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Tamoxifen after 5 years?
Hi :) I am 54 years old and was on Arimidex for 1.5 years (side effects were too much for me) and Tamoxifen for 3.5 years. I was not menopausal when I started, but I am now. I assumed after five years that I would be done, but my oncologist has now said I should stay on for at least two more years. I'm seriously…
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Brain Fog and Cognitive Effects
I didn't see a recent thread for this so I thought I would create one. When I first started hormone therapy I was placed on Tamoxifen. I started it just a few months after chemotherapy, and between the two I experienced pretty thick brain fog in some respects. I'm on Lupron and Anastrozole now and my mind is significantly…
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No sleep for three days on brand name Arimidex
Hello, back again for your sage advice and shared experiences. I started brand name Arimidex a week ago. If I took in the AM, I'd feel catatonic all day, completely dissasociated from my brain and exhausted. So I started taking at night but was utterly wired all night long. No sleep. Not even with prescription sleep meds.…
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Tamoxifen and Thickened Uterine Lining
Hey all! I've been on Tamoxifen for over 2 years now as a preventive for DCIS. Recently I started having spotting between my periods. During my annual checkup, my ob/gyn ordered a pelvic ultrasound, which came back with thickened uterine lining of 16mm. I just did a biopsy to determine if I have uterine cancer or atypical…
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Completed 10 years anti-hormonal: now doc rx evista????
Dear all, I just finished a decade of tamoxifen/arimidex and finally exemestane. My current oncologist, at our last meeting, now suggested I take Evista, since I'm still considered high risk for breast cancer. I thought I'd be celebrating completing 10 years of AIs, and now I'm looking at taking them BEYOND ten years. 1)…
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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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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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Tumor marker vs Signatera ?
Metastatic BC. In hormonal treatment with Verzinio for 6 months. Signatera test came back negative and 0 yesterday and at the same time, CA2729 came back at 300. What could cause the specific test to show 0 Circulatiing tumor cells and the non specific test to show a fair amount of CTC?
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Arimidex and permanent damage
HI, all. Looking for some guidance as I am struggling with the decision to take it or not. I am 58 post-menopausal I do not have the BRCA gene mutations. My risk of recurrence with AI is 4% and 8% without. All in all, I've got it pretty good. My lumpectomy was easy. Radiation not too bad. I don't have to do chemo. I feel…
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Older Woman HRT
I am looking to connect with similar patients. I was on HRT for 30 years. Oh God bless Estrogen. Stopped when diagnosed. I suffered, Three weeks radiation and on Tamoxifen for 2 months. Ive been miserable more and more depressed and sick feeling. just quit. I'll be searching this forum for older posts. One of my questions:…
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10 years out and looking at bioidentical hormones
Hi All. I'm 10 years out. IDC, ER/PR +, no lymph nodes, double mastectomy, chemo, 5 years Tamox, full hysterectomy. My life has declined due to lack of motivation, energy, zero libido, weight issues, etc...I am not depressed (have had that and on med for that). Friends told me about bioidentical hormones changing your life…
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Letrozole
Can Letrozole cause colitis in the sigmoid colon.
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After stopping tamoxifen, how long before night sweats stop?
My last dose of tamoxifen 5 mg was May 26, 2023. I am getting better sleep most nights, but still waking up with night sweats several times each night. How long does it take before it’s finally out of your system?
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Tamoxifen and bleeding
I am 44 years old and premenopausal. I have been taking Tamoxifen for 8 months. I stopped getting my period in December right after starting the Tamoxifen and have not had a period for 8 months, not even spotting. This week I was at work and started what I thought was my period but after a couple hours turned into…
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Kisqali Plus Hormonal Therapy After Surgery for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Reduces Recurrence Risk
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Ovarian Cysts and Tamoxifen?
Curious to know how many other ladies (especially pre-menopausal) have had problems with ovarian cysts ONLY after starting Tamoxifen? I ask because I spent Thursday and part of Friday in the hospital having emergency surgery to remove my left ovary due to cysts causing ovarian torsion. There were two cysts and the ovary…
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Unusual side effects of Aromatase Inhibitors
Trying to find resources or breast cancer sisters and brothers' experiences who are using AI and have unusual side effects that are not on the medication list. In my case, my skin color has changed from pale white to orange/yellowish. My blood tests are normal including all liver tests. Anyone else has a similar side…
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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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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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No hormone therapy needed?
I recently had a double mastectomy and am in the process of reconstruction. All sentinel node‘s (8) we’re negative, and I had lobular invasive and LCIS. The Largest cancer was 3mm. PR +, ER + HER2 negative. Stage 1B My breast surgeon said there is no need for radiation or chemo therapy due to the size of the largest cancer…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…