Tamoxifen

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.

Hi Riana

I started taking tamoxifen in March and have had no bad side effects except for the hot flushes and sweating. I had chemo and radiation after my mastectomy but I had a grade 3, 49mm tumour which is very different to you so there was no question of me not having to take tamoxifen. The oncologists have a calculation where they can work what your risk is in percent so ask when you see them. One of my breast cancer buddies didn't take any  anti-hormone therapy as it would only be a 2% improvement. I have just started taking a very low dose of Efixxor for the hot flushes and it seems to have helped am only into my 3rd week but am sleeping much better and the bedclothes are staying on the bed a lot more now! much to my husband's delight. it's a small price to pay to survive!

Good luck with your decision.

Sarah x

Hi Riana

I started taking tamoxifen in March and have had no bad side effects except for the hot flushes and sweating. I had chemo and radiation after my mastectomy but I had a grade 3, 49mm tumour which is very different to you so there was no question of me not having to take tamoxifen. The oncologists have a calculation where they can work what your risk is in percent so ask when you see them. One of my breast cancer buddies didn't take any  anti-hormone therapy as it would only be a 2% improvement. I have just started taking a very low dose of Efixxor for the hot flushes and it seems to have helped am only into my 3rd week but am sleeping much better and the bedclothes are staying on the bed a lot more now! much to my husband's delight. it's a small price to pay to survive!

Good luck with your decision.

Sarah x

Hi Riana,

  I have also had an 8mm tumor with 2mm DCIS around that. I have had a lumpectomy with lymp node removed on the 19th August 2011.

I am starting 5 weeks of radiotheraphy on Monday then followed by tamoxifen.

Not looking forward to it and the side effects.

Would also like some advice on how to manage the side effects of the treatments.

loretta