I was dx in December, had op and radiotherapy. My lymph nodes were clear and my tumour was grade 2.
I was on hrt and since coming off I have really struggled with hormone treatment and tried letrozole (am post menopausal) and had to come off. I then tried Tamoxifen. I felt terrible, swapped brand and found that better but the hot flushes were so debilitating and I just felt as though I was going to feel ill for 5 years. I have now stopped taking it.
I have done a massive amount of research and have got to a point when I have questioned the benefits of Tamoxifen. I just wonder if there is anyone else out there who feels the same. Just to clarify I am not making an “alternative” choice, but an informed one.
how interesting, I am struggling to get my head around tamoxifen. I 53 tomorrow, and following results from surgeon yesterday I have been advised that I would be taking it for 5 years and then another 3 years of something else, I had switched off at that point because I had only been expecting to have radiotherapy but he said because of my age and the size and site of the tumour I should have chemotherapy
so although tamoxifen was forefront in my head, it’s been over taken by chemo
could you private message me with your thoughts and what you are looking to do if you stop taking it?
Hi. I finished chemo and had my last surgery in April. I was then prescribed tamoxifen by my surgeon who hid a smile when he said I’d be on it 10 years and I quote ‘if you can put up with it’. I put up with it for 3 weeks then decided I wasn’t taking it any longer. My GP agreed with me that quality of life is important and so did my bcn unofficially. I could not function normally and as I’m only 49, I have to work and look after my family. I’m not convinced of the beneifts of these drugs and the medical profession admit they have no idea who does benefit from them. Everyone is treated the same. It is an informed choice. I wouldn’t try to influence anyone else. We all have to decide what’s right for us.
x
Hi, I was do March14 with grade 2 invasive lobular and ducal. Had surgery, chemo, more surgery then rads all by end Nov14. Then oncologist said I had to take ananstrozole as my cancer was oestrogen fed and that it would give me a 20 percent benefit - I thought gosh I have to take this its a no brainier, then after 5 days of taking it I felt dreadful and by day 12 I couldn’t finction, no sleep, every joint ached, felt very very depressed ( and I am the most positive happy person) so phoned Oncologist secretary for a meeting 2 days later. In the meantime I went on the NHS Predixt tool and put in all my info it came back with a 1.3 percent benefit so when I saw the one I challenged him as to where was this 20 percent he had talked about it. Well he said it was 20 percent of the remaining 6 percent which meant 1.3 over 5 years. I told him I didn’t want to take it he asked me to take a break till end Jan 15 I went back and said no I still feel the same, he asked me would I comsider Tamofaxen instead I said I will think about it and got a reprieve till this Sept BUT I will not be taking ANYTHING as I feel now like I am back to my old self in every way, without being crude even our sex life has improved as I am not dry anymore. I
I talked to my surgeon about this at the end of Feb15 and he said it was about quality of life also. What I haven’t mentioned is that my OH had grade 3 bowel cancer in 2013 so my surgeon said go live your life.
Many people on this forum would disagree and don’t want to offend anyone but we are all different and we each have our own way of dealing with what has been thrown at us, rightly or wrongly I have but this in a box and put it away and I want to move on and forget about all we have been through and live whatever life we have together happily without me being the chemically induced **bleep** from hell with the hormones not being able to do physical stuff coz I can’t move and be a shell of myself due to lack of sleep and depression. Even tho the one said I can give you medication for depression, lack of sleep and joint pain - I said no I don’t need all that if I don’t take this one little pill which will only give me a 1.3 percent benefit for 5 years
Sorry to go on but gosh I feel good for getting all that out xxx