Saw my MO today, antihormonal update

Anonymous

Saw my MO today, antihormonal update

CAMommy

I saw my MO today and told him how awful I felt on both tamoxifen and Femara. He was awesome. He told me to stop taking them. No need to put myself through that for the tiny amount of risk reduction. I was already to show him my research that my risk of IDC only went from 6.7 to 4.85% with tamoxifen and it wasn't worth the side effects but I didn't need to. He sided with me. . My RO in California had told me that I didn't need tamoxifen but my MO thought I did.

I'm so happy I don't have to feel guilty about shunning that little pill. My MO said if I could have taken it without side effects, or severe side effects, then why not, but since I do have them (plus a probable allergic reaction to tamoxifen) he said don't do it.

Happy day for me. He also said if my next mammo in June comes back clear most likely I'll go back to once yearly mammos and he will release me from his care.

nonetheless

I like your MO attitude. I had already told mine that I doubt I would agree to take the hormone drugs because of side effects and he simply said just let him know if I wanted to. I already know I can't take Tamoxifen due to the risk of blood clots. And the risk reduction of AI's vs the side effects were not justifiable to me.

Annette47

Sounds very reasonable. When I started taking Tamoxifen, it was with the expectation (after a conversation with my oncologist) that if the side effects were too much to handle (I’m not at particular risk for the serious ones, so mostly thinking about the quality of life stuff) I could quit. They haven’t been so I’m still on it.

For me, the value of the Tamoxifen comes more from the prevention of a new primary than from worries about the recurrence of the first one, but still, if it made me miserable, I doubt the risk reduction would be worth it. If I’d had a larger invasive component, then things might be different.