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Start Here: Important Links and Info About Hormonal Therapy
For some extensive information, see the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Hormonal Therapy, including detailed information on: What Is Hormonal Therapy? Is Hormonal Therapy Right for You? Types of Hormonal Therapy Treatment: Aromatase Inhibitors Arimidex: Benefits, Side Effects and More Aromasin: Benefits, Side…
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Feeling nervous about starting the Baby Tam
Hi everyone. So, I was diagnosed with ADH recently , I had a lumpectomy with clean margins about a month ago. My Breast Surgeon/Oncologist recommended that i start taking 5mg Tamoxifen daily for 3 years. She said that i have a 41% chance of getting breast cancer in my life but if I do the baby tam protocol it would reduce…
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Thickened womb lining
Hi all. I don't even know where to start, can't quite believe iv found myself on this path again. I was diagnosed with BC back in Nov 2021 had chemo and mastectomy etc and was put on zoladex injections for 19months, finished them a year ago and have been on tamoxifen ever since. Iv not had periods since starting chemo as…
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Is exemestane a steroid?
Hi, everyone. After 2 years on anastrozole, my oncologist has switched me to exemestane, due to my complaints about how I feel. I am now reading about exemestane and many articles refer to it as a steroid. My oncologist had not mentioned this to me, so I just called her to discuss it. She told me that it is NOT a steroid,…
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Break from Letrozole for 2 1/2 months
I will be going back on letrazole after a break after 2 1/2 months due to sudden onset of constant palpitations and one short episode of a/fib. I had to get a cardiac work up and getting that done has taken time. Getting in to see a cardiologist, wearing a zio patch for two weeks, waiting for the results and then scheduled…
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First Time Taking Low Dose Tamoxifen - Side Effects
I started 5mg of Tamoxifen today and within a few hours had several side effects: dry mouth, headache, light headedness, nausea, bad tinnitus, and feeling cold. It seemed pretty quick. Has anyone else developed side effects so quickly? Thank you!
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Aromatase Inhibitors and GERD?
Hello friends, Has anyone dealt with reflux or GERD while taking AI’s? If so, have you used medication to deal with it and what was the result? (I’m on my second AI, so that’s 2 1/2 years with severe reflux. Working with a gastroenterologist now to manage the reflux and try to stay on Exemestane for a few more years.)…
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Psychological side effects of AI
Hi All, My sister was diagnosed with ILC stage 2 in October 2023. She had double mastectomy in January 2024. She started taking AI ( anastrazole) back in April 2024. Recently I'm seeing some personality changes in her that doesn't sound normal. For example, she used to call parents everyday to check on them and now she…
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Looking for advice re: hormone treatments
Hello - I am a 77 year old, post-menopausal woman and am new here. I was recently diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. I've had multiple tests, including CT scans, MRI's, ultrasounds, biopsies, and an Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence test. I had a lumpectomy about a month ago. They removed a 23mm tumor…
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Very High Estradiol Levels
I am about a year and a half out from my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I have been taking tamoxifen since November of 2022. I had a hysterectomy in Sep. Of 2023 because of excessive bleeding caused by the tamoxifen. My surgeon left one ovary ( I only had one due to having the other one removed years prior ). I had…
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Cognitive issues and stimulants
Since having worse and worse short term memory and attention difficulties, I was considering asking my care team for a trial of a stimulant. I’m at 3 1/2 years on tamoxifen and now over 50, so not sure if time on therapy plus dwindling estrogen is the cause. Has anyone had success overcoming cognitive difficulties with a…
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Breast Cancer Index - Mixed Results
Hello all - Wondering if any of you can share any of your experiences regarding your BCI and what your oncologists have advised based on your results. I am nearing my 5 year mark next year for endocrine therapy and recently found out that my oncologist had run the Breast Cancer Index test on my original tumor. I am…
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Letrozole and Supplements
Hello and Thank You for the welcome. I had Stage 1A Estrogen Positive BC. Age 68. Lumpectomy 5/7/2024. Now on Letrozole 6 months and doing well so far except I have weight gain. My main question is Supplements. I am confused as to which I could take and/or avoid. Medical oncologist said Calcium/Magnesium 2000MG … but…
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Rejecting hormone therapy
I had a lumpectomy last month with clean margins, no lymph involvement and an Oncotype of 17. I start radiation next week and it has been suggested by my MO that I start a 5 yr course of Tamoxifen upon completion of my 21 radiation treatments. The Tamoxifen side effects I've read about seem real quality of life destroying,…
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This article may explain why we don't have blood tests to check our estrogen and many other things.
