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delcar1964's avatar
delcar1964
Member
7 years ago

options other than medications

Hi My name is Margarita, I will be 54 this year.
Its been twelve months since my cancer operations (had lump removed only), and I had 6 weeks of radiation.
my cancer was only grade 1 and had not gone to Lymph modes, even thought had 5 removed to check how far it had spread, because it was invasive. I am still having the monthly injections of Goserelin as I was still having my periods and not started menopause.
in August my oncologist put me on exemestane a my cancer was hormonal base, by November my liver levels got really high that I was referred to Liver specialist an she believed it was the medication. I had been off the medication for 10 weeks and my levels dropped and my oncologist put me on Gemox, I was on these for two weeks and had an allergic reaction, that made my body itchy and irritated my eye and my head was sure not thinking straight.
my oncologist had taken me off these, will see her next week on 18th 
my question is what is next, since non of the medication is liking my body. 
my husband is not happy that I have to take any medication since my grade was only 1 and had not found anything else, he wasn't happy that I decided to go ahead with the six weeks of radiation...

some advise or suggestions I would appreciate.

hormone-therapy
radiotherapy
surgery
treatment
  • delcar1964's avatar
    delcar1964
    Member
    7 years ago
    Ladies,
    just advising that I have been given Femara, it has been a week now and all going well.
    Monday 30th is my yearly checkup with the breast cancer specialist. I've had my mamogramme and ultrasound.
    thank you for your support and encouragement

  • delcar1964's avatar
    delcar1964
    Member
    7 years ago
    Ladies thank you for your advise and support. 
    Will update what the out come 
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    7 years ago
    The other ladies have given good options. I know the term grade 1 sounds insignificant. ..but honestly women still die from breast cancer that is grade 1. So yes...you need to discuss the alternative options to reduce risk. 

    And radiotherapy is absolutely required after lumpectomy. To avoid it means mastectomy...and only then if no nodes. 


  • Wildplaces's avatar
    Wildplaces
    Member
    7 years ago
    Margarita,

    Welcome.
    You will have to learn to separate your husband's reaction to the treatment of your cancer to what actually needs to be done. That sounds harsh and I am certain it will not be easy but if you posted here you are getting strong so everyone is here to help each other and learn from each other.
     
    I second Kezmusk post - it will help if you understand how much of a potential benefit for your individual cancer recurrence risk does each part of the treatment offer you.

    You have had a rough start on antihormonals. If you can not tolerate Tamoxifen your options are to have 
    - ovaries out - bilateral oophorectomy OR
    - ovarian suppression - Goserelin

    plus a Aromatase inhibitor
    the two left after Aromasin are Arimidex ( anastrazole ) and Femara ( Letrozole) 

    I feel that you need some encouragement when it comes to the next step - would it help you if you asked your oncologist what would she do if she were in your position. Many patients feel uneasy about bringing that up - but I have found that most doctors welcome that conversation - they will tell you what there would do - meaning that is their best opinion at that point in time. 
  • kmakm's avatar
    kmakm
    Member
    7 years ago
    An oopherectomy is removal of the ovaries. AI stands for aromatase inhibitor. It's the oestrogen blocking drug that is given to post-menopausal women. It can also be given to pre-menopausal women if they can't handle Tamoxifen.
  • delcar1964's avatar
    delcar1964
    Member
    7 years ago
    kezmusc..  thank you, not she hasn't, I will ask her next week when I see her,
    I know that my GP was pushing taking my ovaries out, but the oncologist didn't go that path, not sure what is oopherectomy and AI drug. will have to do some homework for next week.
  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    7 years ago
    Hi @delcar1964,

    Welcome to the forum.   You'll find a wealth of information and warmth on here.  Genox is Tamoxifen.  Yep your head probably wasn't thinking straight on that.  Me too amongst a host of other things. 

     Has your oncologist given you the percentages of extra cover against recurrence given your type of cancer and that you have done radiation as well?  If it is only a slight percentage improvement it may help you to make a decision.

    For example  my cancer was grade 2 stage 2 with 5 lymph nodes involved and highly positive for ER/PR , I chose lumpectomy and had an axilliary lymph node clearance.  Apparently that alone gave me a 65 % chance of it not coming back.  Chemo added another 8% advantage, radiation another 5% and hormone therapy another 8%.   I know they are only numbers and nothing is for certain but that is all we have to work with.
     
    I have been complaining to my onc for 8 months about the side effects of hormone therapy.  His next suggestion was and oopherectomy and AI drug.  However could not guarantee I wouldn't get the same or worse side effects after that.  

    XOXOXO