Hi joyousjen, How are you doing?
I’m going through similar at the moment.
I’m 49, been on tamoxifen for 4 years post lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I’d been getting abdominal pain/bloating and onc referred me for abdo and transvaginal ultrasound to be on the safe side which found thickening of uterus wall and a cyst.
I had the hysteroscopy last week - gynae consultant said nothing seen of concern but has sent the biopsy off - i’m trying to reassure myself that it will be fine but think i need the results. I have been very stressed and weepy with it all, had my annual mammogram recently which came back clear but always get stressed around this time…
I took paracetamol and ibuprofen before the hysteroscopy, they offered me opportunity to come back and have the procedure under general anaesthetic but I got through it, didn’t feel like i wanted to go back again (they did say i could stop if it was too much, wasn’t like it was off the table). It was taking the biopsy that really hurt, i was asking if there was much longer to go…
We are all different, so do take the offer of the anaesthetic if you want to! I didn’t feel there was any pressure or judgement from them.
I’ve not had a period for 3 years now, tolerated Tamoxifen (in oncology speak, still struggled with the side effects!). Oncology told me to stop it when saw the scan results. i called the BCN as was having a melt down and she said they may leave me off it for 3 months and not be concerned re recurrence risk, also that the thickening is a well known side effect, inference was that it will reverse once you stop. They have to follow up but all the cases she had seen did not end up being anything sinister.
I’ve got an appt with oncology in December and she said they’ll think about plan then, will depend what happens with my hormones, if my periods come back (gynae said its likely to be a couple of months if my ovaries are still on)
I don’t have any experience of Letrozole, when i asked my BCN about other treatments, if i couldn’t go back on Tamoxifen, she said not everyone has awful experiences of the other options (which made me think that some people do…)
You’re so right - nothing is ever simple!
Have you heard anything yet about seeing gynae for your hysteroscopy?
Let us know how you’re doing,
Cathy x