tamoxifen/post menopausal

Hi ladies, Over the months I have read several posts from people saying that if you are post menopausal you do not need tamoxifen. Well, I am 63 and definitely post menopausal, yet I have been prescribed this drug. Its not something I would choose to take (nor the Herceptin) so can anyone explain why people keep saying the above?

Bye the way, after reading various posts about the benefits of Nolvadex-D I asked my GP to prescribe. This he kindly did but asked if I could be sure that the people making these suggestions were genuine, and not manufacturer infiltrators!?

I have faith in all you lovely ladies who have supported me during difficult times. Cyber hugs to all, Maggie.

Hi Maggie, just had a good read on the www.cancerbackup.org.uk that tamoxifen can be used for both pre and post menopausal women, think i certainly got confused as i was told by my surgeon that due to being pre-menopausal i would go on tamoxifen if i didn’t need chemo, which i didn’t , but had i have had chemo then i would have been put on aromatise inhibitors, also, after i have had my ovaries removed i will definately be put on aromataise inhibitors. the site also says that it is given to post menopausal women who have very early stage cancer. its worth having a look at this site, it was recommended to me by my surgeon and onc, also, i think treatments differ greatly from one health authority to the other

Alison xxx

I am 64, post-menopausal, have a controlled tumour, and am on tamoxifen having had a failure on Arimidex. So far it has held the situation and there has been no change in the tumour and no further development of mets. I am very happy with that. A scare over the last month turned out to be a combination of stress and lowered immune system; a scan showed no change over the past 30 months.

I would go with the tamoxifen, whether generic or not.

As you are post menopausal arimidex would be more effective (at least that’s what the latest research indicates). However, it has side effects which some people find difficult to tolerate e.g. joint pains. It’s been shown to reduce the risk of recurrence more than tamoxifen for post menopausal women.

Mole

Thanks for your responses ladies. Molennium, I think I too have read that somewhere. My onc said I would be changed to another drug after two years on Tamoxifen. Can’t remember name but perhaps it is Arimidex.

Maggie xx