anastrozole), Aromasin (exemestane), and Femara (letrozole)

The conversations all boil down to:

• What if I get side effects? They have heard they are awful and could cause them some real problems. But if you don't even try them how will you know if you will experience the side effects?
• What exactly do they do? They don't really understand that they would reduce their recurrence risk by being on them
• Why do I have to be on them so long? It used to be five years and now new research has come out to say ten years is better. And more research is going on that may lead to even longer treatment periods

[As I write this, there is a commercial on TV for Botox for migraines. Botox is botulism, which is a very nasty germ...]

I have had friends who do the same thing with their medications.They over think them and won't take them because they have heard that the side effects might be bad. Or the withdrawal from the drug could be bad. 

You won't know if you might get side effects if you don't try the medication. And you won't get the potential benefit from the medication if you don't take it. How is your doctor supposed to treat you if you won't even try their recommended medication?