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In Treatment for Early Stage Disease (I-III)? Join us on Zoom, Tues & Thurs weekly!
Join our weekly virtual support group for all who are planning or going through active treatment for early stage disease (I-III). If you've just been diagnosed and are planning surgery, chemo, or radiation, join our weekly Zoom Meetups. We have two meetings for you to register for: Register here: Tuesdays at 1:00 PM…
Connect with others by creating your profile! Here's how.
We know this community is so important, so we’ve made it even easier for you to connect with others. With this update, you can: ✅ Share more about yourself so others can get to know you ✅ Find members with similar experiences using profile searches ✅ Get personalized support and resources from our community team How to…
How to use member profile search to find others like you
Using the information you and others share, you can find others based on: 📍Location (ex: lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) 🌍Demographic (ex. is Black or African-American) 🧬Diagnosis (ex: diagnosed in the last year with stage II, ER+, PR+, HER2- breast cancer) 💊Treatment (ex: has been treated with a unilateral…
Were you diagnosed young (under 45) with breast cancer? We'd love to hear from you!
Were you diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 or younger? Or are you caring for someone who was? Navigating this experience can be lonely — it can sometimes feel like no one gets it. What do you wish others knew about having breast cancer at a young age? What do you wish you had known? Your answers may help others. Click…
How has a nurse helped you through breast cancer?
At Breastcancer.org, we often hear how much nurses mean to people going through breast cancer. It’s the nurse who often explains the diagnosis and treatments to you in simple language, helps manage your side effects, offers you reassurance, and connects you with the care you need. Nurses are also a source of emotional…
What topics/experts would you like to see on The Breastcancer.org Podcast?
Hello, I'm Jamie, senior editor at Breastcancer.org and host of The Breastcancer.org Podcast. I'd like to make sure the podcast is answering questions that Community members have. Are there topics you'd like to see covered? Experts you think I should talk to? Do you want to share your story? Questions you want answered?…
Poll: What's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer?
Getting diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary. If you had a chance to share with a newbie one piece of advice to get them through, what would it be? Choose from the options below or add your own in the discussion to give new folks a sense of calm and understanding.
Your Voice Can Shape Clinical Trials | Participate for $100 gift card!
Researchers at Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber, and Harvard Medical School are exploring how AI chatbots can make clinical trial consent easier to understand. They’re inviting adult cancer patients across the U.S. to join a virtual focus group and share their ideas. Participants will receive a $100 gift card. Spots are…