I've asked AI to do a summary in educated layman's terms of the article and have included the link. It's an old article, but from what I understand, it's explaining basic facts that I didn't know. Detailed Summary of the Article: "Tissue-Bound Estrogen in Aging" by Ray Peat The article challenges the mainstream belief that…
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Hormone receptor status changed
My biopsy showed I was ER+ (90%), PR+ (30%) and HER2+ (3). I just had a lumpectomy and now my markers show I am ER low+ (5%), PR- (0%) and HER2+ (3). How is that possible and what does it mean if I'm ER low positive, PR -? Does that mean I won't have targeted hormone therapy? Is it better or worse than the triple positive…
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Did women who had an easy menopause and periods, have an easy time with IA?
I'm supposed to start Letrozole. I just got over chemo and RT and just waiting to get back on my feet before starting this poison. Trying to talk myself into it. I can't seem to get straight answers that satisfy me. Get tired of the Standard of Care or One Size Fits All. Why isn't a hormone test done at the beginning and…
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Zometa side effects
I will be having my first infusion of Zometa this week. Has anyone had any side effects from Zometa? I hope to be able to travel a few days after and to go to work the next day and wonder if this is a reasonable plan.
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Estrogen prohibitor meds
Has anyone tried Anestrosole and Exemestane and have horrific leg pain. I've given up. It wakes me up and it hurts all day. They say you must take one of these for 5 years. There is no way I can do this without taking a strong pain/antiinflamatory. Discouraged Liz
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Quitting Tamoxifen
Hi ladies. I'd love to know: -How was going off Tamoxifen in general? Any side effects from Stopping? -Has anyone quit after 5 years though Dr wanted you on for 10???? Tamoxifen has made me hold Immovable weight. I've been on for a little over 5 years and would love to ditch it - unless any of you have info of problems…
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Discontinuing Anastrozole
Hi All - In 2024 I had diagnosis of Stage 2A ductal carcinoma ER/HR+ HER2 -. BRCA 2 positive. 3cm tumor no metastasis to lymph nodes. I took an aggressive stance on surgeries, opting for a double mastectomy with nipple removal (January 2024) and then removed my ovaries and fallopian tubes in September 2024. I started AI…
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Risk of discontinuing tamoxifen
I have read several reports from others that noted that their medical oncologist gave them a percentage benefit from tamoxifen (or AI’s). When I asked my MO she would not provide me with this type of information. Can anyone tell me where this type of information would come from? I want to be prepared for my next…
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Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
Are you like me? What endocrine therapy did you follow or are you following? Pre- or perimenopausal, stage 1, grade 1, low risk, node-negative, no genetic risk, screen detected ladies, let's hear from you! What were you prescribed and how have you changed it up over your therapy? What has worked for you? I've seen four…
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Osteoporosis and Tamoxifen
I am wondering if there is anyone out there who has been taking Tamoxifen and has been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I am 48 and just had a DEXA scan, and it confirms Osteoporosis. :( My oncologist said that typically it shouldn't cause issues in pre-menopausal women, but there are some paradoxical instances where it does!…
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PCOS
Hi, I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). I have not been officially diagnosed but I most likely have HR+ breast cancer. I also have a serious history of depression. Tamoxifen interacts with my medications. I understand that ovarian function needs to be suppressed in pre-menopausal women which is why aromatase…
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For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
I found a couple of older threads about Arimidex, but they covered a large time span with a gazillion posts, so I thought I would start a new thread for Arimidex/Anastrozole users. I am starting on Anastrozole today. Plan is to take it for 5 years, possibly longer. I already have osteopenia and osteoarthritis (limited to…
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Arimidex
Side effects?? Need advice!
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Cancer Tratment for 5 years on Stradexa
Thank you for sharing this page. I find it most interesting and informative. I am 76 years old. I do have Charcot Marie Tooth Muscular Distrophy. Had Mastectomy. Very active and healthy in every other way. I am trying to maintain that. But the side effects, and the little devels are creeping in. The predicted and expected…
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Postmenopausal bleeding after stopping tamoxifen
I was diagnosed at age 47 and was on tamoxifen for just over 3 years, which I recently stopped. Was perimenopausal upon starting it and stayed that way for over a year. I'm 51 now and have not had a period for 25 months. Well, 3 days ago, I started what looks and is acting like a period. Was heavy for 2 days and is now…
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Tamoxifen withdrawal symptoms
I`m 38 years old and I have been on Tamoxifen for 5 years.Now has been a week without it and I`m not feeling too good.Does anyone know about withdrawal symptoms?
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After first shot of Lupron
Hi I am new to this forum. My oncologist recommended a course for Lupron shoot every 3 months for 5 years as I am premenopausal. Then add Tamoxifen for 5 years after my radiation, which is schedule to start next week. The Lupron shoot was done in the middle of my cycle so I had my period at the regular time. But instead of…