I have recently had a lumpectomy followed by 6 weeks radiation therapy. I have been using tamoxifen for a month and have chosen to stop due to the side effects. My onco dx test showed I have less than 10 percent chance of it coming back. My question is: would a bilateral mastectomy further reduce risk of the cancer returning to my breast?

You would have to think it would reduce your chances of a recurrence in breast tissue but your doctor would be the best person to ask.I guess there is that worry of possible stray cancer cells elsewhere and that's why Tamoxifen helps.Sometimes the side effects improve after taking this drug for a few months.Also there are other drugs to counteract Tamoxifen side effects. I take a low dose of Endep and it really helps.A bilateral mastectomy is big surgery to go through and would you think of reconstruction or not?It's a big decision so keep researching and asking questions-there is no rush.You've already been through alot recently.Hope you have recovered ok. Tonya xx

I was intending to post this on the general discussion page but could only find this blog! Would you tell me how to find the discussion page with other people's comments/queries? X Lisa

Hi Sara, I have just had my lumpectomy a fortnight ago, and due to have my CT Scan on Thursday. I'm like you with a very slim chance of it returning and I have been told that the risks associated with Chemo outweigh any benefit that I will get from it. Therefore after 6.5 weeks of Radiotherapy I will be starting Tamoxifen with the possibility of going on to Goserelin injections after a couple of months as well. I'm just wondering what the side effects were that made you decide to come off the Tamoxifen. Narelle

It looks like you've managed to create your own post on Tamoxifen and other ladies,like myself,will hop on this thread and have a discussion.You could type in "Tamoxifen"into the search bar on the top right and that might bring up previous posts on this drug.You can just read or add your comments but if they are old posts then you might not get answers.If you scroll down this page to under the pink line,you'll see"resources"on the right hand side and under that "fact sheets and booklets".If you click on that you'll find info on Hormone therapy and Tamoxifen. You can keep replying on this post you have started and no doubt,other ladies will join in. Tamoxifen is always a popular topic.I probably should mention that I had a lumpectomy and radiation back in 2003.I took Tamoxifen for awhile but gave up because of the bad side effects I was experiencing.Then 7 years later I got a recurrence in the same breast,same spot,same pathology.I was told I only had an 8%chance of this happening -lucky me! So I had to have a mastectomy,chemo and then Tamoxifen for 5 years.I've been on it for over 3 years now.Even with a mastectomy there is still a 1%chance cancer could come back on the scarline -that's what my surgeon told me.It maybe different for others. Anyway,I'm not taking any chances and I'm taking Tamoxifen but don't know if I'll do it for 5 years.This drug has been around a long time and seems quite effective with fewer side effects than the other anti hormone drugs.Good luck with your discussions. Tonya xx

Tamoxifen | BCNA Online Network

35 Replies

Sara_B
Member
12 years ago
I was intending to post this on the general discussion page but could only find this blog! Would you tell me how to find the discussion page with other people's comments/queries? X Lisa
TonyaM
Member
12 years ago
You would have to think it would reduce your chances of a recurrence in breast tissue but your doctor would be the best person to ask.I guess there is that worry of possible stray cancer cells elsewhere and that's why Tamoxifen helps.Sometimes the side effects improve after taking this drug for a few months.Also there are other drugs to counteract Tamoxifen side effects. I take a low dose of Endep and it really helps.A bilateral mastectomy is big surgery to go through and would you think of reconstruction or not?It's a big decision so keep researching and asking questions-there is no rush.You've already been through alot recently.Hope you have recovered ok. Tonya xx

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Tamoxifen

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