Was just wondering if others had any experiences/advice on this topic …
I was diagnosed 4 years ago aged 45 and was put on Tamoxifen as I was pre-menopausal. The plan is/was to take it for five years and then test to see if I am menopausal and either switch to an AI if I am or (I think) continue with Tamoxifen if I am not.
I spoke to ‘my’ nurse today and mentioned that, as I haven’t had a period since last August, maybe I should be switching to the AIs now, but of course as Tamoxifen can create menopause-like symptoms, we don’t know if that’s ‘really’ because of the menopause, or just a side-effect of the Tamoxifen, so the only answer is to stop taking the Tamoxifen to find out. She said I could do this now if I wanted, as it’s only nine months or so until I did it anyway, but I feel anxious about it because if started the new AIs early I would also finish them early and wouldn’t therefore have a total of 10 years on meds, which would make me stressed. I’m going to speak to my surgeon about it to, and will probably do whatever she suggests I do, but I’m just interested if others have had this dilemma and what they did.
I was diagnosed two years ago at 55 and their plan for me was 2 years of Tamoxifen then switch to Letrozole for a further 3. Annoyingly I was still having the odd period when I was diagnosed so they told me that there had to be no bleeding for two years before I could say I was through the menopause. That happened so they were happy for me to switch to the Letrozole after the full 2 years.
As you are now 49 you could still be pre-menopausal especially as it’s less than a year from your last period. If I were you I would definitely stay on the Tamoxifen for another year before switching to the AI, but of course you are right to discuss it with your nurse. Good luck
Be careful with what you wish for…I’ve been on Letrozole for over 2 years and it’s been really hard …the joint pain is unbearable especially my knees. I was 43 when I was diagnosed but my oncologist put me in a medically induced menopause. I am on a 3 monthly Prostap injection to keep me in the menopause. I’ve been struggling so much with my knees and it feels like I am 90 years old. I was enjoying walking and can now barely walk in the garden. So my options are to switch to another AI or go on tamoxifen so yeah…it’s not always plain sailing on AI. Maybe some women are tolerating it better but from the treads on here I haven’t seen many…
I know people who have been on Tamoxifen for many years and doing very well…
This is of course my experience with AI but tbh I am really thinking about going on Tamoxifen for the last 5 years of my treatment.
Can I please ask you what side effects to expect on Tamoxifen??
For post menopausal women , Tamoxifen is kinder to bones but I read that it isn’t as effective as the AI. I was already a few years post meno when I was diagnosed .,
Of course you need to choose between quality of life and the chance or recurrence but for me is just getting too much and tbh you never know what’s going to happen…no matter on what kind of treatment there is no 100% promise of the cancer not coming back…I’ve been in active treatment for the last 3 years. I am on Abemaciclib and the side effects were horrendous but there is point where you can just have enough…
Totally agree . I’m only 6 weeks in to AI . I’m still on same brand prescribed by onco . I change in 2 weeks to GP prescribed one . I’ve had side effects but they have settled ( for now ). It’s awful that we are put in this position and hoping that treatments will become less brutal at some point . Good luck x
. I’ve had side effects but they have settled ( for now ). It’s awful that we are put in this position and hoping that treatments will become less brutal at some point . Good luck x