Pre-menopausal Post Surgery Questions

Luv9483

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 1 IDC, had a lumpectomy - no lymph node involvement and had clean margins. 95% Estrogen & 95% Progesterone Receptive. Her2/neu Negative.

Upon meeting with the oncologist affiliated with Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Boston, he told her that she would need 30 days of Rads and 5 years of Tamoxofin. He also wants to inject her once per month to put her through menopause. She received paperwork that explained that this monthly injection is a TRIAL and the drugs used are NOT approved by the FDA. 

She's 54, and thinking that the Tamoxofin will hurry her menopause along and acts as an Estrogen blocker, so she's not keen on participating in the "study" which is what they are calling it. 

 The shot has a lot of side effects and 1/1000 women have died from the procedure. 

Thoughts? Does anyone have any eperience with this?

momand2kids

Luv

if they put her into menopause, then tamoxifen would not be the drug--she would go on an Aromotase Inhibitor -femara or arimidex.  Lupron shots are given to folks who are pre-menopausal and for one reason or another cannot take tamoxifen.  I get a monthly lupron shot and take femara b/c I could not take tamoxifen which is the common drug given for pre-menopausal women, which I was at the time of the surgery.  I also had a lumpectomy, clear nodes, er/pr+

Lupron is not experimental--been around for a long time.  I was also treated at the Farber-- sounds like she might need to get a little more information from the oncologist

Luv9483

The paperwork clearly states that this is a study. Lupron was not mentioned to her.

The shot they would give her is triptorelin ...

 And after that she would be randomly chosen to go on either Tamoxofin or  Exemestane (a new drug).

PT63

There are a lot of oncology places especially in teaching type settings that are encouraging their patients to be in clinical trials.  I was also encouraged to be in a clinical trial and I declined.  Your mother's oncologist can request that a patient participate in a clinical trial but cannot require it.  If the oncologist is pressuring her to participate then I would look into finding a new provider. 

My pathology report is similar to your mothers.  I chose to go on Tamoxifen while I was pre-menopausal.  I am now post menopausal but have continued to stay on Tamox. because the study that my oncologist finds the most promising is a combination of Tamox. for 3 to 5 years then an AI for 3 to 5 years.  Just because you are post menopausal you do not have to switch to an AI immediately although AIs show a slight increase in benefit for post-menopausal women over Tamox.  I am staying on Tamox because I already have a low bone density and Tamox. is less detrimental to your bones than most of the AIs.

Take care and hang in there - there are so many studies and viewpoints it is sometimes difficult to choose.

Anonymous

hi,

I was 100% er/pr++ and I opted for total hysterectomy.. I was 50 yrs old at the time, and menopause was nowhere in sight. I was not a candidate for tamox..so I had the ovaries out, and went on Femara..They did the DaVinci Robotic surgery.. 5 teeny holes, and I was home the next day.. I wouldnt want a trial, some ppl do. Depends on the person and their insurance etc..I just wanted it over. Those shots are not permanent, so your mom has to weigh the options. Best of luck

Luv9483

Hi! I've been MIA for awhile. My mum just finished Rads and has gotten her first Lupron shot. She refused Tamox and her oncologist was extremely rude and disrespectful to her. She is changing doctors and getting a second opinion on short term (5 years) treatment options.