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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 MoreAromasin: Benefits, Side Effects…
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Has anyone quit or reduced dosage of the hormonal therapy?
I am considering to quit, after taking Tamoxifen for a year, Letrozole for three months, then Exemestane for a month. Side effects, especially joint pains and fatigue, get worse and worse and have come to the point to make me think if I should quit. Or, would there be any option of reducing dosage, like taking every other…
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How long to take a break from HT?
Hi all, I'm finally experiencing, I think, some dramatic side effects from taking exemestane for 11 years. I want to take a break to see if the side effects are related to this long-term use of AI. Joint pain in hips, cracking in neck and back, urgency and incontinence, and now some belly fat. I wondered if 2 weeks would…
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FEMARA
I STARTED TAKING FEMARA ABOUT 2 WKS AGO. WHEN DOES THE SIDE EFFECTS START TO KICK IN Edited by Mods to add content from the main Breastcancer.org site on Femara: Benefits, Side Effects and More
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Tamoxifen side effects; when do they start?
I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 8 weeks now and have yet to really have any side affects. My oncologist told me it takes about 4 weeks for them to start showing up. I've had some cramping but I had my IUD out the day before I started taking it. So that could be the culprit of the cramps. No hot flashes, maybe some…
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Looking for anyone stopping Tamoxifen after 5-10 years?
I am finally finished with Tamoxifen after 9 years. I wanted to reach out to others to see how they are doing weaning off the drug. The hot flashes, which was my main side effect seemed to have slowed down so I don''t have them as often. Wondering how anyone else was doing. It's been a long haul. Anyone who is still on…
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Anyone ER+ 1-10% weakly positive, PR- , HER2+?
Hello, Anyone is ER+ 1-10% weakly positive, PR-, HER2+ ? Do you take anti-hormone pills for ER+ 1-10% weakly positive ? thank you Applejj
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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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Research News: 10 Years of Arimidex Reduces Recurrence Risk, But Doesn’t Improve Overall Survival
10 Years of Arimidex Reduces Recurrence Risk, But Doesn’t Improve Overall Survival May 5, 2023 Taking Arimidex for 10 years after breast cancer surgery reduced recurrence risk, but didn’t improve overall survival. Read more…
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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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Scalp pain from Arimidex?
Are there any others who have scalp pain after starting Arimidex? I've been on this stuff since late Feb (8 months) and have scalp pain on the top of my head since then. It is NOT constant, but there most times. Just feels like before my hair fell out and hurts. Like someone is pulling my hair backwards, or against the…
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Any POSITIVE stories about AIs or Tamoxifen?
I am seeing a lot of posts seem to indicate that AIs are frequently stopped due to side effects that are not bearable. I am on Tamoxifen and expect my onco to recommend me changing to an AI. I have gained at least 10 lbs since starting T just shy of 2 years ago. I do have joint pain (specific to the hip area) but am sure…
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37 year old, need advice on stopping hormone therapy early (estrogen blockers).
Hi everyone! I am looking for some advice or anyone who is willing to share their personal experiences (or studies you have found )with what I’m considering. 💗 I was diagnosed at age 36 with ER+, PR low +, HER2-, Ductal Invasive Carcinoma, and DCIS in my right breast last June of 2022. My tumour was a grade 2, and was 2cm,…
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Letrozole?
I've completed chemo and radiation but when I met my MO & RO in September they both said that hormone therapy wasn't an option as my hormones were Estrogen 3% positive and Progesterone and Her2 negative. Now, they are both telling me I should do Letrozole. I've heard many horror stories from it. Has anyone taken it and how…
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Beginning 5th Year on Tamoxifen
Hi All, I'm 2 1/2 months into my 5th year on Tamoxifen and my patience is wearing thin for dealing with the side effects. The worst one is stomach upset/pain. I'm taking a ton of PPI medication and have been since day 1, but apparently it's not enough on some days. I've only skipped one pill in March and one in May as I…
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Hot Flash Forum!
