Generally I think the answer is yes.  Several years ago my wife was in
that position (albeit in a stage IV setting) when she was given the
drug.  I think under these conditions they might like to do an FSH test
to confirm her menopausal status - if the ovary control hormone is
"pedal to the metal" then chances are there is no estrogen output from
the ovaries.

Tim Jackson

I'm in almost exactly the same circumstances:  I was 45 at treatment,
which put me into apparent chemopause.  I went on Tamoxifen for 3 years,
then -- for reasons having zilch relevance to this thread -- they
switched me to Arimidex.  I was unwilling to let them do that without
testing FSH, etc., to make sure I was really menopausal.  (Some women's
chemopause is only temporary.)

The main difference between Tamoxifen & Arimidex is mechanism of action.
 Here's how I understand it:

Tamoxifen works by hooking on to the "docking station" where estrogen
would normally attach to estrogen-reponsive tumor cells.  But the
estrogen helps the tumors grow, while the Tamoxifen doesn't.

Arimidex is one of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors.  It
works by short-circuiting the body's mechanisms for producing estrogen
*outside* the ovaries (mainly in fat cells & other glands).  Less
estrogen is produced, so estrogen-responsive tumor cells have none to
grow on.

If your ovaries are still producing estrogen, Arimidex doesn't stop
that, which is why it's used in post-menopausal women.  (Sometimes, I
gather other drugs are used to shut down the ovaries, in conjunction
with an aromatase inhibitor to shut down other estrogen production, in
pre-menopausal women.)

Last time I did any research, it appeared that less was known of
Arimidex's long-term deleterious side effects (if any), than is known
about Tamoxifen.  The Tam does have some beneficial anti-osteoporosis
effect, which I believe Arimidex lacks.  Unsure about risk of blood
clots, endometrial cancer, and other things that come with Tam, as to
whether they're at similar levels (or greater or less) for Arimidex.

Both can cause hot flashes or encourage weight gain, in my understanding.

Bottom line is that for either, benefit substantially outweighs
statistical incidence/severity of side effects, looked at on a
population-wide basis.

Ann T.
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My wife was given Arimidex earlier this year when she was 34.  At the same
time she was given a drug called Zoladex.  I think this switches off
activity in the ovaries while you are taking it.

Best wishes,

Richard