Hi all,
I was diagnosed at 26, now 27 and half way through chemo. My oncotyoe score was 18, but my 1.2cm grade 3 tumor put me just over the edge into being high-clinical risk. I opted to suffer through a few months of chemo for the potential decreased risk of recurrence.
Thinking ahead to life after chemo & radiation, my treatment team had always said that hormone therapy would be on the cards (likely Tamoxifen). However at my last oncologist appointment I was told that if my periods continue throughout chemo then it would be highly recommended that I have ovarian suppression + AIs instead.
I’ve done a fair bit of research into the TEXT and SOFT studies around the efficacy of ovarian suppression vs Tamoxifen alone and I do agree that clinically the AIs + ovarian suppression would give me a lower risk of recurrence (especially because I am Er+, P+, HER2-, high clinical risk, and very young).
But my main concern is my quality of life and sacrificing the rest of my 20s to such a strong treatment option. If I stuck it out for 5 years I will be 32 when I transition to Tamoxifen alone, which I know is still pretty young but I feel like the promise of truly living my life and acting my age (not so responsible all the time) after radiation is over is what I have been holding onto. Tamoxifen is not without issues, so I was under no misconception that life would be back “normal” but I worry about surviving at the cost of actually living.
I know not many are diagnosed at my age, so open to everyone’s feedback, but I’m really hoping there are some women out there who faced the same decision around my age and would be willing to share what their decision was and why? Has anyone tried both ovarian suppression and Tamoxifen alone, and what was your experience?
P.s. Will also post to Reddit somewhere so see if I can find anyone else who has made this choice at my age.