Whether to take the drugs that take away the estrogen
I found out in August of 2024 I had ductal carcinoma in situ, 1.1 cm. There was no evidence of invasive carcinoma. No cancer found in the lymph node on the left side. I had a lumpectomy and did not require radiation or chemo. My cancer is positive estrogen receptor status. I have a decision to make regarding taking tamoxifen or another drug to help get rid to the estrogen in my body. There are so many side effects that I don't really want to take any of them. I am 73 and my Mom was 73 when she had this. She had a lumpectomy like I did and took the drugs for a while. She ended up getting pancreatic cancer 7 years later and died. She kept saying the drugs were making a man out of her. There is no genetic cause of cancer in our family. I had all the tests for all the cancers. I have a big decision to make. They can cause blood clots and I already take eliquis to stop clots from forming from my AFib. I don't want to go through all the hot flashes and other problems I did when I went through menopause. I want to know if they really help keep cancer from coming back. It did not help my Mom. I would like other people's opinion.
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Hi @ginacron, Have you asked your oncologist about your risk of developing invasive breast cancer with and without hormone blockers? The percentage difference (small or large) can help you decide whether it's worth it.
Anti estrogen treatment in women is effective primarily for breast and endometrial cancer, not for cancer in general. You also have to consider your other medical issues. Tamoxifen increases the risk of blood clots so it probably wouldn't be recommended in your situation. Aromatase inhibitors cause side effects in some people but not for others. You can always try them and stop if the SEs are too much. There are three AIs and often people tolerate one better than the others. Also, while estrogen therapy statistically reduces the occurence of invasive cancer it does not guarantee it won't happen. Quality of life is important, too.
The decision is very personal. Choose the path you would regret least if the worst were to happen. All the best.
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Maggie makes some great points. Clearly your experience with your mother gives you a perspective that is very personal. Anti-estrogen drugs do not guarantee that bc will not recur. That has never been the promise and, those drugs do not stop/prevent other cancers. It’s not that those drugs didn’t help your mom, it’s simply that there is nothing that stops bc 100% . So yes, they can really help with recurrence but there is nothing that can eliminate all potential recurrences nor promise of 100% cure. That simply doesn’t exist in the world of bc.
All medical decisions are completely yours. Given an existing medical condition, this would be a great conversation to have with your mo. Take care1 -
Hi @ginacron and welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're so very sorry for the reasons that bring you here, but we're so glad you've found us. As you can already see, our community is full of amazing members always willing to offer advice, information, encouragement, and support — we're all here for you!
@maggie15 and @exbrnxgrl make great points — while the decision is ulitmately yours to make, you should be fully informed about the purpose of taking hormonal therapy, how it works to prevent recurrence, ways to prevent or manage side effects, and what it might mean if you decide not to take it. Reading up on all of these things will empower you to have an educated conversation with your doctor about the pros and cons and help you make your decision.
We hope this helps and please let us know how else we can help!
—The Mods
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Why are anti hormonal therapy not used for women with higher risk of developing hormonal positive breast cancer to reduce the risk of developing cancer? Why are women not tested for high level of estrogen and progesterone or hormonal imbalance? In my case, I'm 64 and just been diagnosed with stage 1 (2 mm), grade 1 estrogen receptor positive bc. I've been going to routine check ups since 1999 every year. I complained of symptoms such as breast itching, pain, discharge, etc. Mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI did not detect anything till I did biopsy last month (March) with this diagnosis. I'm really devastated and confused. Why was it that I was not tested for hormonal levels in my breast or body before this time?
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@breastmatter - We’re really sorry you're going through all of this, and wanted to send you a warm welcome to the BCO Community. We're so glad you found us and decided to share your story here.
Until others jump in to share their own experiences, here are a couple of articles from our main site that touch on some of the questions you raised:
Most High-Risk Women Don't Start or Don't Finish Preventive Hormonal Therapy
Hope this helps, and we’re looking forward to hearing more from you.
Sincerely,
The Mods
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