Hormone receptors

swmmom

I was diagnosed with highly ER,PR+Her2- stage 2 cancer in 2007. My treatment included lumpectomy, radiation, 4 ACT plus 5 years of Arimidex. 4 months short of completing arimidex therapy, I  was diagnosed with secondary cancer on the same breast on 08/2103. My mammogram was negative, but I didn't feel comfortable since the radiated breast tissue is dense and pushed for MRI, which thankfully caught the cancer.Imagine if I didn't ask for MRI!!

My second cancer was less than 1cm, but this time it was triple negative so I had to go through chemo again(6 doses of CT) and had double mastectomy. Hormone receptors were done on the tissue that was taken out during biopsy and showed me as TN.  Since the tumor was in the same spot as my original ER+ positive tumor, I asked my oncologist if it'd be possible to retest the hormone receptors on the mastectomy tissue. He agreed. Well, he called me yesterday saying, I was smart to ask for second testing because now the test shows I am 10-30% positive(quick test results:3/8) for ER and wants me to start Tamoxifen. I am still on Arimidex for my first ER+ cancer and now he wants me to stop taking Arimidex and start Tamoxifen therapy.

I'm confused as heck. Does this mean I am no longer TN even though I am lightly ER+? I can see him trying a diffrent drug since Arimidex apperantly didn't work, but why Tamoxifen?I was under the impression that Aromatese Inhibitors were better than Tamoxifen. Am I wrong? Anyone here with different hormone  receptor status for their second cancer? 

Thank you in advance for your inputs!

bluepearl

Tamoxifen works in a different manner than the A.I.s...that might be your doctor's strategy. Sounds like your 2nd cancer was a new primary, but with even a small amount of hormone positivity means that anti-hormonals are still your best bet. The mastectomy was also a good idea. Hopefully, now, recurrence will be about 1%. Also, since you just came off an A.I., which they tend not to want you on longer than 5 years, they will let women stay on tamoxifen for up to 10 years and it has no bone issues that you would get with an A.I. being on that long. Other issues, but rare. Stay well!!!!!