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half dose of Femara
Has anyone heard of successful treatment using only 1.25 mg of femara daily? Has anyone gone from 2.5 mg to 1.25 mg for management of SE's, did it work? I would love to hear some success stories:)
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Starting tamoxifen soon
Hi folks, Had my bilateral mastectomy on Feb 10th. Doing well and awaiting word on whether I will need chemo or radiation, but both are unlikely. Will definitely be starting Tamoxifen soon. Wondering what to expect. Slimbero
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Tamoxifen > Chills and fever (but only briefly)?
I have now been taking Tamoxifen for 3 weeks. No major side effects yet, but I keep getting very chilled. Searching the forum I've seen others mention this as well. What I haven't seen mentioned is that if I take my temperature while feeling chilled, it is usually up between 99.5 - 100.00. I keep thinking I'm getting sick,…
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Recurrence risk discussion with my oncologist made no sense
Hi all. I saw my oncologist today, and we were talking about my recurrence risk. I recently started taking tamoxifen, and it's not clear yet whether I can tolerate it. According to my Oncotype test, I have about a 5% risk of distant recurrence during the 10 years after my diagnosis. If I can't tolerate the tamoxifen, she…
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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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Ovarian suppression + AI beyond five years
When I was received my diagnosis five years ago, my MO wanted me to do 10 years of hormonal therapy. Women in my family experience menopause really late (around age 57) and continue to have children well into their 40s without reproductive assistance. So although I was 43, I felt my reproductive age was a lot lower, and…
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When did your Tamoxifen side effects start?
i have only been taking it for two months, so far nothing. does it take a while to kick in? thanks!
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Arimidex and dequervains tendonitis
I just got back from the orthopedic surgeon. I was given a cortisone shot for something called dequervain's tendonitis. It started out with a kind of bump on my right wrist that was painful. Then my thumb started to hurt. I went to the rhuematolgist because I also have the rhuematoid factor in my blood (RA is simmering in…
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Letrozole overdose?
I already called poison control about this and am for the most part reassured, but wondered if anyone else had ever taken too much letrozole? I took my pill last night as usual, then accidentally took another one this morning instead of my morning vitamins. Just wasn't thinking. Poison control says I should be OK because…
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Tamoxifen at night or in the morning?
I'm wondering what people do, in general, and the rationale behind the decision. I started off splitting the pill and taking half in the morning and half at night. I did it like that for maybe 5 weeks. But I was having problems with increasing insomnia for about 2 weeks that I couldn't trace to any cause. I take Rozerem…
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Has anyone felt BETTER on tamoxifen?
I know it sounds crazy! I'm meeting with my MO tomorrow and will probably get my rx. I'm definitely going to take it. I'm wondering if any women who were estrogen-dominant saw improvements in their related symptoms. I don't know if I'm officially e-dominant, but I get migraines around my cycle. Within the last year (I'm…
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educate me on ovarian cysts
So that I know what level of freak-out to employ, I need to understand a few things and I know this group can help me. I've read a few posts here on Tamoxifen and ovarian cysts, but I have some other specific questions for those of you who have experienced ovarian cysts (or other ovarian issues) with or without Tamoxifen.…
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Deciding not to take Tamoxifen
I'm trying hard to sort out the risks of taking Tamoxifen vs not taking it. I'm finished with the lumpectomey/radiation etc and will be on Herceptin until April. The Tamoxefin data is confusing and is often not sorted well enough for specific cases/degrees of cancer. I understand the risks well but not the benefit of…
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Letrozole Dreams???
I have been taking letrozole (femara) for about 5 months now, and have started have the most amazing insane dreams. Some of them are really great, and some are excruciatingly bad, but all are astoundingly vivid and carry into my day after I wake. (Last night I had a panic attack while asleep, the dream was that intense!) I…
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Hair thinning on tamoxifen - experiences, suggestions?
I'm experiencing a lot of hair loss on tamoxifen. No noticeable bald spots or anything. But an alarming amount of hair falls out every day and my previously thick hair is noticeably thinner (at least to me). Any suggestions? One thing I'm planning on trying is Viviscal. Anyone have any luck with it?