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Active topics

Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
Are you like me? What endocrine therapy did you follow or are you following? Pre- or perimenopausal, stage 1, grade 1, low risk, node-negative, no genetic risk, screen detected ladies, let's hear from you! What were you prescribed and how have you changed it up over your therapy? What has worked for you? I've seen four…
Tamoxifen, acne, and otherwise dry aging skin
Hi all, new to the forums and posting for the first time. I'm Medicare-aged and started my final treatment phase of 3 years of 5mg daily "baby" tamoxifen a few months ago, and I'm now dealing with new persistent pimples which I'm convinced are related. I've been post-menopausal for over a decade now, so my primary skin…
Aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen
I had a double mastectomy in October of 2023, radiation, fortunately no chemo. I began an aromatase inhibitor, Anastrozole, in January of 2024. At about five months in, I began to experience joint pain. It wasn't bad, just a little annoying. As the months passed, it got a bit worse, so my doctor switched me to another AI,…
Options for New Atypical Findings After Treatment
Hi all, long post to give context but the TLDR is — what to do about a large lump with high-risk/atypical findings (but not necessarily malignant) and positive-margins in one breast five years after early stage cancer in the other breast? Five years ago, I had a lumpectomy and radiation for stage 1 ER/PR-negative cancer in…
Radiation & tamoxifen - necessary...?
Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate hearing from others in a similar situation. I’m in my early 40s, no kids, not close to menopause, and recently had a lumpectomy for a 12 mm, grade 1, ER+/PR+ HER2- IDC (plus a small area of DCIS). Margins were clear, and there was no lymph node involvement. My Ki-67 is low (10%), and I’ve…
Side effects of coming off Tamoxifen?
I finished my course of Tamoxifen and few weeks ago (yay!) and just ended my first post-Tamoxifen period. Now I'm having some abnormal discharge, and also there's what looks like a pimple in my healthy breast. I have a doctor appointment to get it checked out, but while I'm waiting has anyone had weird stuff happen while…
Tamoxifen side effects and your experiences
Hello I am Vanessa. I am 47 no menopause. I was diagnosed with LCIS in December (11 mm) + atypical ductal & lobular hyperplasia. Had my surgery in January 2025. No quimio nor radio therapy was needed. Just tamoxifen (20 mg). It has been a roller coaster in several ways. I had to take of mirena, change medication like…
TAMOXIFEN & CYMBALTA
I read that Tamoxifen should not be taken with Cymbalta as the Cymbalta can make the Tamoxifen ineffective as well as increase the side effects. Is this true and if so, can someone recommend a replacement for Cymbalta?
Bottle o Tamoxifen
Dear All, (and Layne are you there?) Got my Tamox today and will start in a week. Where are my tamoxi pals? It says weight loss for one of the side effects. Now that's a good thing. Basha Edited by Mods to add content from the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Tamoxifen in Pill Form (Brand Name: Nolvadex): Benefits,…
Winter 2025 Breast Cancer Research Round Up
Winter 2025 Breast Cancer Research Round Up Have you been diagnosed with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer or DCIS? Dr. Kevin Fox discusses the latest research. Apr 18, 2025 Can people diagnosed with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and take a CDK4/6 inhibitor instead?…
Gastrointestinal symptoms after finishing 10 years of Tamoxifen
After 10 years of Tamoxifen it was time to stop taking it. Just a couple of weeks after I stopped I got gastrointestinal issues. I am wondering if it is because I stopped the Tamoxifen. I have bloating, constipation/diarrohea, feeling a need to do but not doing, going often to the toilet. I had several tests and am waiting…
Tamoxifen Side Effects
How long were you on Tamoxifen before you started to notice any side effects? Also, what was your age when you started Tamoxifen
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…
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 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%.…
Are you dealing with infections or bandaging during palliative care??
Hi everyone. I'm starting this topic because I haven't found a similar one to help answer questions and offer me advice. I know I'm a rare case managing my own palliative care, in Asia, while under the care of a great doctor who's using both eastern and western medical traditions. I'm on hormone therapy (Tamoxifen then…
Thickened womb lining
Hi all. I don't even know where to start, can't quite believe iv found myself on this path again. I was diagnosed with BC back in Nov 2021 had chemo and mastectomy etc and was put on zoladex injections for 19months, finished them a year ago and have been on tamoxifen ever since. Iv not had periods since starting chemo as…
What should be my next step?
My biopsy confirms that I have Invasive Mammary Carcinoma in my right breast, which is hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, and a high Ki-67 proliferation rate of over 80%. Can someone tell me more about that Ki-67 number? Is it normal? Also the doctor initially said it was only one centimeter but the report…
Need help thinking through AI with ovarian suppression
My MO would like me to start an AI and ovarian suppression/removal. I am 42. Onc score was 31 for IDC with lobular component. No nodes. I understand that I do have a risk of recurrence but I also value an active lifestyle. I had no question mentally regarding the mastectomy and chemo. I do not feel peaceful about the…
Osteoporosis and Tamoxifen
I am wondering if there is anyone out there who has been taking Tamoxifen and has been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I am 48 and just had a DEXA scan, and it confirms Osteoporosis. :( My oncologist said that typically it shouldn't cause issues in pre-menopausal women, but there are some paradoxical instances where it does!…

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