Tamoxifen

Hi, I know im a late entry but wandering if anyone can now update us on what decisions you made and how you are going ?

I had similiar BC with 4 small cancers in right breast, none in thelymph nodes and then had a masectomy and there were another 2 cancers but all very small (largest 12mm)

I then had chemo (wish i hadnt had that) as now must be in menopause and of course all the side effects that have gone with chemo. I actualy handled the chemo at the time ok but my last round was in february and since its now late oct still no periods and i have had much vaginaly dryness and discomfort (to put it nicely) i wish i hadnt. i started tamoxifen in april and not long after my reconstructions surgery in august i sprialled out of control with depression and sadness. couldnt concentrate, couldnt think - i was so so sad. so i stopped taking the tamoxifen. I have since changed breast surgeons (even though shoudnt need any ore surgery but for ongoing monitoring) and both she and my oncologist will be very persuasive towards me going back on tamoxifen again. It has been about 7 weeks now and i am just starting to feel happy and confident about day to day stuff. I have since had more reco surgery which shold be the last.

I am reading books and seeing naturopaths etc on how to eat healthily ( i was pretty health concious previously anyhow) and are fine tuning my diet towards a cancer free lifestyle. I have a young hubby and 2 gorgeous young girls. so much too enjoy and look forward to.

I am very keen to speak/write with others who are denying medication and treatments and taking control of their own treatments and life.

cheerio

Lee

Hi, I know im a late entry but wandering if anyone can now update us on what decisions you made and how you are going ?

I had similiar BC with 4 small cancers in right breast, none in thelymph nodes and then had a masectomy and there were another 2 cancers but all very small (largest 12mm)

I then had chemo (wish i hadnt had that) as now must be in menopause and of course all the side effects that have gone with chemo. I actualy handled the chemo at the time ok but my last round was in february and since its now late oct still no periods and i have had much vaginaly dryness and discomfort (to put it nicely) i wish i hadnt. i started tamoxifen in april and not long after my reconstructions surgery in august i sprialled out of control with depression and sadness. couldnt concentrate, couldnt think - i was so so sad. so i stopped taking the tamoxifen. I have since changed breast surgeons (even though shoudnt need any ore surgery but for ongoing monitoring) and both she and my oncologist will be very persuasive towards me going back on tamoxifen again. It has been about 7 weeks now and i am just starting to feel happy and confident about day to day stuff. I have since had more reco surgery which shold be the last.

I am reading books and seeing naturopaths etc on how to eat healthily ( i was pretty health concious previously anyhow) and are fine tuning my diet towards a cancer free lifestyle. I have a young hubby and 2 gorgeous young girls. so much too enjoy and look forward to.

I am very keen to speak/write with others who are denying medication and treatments and taking control of their own treatments and life.

cheerio

Lee

 TAMOXIFEN ESTRIOL AND FENRETINIDE

 I'm having my first oncologist appointment  at 17 Jan. I was told that most likely I have to take Tamoxifen. I am not keen because of the rare but increased risk of womb cancer is a known side effect of taking tamoxifen and a high chance of bringing in monopause. But I feel I have no other choice.

There seem to be better drug Estriol and Frenretinide but compare to Tamoxifen they are very new and not being use for breast cancer hormonal therapy.

I wish I have the choice to take them instead!!!! :( 

Tamoxifen seem to be better for those who already had their monopause?

Cyclin D1 Overexpression Sensitizes Breast Cancer Cells to Fenretinide

 http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/9/5/1877

and on Tamoxifen side effect   http://all-natural.com/tamox.html

Hi Amanda

I would go with the radaiation and tamoxifen too. Radiation is tedious as you have to go every day but having done chemo too know that it is a lot easier and you are able to work if don't have a too strenous job I am a nurse so it wasn't an option for me but know plenty of people who have worked all through their radiation. Not sure where you live but I was able to go in the evening so my husband could take me. We had to drive 50 kms round trip so was quite wearing for both of us. We found some great places to eat though!!

Good luck with your decision 0.5% is very low wish I had had figures like that!

All the best

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for responding.  It's such a big decision to make, mastectomy or not but I went back to see my surgeon for more information yesterday to help me make an informed decision.  She has told me that the chances of my cancer coming back is very low 0.5% and the risk is the same if I had one or not.  I think that is pretty good odds at the moment and are now leaning towards Radiotherapy and Tamoxilen instead of mastectomy/reconstruction.   It's a huge decision to make especailly when I have been told it is unnecessary in my situation but it is a personal decision.  Was also told if I had mastectomy I would not have to have radiation but still have to have Tomoxilen. Amanda

Hi Amanda

I have just read your blog and wanted to say that if you had a mastectomy you would probably not need radiation but you would probably need the tamoxifen to prevent a recurrence in your other breast. If all your breast tissue is gone from a mastectomy and it has not spread you wouldn't need radiation. I have a friend in NZ who has a very big family history of breast cancer her cancer was found quite by accident. It was all contained. She chose to have a mastectomy over lumpectomy for obvious reasons there were 2 more contained tumours in her breast and she had no further treatment she was not ER+ or PR + . Hope this helps.

Sarah x

Hi Riana, my name is Amanda Marshall and not sure if you are still on the air but my story is a little similar in that my tumour had not spread was 12mm and Grade 2 but no chemo only Radiation and Tomxilen was recommended.  May I ask how you come to the deicison of a mastectomy and has your cancer ever returned?  I am wanting to have the opportunity to decide to have a mastectomy before my radiation treatment starts and wanting to talk to anyone who was also declared cancer free, no spreading and no chemo but decided to have a mastectomy anyway.  I have had a lumpectomy though.  Regards Amanda

My mother had Tamox for years before she died.

I have been on Tamoxifen for 5 months & the only side effect I have is hot flushes. They are somewhat irritating but that is all. I had a headache for the first few weeks but that went away when my body adjusted.

I have been on Tamoxifen for 5 months & the only side effect I have is hot flushes. They are somewhat irritating but that is all. I had a headache for the first few weeks but that went away when my body adjusted.