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Taking Arimidex without Prolia or Other Bone Medication
Now post-surgery and radiation, I'm starting hormone treatment in a few weeks. I had a fairly early menopause, am thin and fair and avoid the sun due to previous skin cancers, and was diagnosed with osteoporosis 3 years ago. At that time, I didn't follow the bone doctor's advice to start immediately on a bone-building…
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Exemestane (Aromasin) and Tendon Problems
I have been on Exemestane for about 15 months. About 6 months ago, I got "trigger thumb". A month later, I began having severe pain in my wrist, and saw a hand doctor. He diagnosed me with "De Quervain" syndrome, also called Tenosynovitis. Steroid shots didn't help, so I had tendon release surgery in September. The doctor…
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Has anyone ever LOST weight while taking Arimidex?
I've been taking Arimidex for a little over two months and I was wondering if anyone has ever lost weight while taking Arimidex. I admit that my weight wasn't what it should've been when I started Arimidex ( I was on Tamoxifen for 2 years prior to switching to Arimidex after a hysterectomy). I am 44. It feels like I've…
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Femara-to continue or not...
I am trying to end a month long, MO-approved vacation from Femara. I am having a hard time making myself go back on it, and would like to hear from others who have taken a vacation from their AI and either went back on it or quit. My case: I had a papillary carcinoma-stage 1, grade 3. By IHC my tumor was weakly ER+/PR- and…
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Starting/declining hormone therapy Nov, Dec, Jan 2018
Hi, this is for people who had active bc treatment in the fall and winter of 2018/19 to discuss further hormone treatment and to support one another in this journey regardless of treatment choices. This is also for ANYONE who would like to participate in a friendly, supportive manner. This is also the place to get as silly…
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I don't want to take Tamoxifen. Anyone else out there?
Hi Everyone, I am new to this website and the boards. I was just diagnosed on April 7th with Stage 1B breast cancer. I opted for a double mx with NS/SS diep flap reconstruction only 2 weeks later. I'm only days out of surgery and doing well. The tumor ended up being only 1cm and they found more precancerous DCIS in the…
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Swollen Feet - Tamoxifen
I've been on Tamoxifen since the end of April. By the end of the day, my feet are so puffy and swollen that I have indentations on my feet from my shoes. I try not to eat processed foods so don't feel as if that's causing the problem. I don't seem to suffer from any other side effects, but would welcome any ideas to keep…
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Hormonal and Rooibos tea
I have found this wonderful tea. Naturally decaffinated but has so many good things in it that I am afraid it might interfer with my Arimidex. Does anyone know? Anyone else on Arimidex use Rooibos tea on a regular basis? Thank you for any input.
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Any Early 40s Declining Tamoxifen?
Hi all -- I am really struggling with the decision to take Tamoxifen. I have the RX filled and stare at it every day. It's been two weeks since I switched over from Cymbalta to Pristiq, and RADs is finished, so technically I should be taking it. Le Sigh. I just can't yet. I've done my own research and talked to a few…
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Does anyone refuse hormone therapy altogether?
I have just been to my onc and been given the choice between Tamoxifen and Arimidex. My cancer was a 1.2 cm mucinous bc in a duct, with low growth rate. This kind always seems to be positive for hormone receptors and negative for HER2. I had a double mastectomy (with reconstruction), no rad, no chemo, and I was told there…
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Different Brands of Tamoxifen
Hey ladies. So, I have cancer brain and can't remember anything. I KNOW I read about the two different manufacturers of Tamoxifen and how one causes more side effects than the other. But for the life of me, I cannot find it again. Arghhh. I swear I would lose my head if it wasn't screwed on right now. Could someone who…
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Tired on Tamoxifen
I just want to put it out there that I believe Tamoxifen does make one tired. I have been on it for 3 months now and just don't feel "right". I have never eaten so healthy, I get 30 minutes of exercise 5 days each week and I did not have radiation or chemo to blame for this fatigue. Most things I have read explain it away…
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Leg Cramps with Femara?.....
Hi Ladies, I am 2 months into Femara and Eligard (Lupron). The Hot Flashes are back! I am having lower back pain and front pelvic pain both of these are normally when I first wake up. Last night I flipped and flopped all night like a fish! Back hurt all night long. Also the past 4 nights I keep getting leg cramps. I keep…
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Uplifting and Lively Messages. No holds barred..
I believe that positive self talk is very important, in many facets of life. It is especially important, when you have a five year window of taking anti-hormonal medications. I am young, compared to others on this board - early 50's, and will be taking hormonal therapy for as long as possible. In this thread, everything is…
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Opting out
Has anyone thought about not taking the hormone pills or anyone that said no to them? The side effects seem worse than breast cancer! Heck one of the drugs can cause uteran cancer. WTH?!