Tamoxifen I want to say no
Hi, just curious if anyone has said no to taking tamoxifen??. I am terrified of the idea of taking it and cannot see past the array of side effects it can inflict..I mentioned to the onco that I wasn'...
Forum Discussion
@Red1 I think its a relevant point for sure and you are within your rights to reject the medication if you so wish...my only suggestion would be to be absolutely sure no matter what you decide its best for you and that you feel without a doubt you have done everything in your power to make sure it doesnt come back.
I say this because...I was diagnosed at 43 DCIS ER+, I had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment and put on Tamoxifen. I was on that for 4YRS, I had ZERO side effects, 14yrs prior I had irregular cells on my cervix, surgery and been fine ever since, I had no gynecological issues or anything. I did however have a recurrence in the scar tissue at 47, I had to have another major lumpectomy and chemo being Stage 2, Grade 3 aggressive...all this inspite of all treatment? BUT at least I could say I did all I could. I was pre menopause even with the 2nd diagnosis...chemo threw me into menopause and I ended up with a mastectomy with immediate diep flap recon. I dont like drugs either and am so drug sensitive that chemo nearly killed me...tamoxifen pffft nothing. I have been on Arimidex and Aromasin for 4yrs now and its been harder but the only thing I can say is I can say if anything ever happens again...Ive done absolutely all that I could. I wish I had the power to say NO...Im not doing it or taking it...but after my path I can't gamble with it anymore sadly.
My Mum also had BC at 40 had zero treatment only a mastectomy/reconstruction and passed away 26 years later with an unrelated cancer...it never returned. I don't have the BRCA Gene as many don't 95% of BC is random...so many mutations havent been found yet...we are a loooooong way from solving it.
So all I can say is unless you try it you dont know how it will be, but if you honestly feel confident that no matter what happens in the future and not take it...you have that choice.
I wish you all the very best..its a hard road...but my life hasnt been better for where I am right now :)
Tamoxifen attaches to the hormone receptor in the cancer cell, blocking estrogen from attaching to the receptor. This slows or stops the growth of the tumor by preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
M x
I say this because...I was diagnosed at 43 DCIS ER+, I had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment and put on Tamoxifen. I was on that for 4YRS, I had ZERO side effects, 14yrs prior I had irregular cells on my cervix, surgery and been fine ever since, I had no gynecological issues or anything. I did however have a recurrence in the scar tissue at 47, I had to have another major lumpectomy and chemo being Stage 2, Grade 3 aggressive...all this inspite of all treatment? BUT at least I could say I did all I could. I was pre menopause even with the 2nd diagnosis...chemo threw me into menopause and I ended up with a mastectomy with immediate diep flap recon. I dont like drugs either and am so drug sensitive that chemo nearly killed me...tamoxifen pffft nothing. I have been on Arimidex and Aromasin for 4yrs now and its been harder but the only thing I can say is I can say if anything ever happens again...Ive done absolutely all that I could. I wish I had the power to say NO...Im not doing it or taking it...but after my path I can't gamble with it anymore sadly.
My Mum also had BC at 40 had zero treatment only a mastectomy/reconstruction and passed away 26 years later with an unrelated cancer...it never returned. I don't have the BRCA Gene as many don't 95% of BC is random...so many mutations havent been found yet...we are a loooooong way from solving it.
So all I can say is unless you try it you dont know how it will be, but if you honestly feel confident that no matter what happens in the future and not take it...you have that choice.
I wish you all the very best..its a hard road...but my life hasnt been better for where I am right now :)
Tamoxifen attaches to the hormone receptor in the cancer cell, blocking estrogen from attaching to the receptor. This slows or stops the growth of the tumor by preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
M x