scared tamoxifen has caused uterine cancer

Anonymous

scared tamoxifen has caused uterine cancer

Carla-Faith

Is there anyone out there who still has uterine fibroids in menopause? Do you think tamoxifen fuels their growth? Did yours disappear in menopause? I am very scared. I wish I could stop thinking about cancer. Thank you to anyone offering some reassurance and encouragement. It means so much.

ksusan

Hi, Carla-Faith. I'm going to quote what I posted in your other thread. I don't know what else to say except that fibroids aren't a form of cancer.

Tamoxifen doesn't cause uterine sarcoma as far as I know. It has a low chance of causing endometrial cancer. The population rate of endometrial cancer is 1%. The rate for people taking Tamoxifen is either the same or 2%, depending on the study. Always worth checking medical questions, but what you describe sounds like fibroids and perhaps a fear that your endometrium MIGHT be sensitive to Tamoxifen.

Meow13

Make sure your mo is on top of it, taking tamoxifen has a risk even though it is low you need to be monitored.

gb2115

You should be seeing your GYN yearly to monitor for this. Mine said she has only seen it happen 1 time in all her years of practice. I was told I get a yearly ultrasound to measure endometrial thickness. Had the baseline one done in Nov and it was easy peasy.

Jelson

https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publica...

As ksusan says, fibroids are benign. They do not necessarily shrink after menopause because estrogen is still being produced by our bodies. Tamoxifen can cause both uterine cancer and uterine sarcoma but RARELY. Having had endometrial cancer while on tamoxifen, I strongly support gb2115's advice - which is supported by this ACOG paper, have a relationship with a gyno and see him/her yearly. gb2115 had a baseline ultrasound to measure the thickness of her endometrium and is having that monitored, which is actually beyond the followup recommended by ACOG. I too had ultrasounds done during the first years I was taking tamoxifen, had several d&cs due to thickened endometrial lining but that is not how my endometrial cancer was discovered. Mine was discovered because I went to the gyno due to a slight brown discharge that became, over a few months pink. So, most importantly, from my experience, if you have a symptom such as discharge or bleeding go to your gynocologist. Mine was discovered very early and successfully treated via a hysterectomy.

Carla-Faith

Well, I had an appointment today to schedule a hysterectomy. My doctor is concerned that the fibroids grew in menopause and said there is a chance they are an uterine sarcoma because I shouldn't be producing estrogen any more . She wasn't very worried about endometrial cancer since I have had no bleeding. She said if it were a sarcoma from tamoxifen, it usually is extremely aggressive. I am so scared. I never thought about this type of cancer with tamoxifen. Someone please tell me they had a fibroid grow while in menopause and on tamoxifen. I need some hope and I feel so hopeless and alone.

bcincolorado

I would recommend a GYN appointment ASAP.