Unsure What To Do

Neeners815

Hello - I had DCIS and had a lumpectomy.  I got clear margins and I had 30 rad treatments.  Now I'm debating about taking medication.  I started with the tamoxifen, and had some heart palps happen and they are checking that out before I go back on it again.  When my BS went over the numbers with me, the tamoxifen will decrease my chances by about 5-6%.  My mother had uterine cancer, and I know tamoxifen can slightly raise the chance of that.  My doctor also said I would need to get some sort of scope test every 6 months to make sure the uterus was ok.  I'm feeling reluctant about taking the medicine once we figure out what caused the heart stuff, if it's not the medicine that caused it. I just don't know what to do.  Can anyone who has had DCIS and rads and a lumpectomy weigh in re: the decision to take medicine or not?

agrp1

I did opt to take tamoxifen, which I've been taking for 5 weeks so far with no side effects. I was hesitant to do it, and looked at my Rx for quite some time before getting it filled. My MO assured me that my being premenopausal makes the risk of uterine cancer almost zero. That helped me make the decision to try it. I certainly understand your reluctance, given your medical history. I've had heart palpitations too and my blood pressure has been high lately--it's so stressful having to make all these decisions!

Good luck to you!

ej01

I opted not to take it.   For me, having a very small DCIS, and excellent margins (all cancer reomved during initial biopsy...before lumpectomy) lumpectomy seemed like appropriate treatment, rads seemed like it might have been overkill altough i did it, and tamox seemed like something that could really mess with the quality of my life (maybe even without me realizing it) and statisticly only minor benefits.  So i declined tamox and am focusing on all of the other things i can do in my life to promote a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercice, reducing stress, watching the ingredients in makeup/lotions, drinking lots of water and very little alcohol, etc).   Any while may not be any double blnd sceintific studies that is going to show you that these things reduce recurrance of BC, they make me feel better, and I have no doubt they make me healthier.

I am one of those people who does not like taking any sort of medication for anything and rarely does. 

Good luck with your decision

Neeners815

EJ thank you so much for sharing your experience.  I really appreciate it!