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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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Lupron Vs Ovary Removal
I was diagnosed with Stage 2A invasive lobular carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy and radiation which I completed in January 2025. I am currently getting monthly Lupron injections to put me into menopause and also taking letrozole. I am having significant mood swings with the lupin injections and I am considering having my…
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Should I take the drug?
At age 86, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Stage 1. I had two surgeries to get it all out. After, I completed five days of radiation. The oncologist now wants me to start anastrozole every day for five years. I have moderate to severe osteopenia in my hips and am concerned that I may have severe bone loss and end up in…
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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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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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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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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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CBD and Tamoxifen
Hi There Fellow Survivors, I will have been taking Tamoxifen for 4 years this coming September. I have been very fortunate in that my side effects are within my tolerance level. However, the main SE I have are 24 hour twitching of my legs. I can tolerate this until I get painful contractions which can make my entire leg…
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Does anyone take Letrozole (Femara) every other day?
Does anyone take Letrozole (Femara) every other day? I hope to reduce the dose to ease my side effects. But my oncologist doesn't recommend taking it every other day. I've seen one or two persons mentioning this approach in other topic. I would like to know if there are more doing this (i.e. taking Letrozole every other…
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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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How long on anastrozole?
My doc wants me to stop taking anastrozole after 5 years (1.5 on tamoxifen). I've had two fractures, last one a year and a half ago. I'm osteopenic. Side effects are manageable, I'm fortunate to live by myself 😄. I'm a bit scared to stop... anyone else out there afraid to quit?
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Aromotase Inhibitors and cartilage loss
I am 64 years old. I was on tamoxifen for 3 years and and anastrazole for 4 years. I have been off the Anastrazole since end of 2019. I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Bone on bone. Have heard that the estrogen loss accelerates cartilage loss. Wondering if others have had this experience
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Side Effects After Stopping Tamoxifen (Weight Gain?)
Hi all, for some reason, I started thinking about what happens when I get off the Tamoxifen. I still have 2 years to go but of course, they are recommending the 10. Hey, 50-60% reduction of recurrence is great for 5 years, but 3-4% for the next 5, no thanks. I have the brain fuzziness, memory problems. I've had the joint…
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Tamoxifen and migraine meds
Does anyone on tamoxifen take prescription medication for migraines? I was recently given a sample of ubrelvy by a neurologist for headaches but just read online tamoxifen can increase med levels because it’s metabolized by a cyp3a pathway. Any experience with this drug or another migraine treatment that doesn’t interfere?
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Anastrozole ???
My experience was??? My mental state went to apathetic. I had NO emotional feelng. One night I felt like I was dead with no brain activity. SCARY. I stopped it early as I was low recurrence risk. I feel even at high risk, it's not worth it.
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Gastrointestinal symptoms after finishing 10 years of Tamoxifen
After 10 years of Tamoxifen it was time to stop taking it. Just a couple of weeks after I stopped I got gastrointestinal issues. I am wondering if it is because I stopped the Tamoxifen. I have bloating, constipation/diarrohea, feeling a need to do but not doing, going often to the toilet. I had several tests and am waiting…
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AET omission in ER-LOW early stage breast cancer
I'm being asked to consider aromatase inhibitor therapy even though my ER receptor level is low. Relatively new research indicates a significantly worse overall survival when AET is omitted. (Grace Mei Yee Chong et. al. And Mayo Clinic).What have others heard about this? I was HER2+, went through chemo and Phesgo,…
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Cancer Update
Its been a while. I really had to take a step back from engaging the community because the stories are so gut wrenching and sad. Nadia is doing great physically. We had a second scan in Feb. Liver Mets appear to be healing and the breast tumor is definitely smaller. They did confirm that this cancer had spread to her spine…
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Have ILC stage1 Grade2 Her2- 9.0 PR+9.4 ER+10.4
Lumpectomy + Oncoplastic - in June 2024 w/ Radiation Oct 2024 4 weeks. Began Letrozole Sept 2024. Lots of symptoms since Radiation, I stopped taking the AI for 3 weeks last fall, my Oncologist freaked out so resumed it. I'm anti-drug mentality and but med team convinced me due to ILC loves Estrogen, and if you get BC…
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"Roll Call" for those who've stopped Hormonal Therapy early - short post to share status?
