Tamoxifen and menopause help!

Hi Celeste,

My Bc was the same as yours - Hormone receptive but I didn't have chemo only radiation after surgery.  I chose not to have chemo even though my oncologist would have preferred it.  I figured that there wasn't enough "add on" over a 10 year period to warrant being sick for 6 months.  I was 50 when I was diagnosed and was premenopausal.  I am now 54 and have been on Tamoxifen for 3.5 years.  Just when I think I am getting near menopause, I have another bleed.  The longest time was 9 months.  They say if you go without a period for 12 months then you have reached menopause.  My dear departed mum was 56 when she finally stopped.  I have had a hormone test and it showed that I haven't reached menopause yet. Bugger still some little hormones lurking about.    I was told that I would be taking Tamoxifen for 5 years and then it would be reviewed.  You are right in saying that Arimidex is for after menopause however I have also been told that Tamoxifen can be taking for a further 5 years even if you have gone through menopause.  Personally I have had no trouble with Tamoxifen except for some bleeding which my gyne checks out with surgery (remember this drug carries a high risk of uterine cancer)  I have heard lots of bad reports about Arimidex - it leeches the bones of calcium.  Not happy with that.  Anyway talk with your oncologist but if you are not having too many side effects with Tamoxifen then it's for you.XLeonie