Posted on: Jul 13, 2007 06:03 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233
marytim wrote:
Hello,
I've been on Tamoxifen for l8 months. I'm still premenopausal although I haven't had a period for a year now. I went for my yearly pap and they did an intravaginal exam. Well, they found that my uterine endometrium was very thickened and they also found a mass in my uterus about l.5 x 2.5 cm. My doctor scheduled a D&C for this coming Tuesday...afraid it is uterine cancer. I called my oncologist and she said to stop Tamoxifen immediately and depending on the outcome of the D&C, will either opt for hysterectomy and/or have to change to a different medication than Tamoxifen. Has anyone had this happen?? I'm afraid I have uterine cancer. It doesn't seem like I can move on beyond this BC. I had reconstruction on the right side after a mastectomy in November 2005 and was going to have my nipple reconstruction in September (after 5 operations). Also today i'm heading to Yale Hospital. My MRI picked up a mass in my other breast that has to be biopsied. Will it ever end? I just want to go on with my life.
Mary
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Beesie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,190
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Jul 13, 2007 11:57 AM Beesie wrote:
Mary,
I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I don't have any advice or suggestions but I really do feel for you. After a lot of research and soul searching, I made the difficult decision not to go on Tamoxifen. But if I had, I probably would be in the same situation as you. I've had some spotting and have required a D&C over the past year - I know about uterine cancer fears - and that's without Tamoxifen! Finding out now that I'm prone to these problems, I suspect that Tamoxifen may have made the situation much worse.
I'll be crossing my fingers for you on Tuesday as you undergo the D&C. After BC surgery, the procedure itself is a breeze. Here's hoping that all you have is a benign polyp or something harmless like that!
roseg
DC Area
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,681
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Jul 13, 2007 12:19 PM roseg wrote:
Mary Tim - I don't think it's a bit unusual to develop uterine polyps on tamoxifen, particularly when you're recently or perhaps not even menopausal.
Why not wait until you get the pathology back on the D&C before freaking? It seems like nearly every younger-ish woman I've encountered on tamoxifen has had a D&C, and most don't have uterine cancer.
Sorry about the mammo call back, that would really do me in as well!
wallycat
Port Townsend, WA
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,453
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Jul 13, 2007 03:34 PM wallycat wrote:
I've been reading several tamoxifen "side effect" sites and most seem to imply that uterine cancer is only a threat after 5 years on it. Not to say it can't happen, but odds are lower.
I know your fears. I am dreading my gyn visit ...which is desperately needed.
Please let us know how you make out...we will be with you!
Hugs!!
marytim
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233
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Jul 14, 2007 03:19 AM marytim wrote:
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate them so much. I spent the majority of the day yesterday at my breast surgeons/Yale hospital. I had an ultrasound of my left breast by three radiologists and after discussion they decided it was a 3 mm. cyst. I have to have six month MRI and mammo follow ups but it felt so good to get some good news for a change!!! I'll let you know about the D&C and path report when I get it. Still stressed out but taking one day at a time.
Mary
Beesie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,190
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Jul 14, 2007 02:27 PM Beesie wrote:
Great news on the cyst! Now, on to the next procedure... isn't this all just so much fun?? Good luck on the next one!!
awb
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,876
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Jul 14, 2007 03:03 PM awb wrote:
Mary-- I had a large ovarian mass seen by CTscan within 16 months of starting tamoxifen. The gyn was concerned it was ovarian cancer so he had me go for transvaginal ultrasounds and bloodwork (CA-125). It turned out I actually had 5 cysts (and uterine polpys that he wasn't concerned about) that fortunately were benign, but were so large and had ruptured I ended up with a total abdominal hysterectomy over 2 years ago. Endometrial thickening while on tamox is very common and endometrial cancer is very rare (less than 1%), so it's likely the mass could be a benign fibroid or polyp. Good you are having it thoroughly checked out. Praying it is nothing serious. Please feel free to PM me if you'd like.
mtriso
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28
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Jul 14, 2007 05:53 PM mtriso wrote:
I am just finishing up 5 years of Tamoxifen and for the past 3 summers I have had to have a D & C due to thickend uterine lining. I go in this Thursday for yet another follow up to an ultra sound that showed 13mm thickening. I've been lucky each time and expect the same this time. I know how you are feeling, it's still very scarey even though I should be a pro at this. Hope you do well.
OLBinNJ
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 245
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Jul 15, 2007 07:18 AM OLBinNJ wrote:
I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and in that time I had two D&C's due to bleeding from a build up in the uterine lining. Everything was fine, and I am now 11 years healthy. Good luck to you!
wallan
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,951
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Jul 16, 2007 06:14 AM wallan wrote:
Hello there:
I am another victim of thickening of the endometrial lining and excessive bleeding when on tamoxifen. I had problems within months of being on tamoxifen and of the course of a year had several D&C's and biopsies. Always, always, everything was fine.
I too was premenopausal.
I ended up with a hysterectomy. Not because I had cancer but because I had real problems with bleeding over and over again while on tamoxifen.
I had my hysterectomy and ovaries out to make me post-menopausal without question and I am now on aromasin.
I bet your mass is nothing. Good luck to you and keep us posted. HUGS
Wendy A
marytim
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233
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Jul 16, 2007 06:23 AM marytim wrote:
Hello,
Thanks to all of you who wrote all your words of support. Tomorrow is the D&C. My oncologist took me off Tamoxifen so I'm uncomfortable knowing that I'm not being protected from BC right now. I need to go see her after the results of this D&C are known. If it isn't cancer, she mentioned a hysterectomy or ovaries out and go into menopause and then go on something else. I've had five reconstructive surgeries on my right breast and two on my left for benign things. I told her I feel like a piece of wood that they just keep widdling away on and I'm sick of it all.
Thanks to you all again. Will let you know how it goes.
Mary
roseg
DC Area
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,681
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Jul 16, 2007 08:16 AM roseg wrote:
Tamoxifen takes 4-8 weeks to "wear off", so you'll be fine for awhile.
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Jul 19, 2007 08:27 PM sjandtj wrote:
I have been on tamox for 4 months now. This last month I have felt bloated and feel pressure all the time in my lower abdomen could this be from thickening of my uterus?
sj
rrs
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 920
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Jul 20, 2007 07:22 AM rrs wrote:
I had 2 D&C's while on tamoxifen. Thickening, polyps, fibroids, etc. Kept taking tamox until I had hysterectomy after about 5 years. No uterine cancer was found. I hope you get good reports.