Refusing tamoxifen

Hi @arpie

Most post menopausal women are on letrozole - such as femara - rather than tamoxifen. I got the standard warnings - hot flushes, mood swings, arthritis type pain (particularly hands) and impact on bone density. I am almost 5 years on and have no menopausal type symptoms at all, no joint pans at all, my bone density was excellent to begin with, has taken a bit of a bashing but I shall probably survive 5 years OK. I also have vaginal atrophy - which of course could have happened "at my age", which was 67 when I started, but as I had no problem at all before and real problems within 6 months, I cheerfully snort at that idea!  I am not keen to continue for another 5 years (possible) but that's a conversation with my oncologist when we review the situation in April. I am not sorry I have done 5 years - it's all been manageable even if some side effects are undesirable, but I will want some very convincing stats to keep going longer!  You can always stop. Given that side effects are so variable, that's always the option - if you find it manageable, then it seems a good idea - but if the side effects are making your life miserable, it's your call to say enough. Never easy decisions but still good that they are ours to make. Best wishes.