Tamoxifen? To Take or not, that is the question.

Stage 1, grade 1 - If we have to have IDC, this is the better type to have. Still, would be better if our tumors were a little smaller, but still...

Here's the deal - you will find lots of different opinions on what you should do on this board. There's a whole topic on hormonal treatment. Only you can decide what will work for you. Your diagnosis is very similar to mine, and we are pretty darned unlikely to have a recurrence. So your doctor won't push you, whatever you decide.

I decided to try the drug, and I don't have any side effects (well, I did for a week or so, because I was so scared of all the horrible side effects I'd heard about). I had a serious depression, but it cleared even with the meds, so it doesn't seem to have been drug-related.

Tamoxifen cuts my chance of recurrence down to 1 or 2%. I don't want to do cancer again. You can always try and then quit, if the SEs turn out to be too much.

My onc says that about 95% of oncologist believes in Tamoxifen and give it to all their ER+ patient. Well, he's one of the 5% that believes Tamox doesn't add or remove anything from your chances of a recurrence. He says that he has to offer it but he doesn't find that it will reduce your chances at all. That's his belief, I love my onc because hubby & I aren't pill takers and I wasn't excited at the idea of Tamox for 5 years (chemo & rad is enough for me!). He's totally fine with me not wanting it and agrees. In my case it helps since my ER is barely positive, less than 10% from the biopsy test, and oncotype even says I'm negative so there's no way I'd take it. In the end, you're the one who takes the decision. Knowing how positive you are might help you take that decision. Good luck.

car - what kind of diet changes do you have to make? I'm curious about this, I'm actually meeting with a nutritionist on Thursday to find out more about good food to not have cancer return. I would prefer changing my diet than taking hormones for 5+ years, but that's me.

I was dx'd 11/2006... at age 41... Grade 1 tumor 1.3 cm but with that sentinel node being positive ggrrrrr -- more nodes were removed and found to be cancer-free...yeahhhhhhhhhh



I have been on Tamoxifen since August 2007 ... and have done VERY WELL with that daily pill ...although I will say --- that the first month starting tamoxifen I gained 8 pounds JUST LIKE THAT.......I thought the weight gain came in August when during one week - almost everynite hubby and I went out to eat LOL -- since my kids were on vacation at grandparents home .... but it was the tamoxifen .... I also have an underactive Thyroid ... so I have a double whammy against me regarding the weight gain issues...... I have since lost that 8 pounds .. however it does become hard to continue to loose more weight ..............



Give Tamoxifen a try many women don't hadly have any SE's from it..... its typical to hear from those that do have the se's since they are seeking ideas to combat the bothersome se's.



Hugs and happy holidays

I think that you can always quit taking tamoxifen if you hate it but that you should not wait to take it because you'll only think up more excuses never to try it,

While your risk of breast cancer having spread microscopically is pretty small it isn't zero. If you turn up in a few years with mets wouldn't you feel better if you'd at least given it a whirl? As I said, you can always quit, although I do advise giving it 6-8 months.

springtime--I just finished my 5 years of tamoxifen and my oncologist never even mentioned the test to me, I only heard about it here on this discussion board. Fortunately I had very minor SEs (mainly hot flashes) and tolerated it well. I think many women miss out on it's benefits (reduces risk by up to 50%) because they are afraid to even try it. It's been studied and used for nearly 30 years with good results. My mom is one example-- had ILC--lumpectomy, radiation and tamox--and is now a survivor of 22 years without a recurrence. Just always remember to make your decisions out of knowledge, not fear.

Anne