Post menopausal DCIS women on tamoxifen how are you doing?

PlanB58

I am almost done with radiation and will meet with my MO again soon to discuss meds. She talked about Tamoxifen our last appointment. I am wondering how post menopausal women are doing on it. Thanks for your responses! Really struggling with decision but think I need to try it

BarredOwl

Hi PlanB58:

Replying in part to bump your question.

With post-menopausal DCIS, you may wish to discuss the options of tamoxifen or of an aromatase inhibitor with your medical oncologist.

Although not FDA-approved in the DCIS setting, aromatase inhibitors have been recently added to the NCCN guidelines for treatment of breast cancer (Version 2.2016) as an option for DCIS patients, based on recent results from the NSABP B-35 and IBIS-II trials, along with the comment "with some advantage for aromatase inhibitor therapy in patients <60 years old or with concerns for thromboembolism."

I am a layperson with no medical training, so please confirm all information above with your treatment team, to ensure you receive accurate, current, case-specific expert professional medical advice.

BarredOwl

---

Regarding the additional option of aromatase inhibitors for DCIS:

"Anastrozole versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with ductal carcinoma in situ undergoing lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (NSABP B-35): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial"

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)01168-X/fulltext

"Anastrozole versus tamoxifen for the prevention of locoregional and contralateral breast cancer in postmenopausal women with locally excised ductal carcinoma in situ (IBIS-II DCIS): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial"

http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(15)01129-0.pdf

PlanB58

Thanks for responding BarredOwl. I'm guessing that Tamoxifen is being suggested due to Osteopenia and mild arthritis. It looks pretty similar from reading.

BarredOwl

Makes sense. Nice to have the option though.

BarredOwl

PlanB58

Yes it is