That is the question we all want answered @"Holly Prevails". Plenty of people still get recurrence even with doing all the recommended things.
I hate Tamoxifen with a passion and it hates me right back. It does absolutely effect my quality of life if I am on it for too long. 3 months is about as long as I can stand it before I start feeling like a totally different person. Not only does it effect my body, but after a few weeks it starts doing weird stuff to my head. And love life....well, we know what happens to that with these drugs.
I have spoken with my onc numerous times. He tells me my side effects are rare and quite severe. I had a bit of an argument with him at my last review and said that maybe they should crowd source a bit more to see what people are actually going through. Not just the side effects listed by the pharmaceutical companies. Seems that losing your libido is relatively low on their radar and not really worth talking about to the doctors.
I complain about anxiety when I am on it so it's like here take these anti depressants. Blah blah blah,
At this point in time I am running it 3 months on and 3 weeks off. Not ideal I guess but he says it's better than not taking it at all. I can switch to zoladex and exemestane but he says that's more toxic than tamoxifen so effects may be worse..
I highly doubt if I am going to make the 5 years let alone 10. This will be my 3rd attempt. The first break did a lot to settle the hot flushes. I still get them but no where near the severity. The second break has cleared my head somewhat so far but I have only been back on them for two weeks so we'll see how that goes. It normally starts to kick in about 3 to four weeks of being back on it.
The pain in my lower back and left hip is constant and my joints have all started to click and complain. Makes sleeping difficult as the longer I stay still the worse it gets. I take calcium, magnesium, D3, Glucosomine, Vit C and B+ mega something or other. Does nothing for the pain but I think helps with energy levels.
The temptation to stop taking them is enormous for me as I feel pretty close to completely normal after two weeks off.
These side effects are real, they don't appear to be as rare as what he's saying from the research I have done. I do know my own body and I would really like to be taken seriously.
With the amount of people getting breast cancer these days and the volume that are and are going to have to take HT something needs to be done to fine tune the toxic effects of these drugs. All these things for a maybe it won't come back if you take it maybe it will. Will you be able to live with the choosing not to take the drugs if it does come back even though it might have even having take the HT.
Is there even any follow up stats done years later on people who flicked the drugs? Or are they just off enjoying there life?
Confusing. Absolutely. Any answers either way...nope....not yet.