If you quit or reduced hormone therapy and don't mind sharing future status at least once a year, could you share concisely current cancer status (no evidence of disease, metastisis, new breast cancer) or other health facts? This will give an easy to follow thread of results of quitting. It is such a gut wrenching decision…
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I’d appreciate hearing from anyone taking AIs and a GLP-1 drug for weight loss
I was diagnosed in 11/2022, had bilateral lumpectomy 1/2023 and finished radiation 3/2023. I’ve been taking an aromatase inhibitor for over two years. At first I was on anastrozole and I recently switched to exemestane to see if a switch would help some of my side effects (joint pain, mood swings, anxiety, insomnia). I was…
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Tamoxifen side effects and your experiences
Hello I am Vanessa. I am 47 no menopause. I was diagnosed with LCIS in December (11 mm) + atypical ductal & lobular hyperplasia. Had my surgery in January 2025. No quimio nor radio therapy was needed. Just tamoxifen (20 mg). It has been a roller coaster in several ways. I had to take of mirena, change medication like…
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Tamoxifen Side Effects
How long were you on Tamoxifen before you started to notice any side effects? Also, what was your age when you started Tamoxifen
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Switching from AI to Tamoxifen - Bone loss
Hi, I just met with a new oncologist after the retirement of my previous one. I have been on an Aromatase Inhibitor for six years with worsening bone loss. Taking Fosamax. The new oncologist suggests switching to Tamoxifen. Total treatment time would be 8 years vs. target of 7 if I stay on AI. Has anyone had or considered…
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Anastrozole
Hi. looking for opinions. I was diagnosed with invasive carcinoma of breast the breast. My tumor was 4mm. I was HER negative. Estrogen Receptor 60%, Progesterone Receptor 40%, KI67 proliferation no longer marker 3%. I had a lumpectomy. When they did the surgery the tumor was already gone from the biopsy. Nothing spread to…
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TAMOXIFEN & CYMBALTA
I read that Tamoxifen should not be taken with Cymbalta as the Cymbalta can make the Tamoxifen ineffective as well as increase the side effects. Is this true and if so, can someone recommend a replacement for Cymbalta?
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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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81 year old: should I take Tamoxifen for an additional 5 years
Just finishing 5 years on Tamoxifen. Tried AI's before but had horrible side effects. Saw MO today. She said I could continue the Tamoxifen after the 5 years if I wanted. Would love to be rid of the SE's but I am thinking, what would I be gaining if you know what I mean staying on the drug. Wondered what you all think🙃?
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Tamoxifen vs. Ovarian Suppression & AI
Hello! I am new here, newly diagnosed and trying to navigate all this. I was diagnosed with ILC in June 2024 and opted for a bilateral mastectomy, right breast was healthy. Currently with tissue expanders, waiting for implants in a couple months. Stage 1A, tumor was 1.7cm (grade 2), high ER+/high PR+, HER2-, Ki67 15%.…
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Pre-Menopause Oophorectomy Side Effects Worse With Letrozole?
I had a bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (BSO/ovary removal) on March 4th. I had not begun menopause (based on MO ordered hormone tests). The side effects I've had since that surgery are debilitating. I'm supposed to start taking Letrozole tomorrow. I'm trying to find out (no response from SO or MO) if the symptoms will…
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Side effect difference going from tam to an ai
There’s a chance I will switch from tamoxifen (2 1/2 years now) to an AI. I am premenopausal but contemplating hysterectomy then switching. I haven’t had much trouble with weight gain or hot flashes on tamoxifen, and I wanted to know if that for sure will change if I switch. Also, is it a dramatic change in side effects or…