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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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"Tamoxifen Road" - Support and Encouragement
For those that are taking Tamoxifen, considering taking Tamoxifen and need support, and for those that have completed Tamoxifen Therapy. There is alot of good and helpful information on many threads. Thought it would be nice to have information and experiences logged together on Breastcancer.org in a main Tamoxifen thread.…
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Need for an oncologist
I need advise and dont know where to go. I had DCIS Hormone Receptor Positive over 2 years ago, stage 0. After radiation, a little more than 2 years ago I started on the endocrine therapy, but not only can I not tolerate it but the three different medications "woke up" multiple muscular and nerve issues (spine and legs)…
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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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Did anybody get tinnitus from taking Tamoxifen?
I have been on Tamoxifen for 1 month and start to get tinnitus which occurs all the time (not occasionally), when it's night it's worse 'cause it's much more quiet; and at day time when it's not very noisy I can feel it as well. Tinnitus is not mentioned on the material about SEs from Tamoxifen I got from the clinic....but…
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vaginal dryness
My DCIS is estrogen receptor + and i am wondering if the aloe vera gel in the good clean love i am using for my vagina dryness will increase the level of estrogen in the body as i read the aloe vera will mildly increase estrogen level in the body. Any advice. Thanks.
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Women on Ovarian Suppression + Hormonal Therapy Unite!
Hi all! I'm starting this thread for those of us premenopausal women who are receiving ovarian suppression treatment (Lupron, Zoladex, oopherectomy, etc.) plus hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, exemestane, or another AI). For me, there's a lot of fear and worry over how this will impact my overall well-being... how it will age…
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Moved: Tamoxifen and breast tenderness
This discussion has been moved.
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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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Arimidex brand vs generic
I want to share my experience to hopefully help others decide. I tried the generic anastrozole and stopped after day one. Side effects were unbearable. I informed my oncologist that I decided not to do the hormonal treatment because of side effects and asked if she would monitor me instead. Thankfully she agreed to. But I…
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ADHD and Tamoxifen
I've seen a lot of women report that their ADHD meds don't work as well at certain times in their menstrual cycles. Wondering if anyone has noticed if their tamoxifen affected the effectiveness of their medication for ADHD? I got my ADHD diagnosis at 40, and haven't had a "normal" life or schedule since then so it's hard…
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Tamoxifen is making me feel awful AND I'm at the angry stage
It took me a while to get here, I was diagnosed on 2/11 - and BMX on 3/13. Low Onco Type, so taking Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am 30 days into Tamoxifen, and it's making me feel awful. Tired, moody, LOTS of nausea and brain fog. The Tomaxifen is harder than the mastectomy recovery. In the mornings I sometimes feel like I…
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Arimidex
Hi ladys i dont see many women on arimidex,I have a question for anyone out there on arimidex.I have been on arimidex for almost a year.19 months out from treatment still NED.I have joint pains and cant sleep tried every sleep aid nothing works.I switched my arimidex from taking it at night to taking it in the morning,now…
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Navigating medications used for hormone positive breast cancer
I am struggling with taking these medications. Femara was the first one I tried and it was a no go. I was excessively tired all the time. After 3 months I switched to aromasin, which was a little better. But after over a year in this, I have bothersome side effects like tiredness, weakness, joint and back pain,…
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Stopped Letrozole for One Month
I am curious if anyone has taken a break from hormone inhibitors for a month. I had surgery in January 2023 for invasive lobular cancer of the left breast and had a mastectomy. My oncotype was 13% and I had radiation therapy for 5 weeks. One lymph node was positive. I have been on and off hormone inhibitors since last…
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Has anyone here declined aromatase inhibitors?
I am 70 and recently had a lumpectomy for stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma, 7mm. No lymph nodes involved. My oncologist prescribed anastrozole but I refuse to take it. I've done my homework and it's a quality of life issue for me. I already have mild arthritis, osteoporosis and thinning hair. I don't need more of that and…
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Tamoxifen and Ovary Pain
Hi all, I am 52 next month, premenopausal, and on Tamoxifen. I have been on it for about 2 months. For the last 2 weeks, I've had off-and-on ovarian pain. Last week, it coincided with my cycle. Yesterday it started up again. It's. Sharp pain in left ovary. I used to get cysts a lot. I think this is also a cyst and may be…
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Tamoxifen: start or no?
Hi After meeting with my MO yesterday and we agree to stop Lupron as the emotional side effects are just not doing well with me. I am premenopausal, age 47, and Oncology score is 22. My risk of distance occurrence in 9 years was 13%, with tamoxifen it would reduce to 8% and if using ovarian suppression or chemo, it would…
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Anyone take Tamoxifen after Uterine Cancer
just wondering if anyone out there has taken Tamoxifen after a hysterectomy for uterine cancer.
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HRT after Breast Cancer? Maybe!
I just wanted to share this information I've found. The first is a book cowritten by an oncologist, Dr Bluming, called Estrogen Matters. The second is an article he just had published in Cancer Journal entitled 'HRT after Breast Cancer - It Is Time.' I would be happy to send a copy of the article to anyone as he was kind…
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What causes AI or SERM failure?
Are the causes of hormone therapy failure due to mutations in the tumor dna or bypass mechanisms? Like if you’ve been on some therapy for a while but then develop a new primary, how is this possible when those receptors are suppressed (assuming the patient is compliant with dosing). Also, has anyone had the Breast Cancer…
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Could There Be Some Real Hope on the Horizon for ER/PR+?
I just came across this article and thought I'd share. Wasn't quite sure just where to post, but since hormone therapy is an ER/PR+ thing, I thought I would put it here. This new study looks amazing - maybe too good to be true? They've got some ways to go yet of course; as it hasn't even been tested yet in humans, but I…
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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…
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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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Stay on Tamoxifen after Hysterectomy?
My docs cannot give me a straight answer on this. Doctor said as long as I'm tolerating it I could stay on it. Then again, she said otherwise they could switch me to anastrozole. My thoughts are that if I don't have the main body parts that produce estrogen/progesterone then why keep taking anything? (I had a bilateral…
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Finishing Anastrozole (7yrs) and considering breast reduction on non-Lumpectomy side
Hi everyone. I am finally going to be finished with Anastrozole (with my Oncologist's agreement after Breast Cancer Index test) this October. Here's my 1st question to the women who stopped taking the med after 5, 7, or 10 years: Did you feel or see any difference, in what way and how long did it take to be noticeable? Did…
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1/2 letrozole
i am 60 yo (post menupause). i had R mastectomy 4 weeks ago due to dcis, stage 0, grade 2, ER+. i will try letrozole soon for my L breast which is fine. i am thinking i will try 1/2 pill first and see how it goes as i already have vaginal dryness. i used vaginal estrace before but i stopped using it and just use vaginal…
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Do pet scans detect chest wall recurrence
I know pet scans aren’t super accurate for cancer recurrence in breast tissue. But are they as good or better than an oncologist manually examining a breast after mastectomy?
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Tamoxifen 5mg side effects
Hi I am wondering if anyone else on here his post menopausal and on tamoxifen. I started last week and have had debilitating headaches every afternoon and brain fog. My doctor said it should taper off in 6 weeks seriously. I am taking at dinner wondering if it would be better to switch it to mornings interested to hear…