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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…
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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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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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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.