The Hot Flash Forum is for anyone suffering from the dreaded hot flash. BC.org has great info here on hot flashes, but I wanted to start a thread devoted exclusively to this icky, sticky SE of hormone treatment. Would love to hear how you deal with your hot flashes. Maybe between us we can alleviate some heat! My…
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"Roll Call" for those who've stopped Hormonal Therapy early
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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Tamoxifen after ALH diagnosis
Just joined the group. Recently diagnosed with ALH (Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia). Met with an oncologist and discussed about going on 5mg Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am 52 and perimenopausal…had some heavy bleeding issues in the last few years and did a endometrial biopsy which came back negative. I have to decide whether to…
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Who has finished HT and do side effects go away?
I am new to this group. I had Stage II breast cancer in 2019. No chemo, just started out on Anastrozole but had terrible insomnia, joint pain and arthritis so I went on Letrozole after 2 years. I was walking 6-9 miles a day for a month just as I started Letrozole, my weight went up and my cholesterol went sky high.…
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anastrozole
Hi, After 1.5 years on tamoxifen, I became menopausal and the tamoxifen was changed to anastrozole. After 3 days of treatment, I am experiencing intense mood swings. My doctor suggested I can go back to tamoxifen. Is any other patient experiencing similar side effects with anastrozole? Do they go away after a few weeks?…
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Life after finishing Tamoxifen
I was diagnosed with stage 1a breast cancer in 2018. Having lost my sister to the same disease at a young age, I chose to have a double mastectomy and went on a 5 year Tamoxifen regimen. I just came off tamoxifen in October after taking it for 4 1/2 years. Last gyno appointment showed endometrial thickening (benign,…
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11 years on exemestane and urgency/incontinence
Hi everyone. Well, like other women in their early 60s, I'm beginning to have some incontinence and urgency that I can't control. I've cut out caffeine completely (heartbroken) which seems to help; I am extremely active (yoga/pilates/barre/hiking) do kegels and have for years, but lately I've begun to suffer from urgency…
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Thyroid panel and A1C and confused a little
Had my physical a few weeks ago and since my oncologist checks so much of my stuff my doctor only pulled a Lipid and thyroid panel along with an A1c. They seemed okay for the most part but I am wondering if some of it may signal some upcoming trouble? I've been on AI's and an ovarian suppressor for five months now. Anyway…
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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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Cycling through side effects, worse when I miss a dose
Just marked my 4-year anniversary of starting Tamoxifen and hoping to be done in a year. Side effects have been generally tolerable, although I'm starting to feel like I've cycled through all of them. At various times I've had muscle and/or joint pain, gyno issues, fatigue, mood issues, and a general unwell feeling. But…
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Extreme fatigue and tamoxifen
I started tamoxifen last May after IDC/ILC/DCIS surgery and a month of radiation. I was 47. The first three weeks were brutal, but then things settled down. Aside from hot flashes, not so bad! Except now, I'm having a bunch of new side effects, including extreme fatigue. I am capable of sleeping 9-10 hours a night and…
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Hormonal therapy doses and outcomes, and post-menopausal status
Has anyone encountered research (or hypotheses or observations from clinicians about this): Given that after menopause, women's bodies produce vastly less estrogen than the bodies of younger fertile women-- is there any data suggesting that dosages for hormonal therapy might be varied according to the amount of estrogen a…
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oral minoxidil for hormonal therapy induced hair loss
Hello all, My hair grew back very thick after chemo (took 2 hours to blowdry!) and stayed that way through ovary removal and 4 years of AIs. I thought I had lucked out. About 1.5 years into Tamoxifen I started losing it again - diffuse loss, over a few months, most noticeable at temples and crown. I had a scalp biopsy done…
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Breast Cancer Index Test
Hello ladies, has anyone taken the Breast Cancer Index test to determine their risk of reoccurrence for the purpose of knowing how long they should be on Letrazole? Medical Oncologist for my cousin suggesting that she take the test but suggests waiting 5 years... My question, why wait 5 years?. Also is this test a…
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Neck Cracking and Grinding?
Hi ladies, I am wondering if anyone has experienced neck cracking and grinding when on hormonal therapy. I have been on Exemestane for more than 5 yeas now and just noticed neck cracking on one side of my neck. No pain and numbness of other parts of my body. Hopefully it's not something serious.
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Bottle o Tamoxifen
Dear All, (and Layne are you there?) Got my Tamox today and will start in a week. Where are my tamoxi pals? It says weight loss for one of the side effects. Now that's a good thing. Basha Edited by Mods to add content from the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Tamoxifen in Pill Form (Brand Name: Nolvadex): Benefits,…