Hysterectomy and Tamoxifen

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
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Hi, 

I am four years on from my Breast cancer diagnosis which was ER+ . I have been taking Tamoxifen for four years and still are. Recently I have been having a lot of issues with cysts on my ovaries and thickening of the lining of my womb. I have been in and out of hospital with pelvic pain and had numerous scans. Yesterday in hospital I was told there is no point scanning anymore as I have had these issues many times the only option is a full hysterectomy. It sounds like a plan and I know they wouldn’t do it lightly but I now have so many questions! I will obviously go straight into menopause but not be able to have HRT. I will come off Tamoxifen and go on to an AI? How bad is the surgery? How long is recovery? The doctors have briefly spoken to me about all of this but I feel like I need a whole day with them to make an informed choice! So I’m putting it out on the forum to try and see if I can get anyone else’s experiences on this, any advice or tips. I am 38 by the way. 
Thanks 

 

 

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Hi ,I had full hysterectomy 2017 .I had to come off Tamoxifen for several weeks before surgery .The recovery from the op depends on how you have it done - I think some can be done keyhole and vaginally but I had had to have a vertical incision .It was quite a long op as a consequence .I was 3 nights in hospital .Because they removed ovaries I was like you say “straight to menopause” and if you have had hormone positive BC they are very reluctant to give you HRT .I am still having flushes 3 years on :frowning:After surgery you can have the option to change to AIs or stay on Tamoxifen ( if AIs don’t agree with you ) - there is supposed to be a small added benefit from taking AIs.Jill x