When I reached my five-year mark of Aromasin (Exemestane), I honestly thought life would finally settle. In my mind, remission meant I could breathe again. But after everything I’ve been through, I should have known life doesn’t follow our plans so neatly.
This article is for any cancer survivor who feels confused, scared, or even frustrated because your body doesn’t feel the same after treatment. I hope my story helps you make sense of what you may be experiencing.
My Story — What Happened After Remission
After finishing my Aromasin, I went for my routine scans thinking, “Okay, this should be straightforward.”
Instead, my brain MRI came back showing thinning blood vessels and a small cyst.
I didn’t even know how to react. After surviving cancer, now this?
Even though the cyst wasn’t dangerous, I started getting migraines so bad that sometimes the pain would wipe me out for the entire day. And the worst part? These migraines would strike when I was stressed, hungry, angry, or even when my sinus flared up.
My neurologist and endocrinologist both told me the same thing:
these changes may be linked to long-term estrogen suppression from aromatase inhibitors.
I never knew that the medication that helped save my life could also affect my brain and blood vessels in the long run.
Why Aromasin & Other AI Drugs Affect Our Blood Vessels
Aromatase inhibitors work by shutting down estrogen. Period.
And while this helps prevent cancer recurrence, estrogen is not just a reproductive hormone. It actually protects:
• our blood vessels
• our heart
• and even the small arteries in our brain
Without estrogen, our vessels lose some of their natural “resilience.” Doctors explained that this can make vessels stiffer, narrower, and sometimes more fragile.
Here is real science that supports this:
✔ Estrogen protects blood vessels
When estrogen drops, the inner lining of the vessels becomes less healthy.
Source: JNCI Cancer Spectrum
https://academic.oup.com/jncics/article/2/3/pky035/5094677?utm_source=chatgpt.com
✔ Long-term estrogen suppression accelerates vascular ageing
Same study as above. It compares estrogen loss to “accelerated aging” of the cardiovascular system.
This doesn’t mean every survivor will have problems — but it explains why some of us do.
What Research Says About AIs & Vascular Risks
I don’t like guessing. I prefer facts. So I looked up real studies — and here’s what stood out:
✔ AIs used for 4+ years increased risks of ischemic heart disease and arrhythmias.
Source: American Heart Association (JAHA)
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.026743?utm_source=chatgpt.com
✔ Large study from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Found higher rates of heart disease and heart failure among women taking AIs.
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/releases/2022/04/major-study-links-breast-cancer-treatment-with-increased-risk-of.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
✔ 2025 systematic review (Karger)
Confirmed more heart attacks, heart disease, and heart failure in AI users.
https://karger.com/brc/article/20/6/422/928760/The-Risk-of-Cardiovascular-Disease-following?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Even though these studies focus mostly on the heart, the underlying issue is the blood vessels, which includes the tiny vessels in the brain.
So What About the Brain? Small Vessel Changes & Cysts
Estrogen also protects the brain’s microvessels. Without it, those tiny vessels can:
• become weaker
• struggle with blood flow
• react badly during stress or illness
This explains why some survivors start getting migraines or dizziness after hormone therapy.
A study summarising women’s cerebrovascular health supported this link between low estrogen and brain small-vessel changes:
https://mednexus.org/doi/full/10.1097/CM9.0000000000001646?utm_source=chatgpt.com
In my case, doctors told me:
“Your cyst is not dangerous, but with the estrogen changes over the years, your brain is more sensitive. Stress, sinus, hunger — anything that strains your vessels can trigger your migraines.”
And honestly, it makes sense. I can feel the difference immediately when I am overwhelmed or when I miss a meal.
Signs Survivors Should Not Ignore
Please get checked if you notice:
• new migraines
• dizziness
• sharp headaches during stress
• vision blurring
• unexplained fatigue
• headaches that don’t feel like your old headaches
Even if it’s “probably nothing,” you deserve clarity.
What You CAN Do
Here’s what helped me:
✔ Ask your oncologist about vascular health
You have the right to ask for brain MRIs or heart monitoring.
✔ Regularly check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose
AIs can affect these quietly.
✔ Don’t downplay migraines
They are signals — not inconveniences.
✔ See a neurologist or endocrinologist if something feels off
Early clarity reduces anxiety.
A message from me to every survivor
Cancer changes you.
Treatment saves you, but it also takes something from you.
For me, it was the sudden shock of learning that my brain vessels had thinned and that a cyst was sitting quietly inside my skull — a reminder that survival sometimes comes with hidden costs.
But here’s what I want you to know:
“Just because treatment has ended doesn’t mean your healing has. Listen to your body. Speak up. You deserve care not only to survive — but to live well.”
If sharing my story gives even one woman peace of mind, then everything I went through has meaning.
Journey of Wendy 