About-to-Start-Hormones Group

Hi Kathy/PugMum,  I too finished my rads in mid-December and have started on Femara on 1/1/09.  So far, the only SE is some minor 'flushing' - not exactly hot flashes, but close.  But they are not debilitating.  My Oncologist mentioned this as a possible SE and some minor joint pain, but he also said that only 1-7 ppl get them and if you do, they should only last about a week or so or until your body has adjusted to the new meds.  Of course, we all know that everyone is unique in this journey and some SE persist and some ppl Never get them.  I did ask him about this pill raising my cholestrol and blood sugar, and said no they don't do that.  I can only take his word for that as he is suppose to be the premier oncologist for most of the West Coast of the United States.  He also ordered a bone density test to make sure that i dont have the problem of 'bad bones' happening. Whew, i dont!!!  I'm 60 yrs old now and have gone thru menopause at 47, so 'starting' ANY SE of that again are kind of upsetting me...I feel ONCE in a lifetime for SEs of menopause should be enough! hahaha But I will give this pill a GO and hopefully be able to tolerate it for the next 5 years with not toooo many effects!

Hope you tolerate it well also and it does its trick for all of us!!!

Good wishes...Cheryl

OK--I switched from Wellbutrin to Lexapro so I could start to take Tamox, and not to get too personal--but orgasms are almost a thing of the past. I mean, it'd probably take me half the day and a staff of 12 (sorry, I'm a little hysterical ). Is it going to be like this for five YEARS? I mean, it's not completely impossible, but...Geez. Anyone else dealing with this? What the heck are you supposed to do? I can't go off antidepressants. I really, really, really miss my Wellbutrin.

Kathy,  I am in the same boat. I  had regular periods before chemo, and they haven't come back in the last 2 months since last tx. I am in radiation now. I noticed also some joint pain, and I wonder if that is because we're now sort of "going into" menopause?

I have to decide to either,

• Take Tamoxifin for a couple of years then switch to AI, OR
• Take shots (Lupron?) to supress periods and take an AI
• Or get ovaries out and take an AI.  

NO GOOD CHOICES!!!!    

Why can't we add a trip to Hawaii to the list? It would be easy to choose then! 

Spring (Beverly)

Hello again!  Well, as you can see below, I restarted the tamoxifen 12/23/08.  And, I've had no unmanageable skin dryness/itching (certainly some present, but I expected that!).  All along, my onc said it wasn't the tamoxifen.  And, It's true, I was also changing wardrobe into winter wools, and using a new face wash.  So, I also rewashed my sweaters at home, hoping to get the dry cleaning chemicals out, in case that was it.  And, switched to Cetaphil lotion and Aveeno Calming face wash. I like 'em both a lot.

Another mystery - my first few weeks, when itching, I had little increase in hot flashes over what I consider menopausally normal.  But NOW, oh boy.  Lots more.  Also, fierce leg cramps in the night. My reading here reminds me to stay hydrated, and that may be working.

On another topic, Thursday I have a 6-month post-surgery mammogram.  I can't think of a way I'm not scared about it! 

Accidental - It's not just the UK.  I can't have a mammo until my usual yearly comes up this spring.  Onco said the insurance wouldn't pay for it any sooner.  And after they denied my Oncotype DX payment, I guess they're the boss.  Jerks.

Susan

HI All.  Kathi -yes, what an incredible day, moment, etc., etc.  It was very hard to not to have tears, goose bumps and a great sense of hope and joy.  My sister, her daughter, son, nephews, husband, brother-in-law, etc. were all there.  I thought his speech was excellent and he did not back done, nor did he "preach."  He spoke the truth and asked for our help.  Wow what a day - the music, poem was great, but I thought the benediction was the best.

Kathi -- it is  good thing we didn't try to talk today.  I have lost my voice and am fighting a bad, throat, cough thing.

I have one more exciting or amazing thing to add - going back to Obama.  One of my very good friends was good friends with Martin Luther King Jr. and I get to work with this amazing man who Martin asked to help him with the civil rights movement.  What a privilege this is.

I hope we can take responsibility and demand/urge, whatever, to get answers to why we are developing cancer.  Why there is so much talk about treatment (which is good), but always with little discussion of the causes of cancer.  At this sociohistorical moment in cancer we are being influenced in a significant way to always think treatment.  There is much more to think about and to research.  I do not want to become a person whose ideology is influenced so strongly by treatment, treatment, treatment and treatment for whose benefit.   I know some people may be angered by my post, but I think we need to get angry for a number of reasons and chanel that anger into action.

Thanks for letting me talk.  E 

Dr. Susan Love has organized an "Army of Women" to try to find the causes of breast cancer.   the army needs to consist of all women, those that have and those that do not have bc so they can try to determine why.   if you are interested in signing up, go to her foundation website and or Avon as they are partnering.    You will get info about specific studies and if you fit the criteria, can help by sending hair samples, etc.   One of the studies so far was a "sister study"  examining families to see why one sister may have it and one does not.   My sisters and I did not fit the criteria, but I joined and get updates continually.   No cost or obligation. 

Pres Obama's mother died of cancer, so I think it is a strong spot with him.   I so hope we get some kind of access to health care in the US.   I also thought this week was very emotional - hope that everyone gives him a chance and really listens to some of his messsages about serving in so many ways throughout the country.     Or just being respectful to each other, wouldn't that be a start?

I'm in the army of women, too. I joke with my sister, the retired colonel, that I will outrank her soon.

So, had my 6-month-post-lumpectomy mammogram this morning.  Now, I'm one of those women who think mammos are very painful.  That said, I will also say that these were only just a little more so, and that mostly while the tech was placing me in the machine.  One surprise: they took 3 views: the traditional top and side squishes, PLUS a focus-on-the-site squish. When she led me into the room where I got bad news last summer, and said the Doc would be in, my heart sank.  BUT!  He just wanted to say it looked ok, and that I don't have to come in until next July, when it's time for my traditional annual mammo.  Now, here's something I've never had a Doc say to me before: "...and there's a little fat around the site, which is what we want to see."  Hah!

So, KAK and others coming up on this milestone, take heart! 

I think i am suffering from Post Traumac Stress...this has been a really Hard week for me...I've only been on Fermera for 3 1/2 weeks, but am experiencing alot of the SE's...like hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue and bone and joint aches and according to my hubby, i'm turning into a cranky old woman!  Oh Lord!  Flash back 10 years ago when i entered menopause and now re-doig it!  Why? 

I've been on this 'fast track' for the last 5 1/2 mos...diag. 8-13-08, 1st lumpectomy 8-30-08, 2nd surgery 9-10-08 for clearer margins..started rads 10-30-08 finished 12-16-08 and started Femera 1-1-09.  I feel sometimes like i've gotten the bums rush and i NEED to take a big deep breath!

Have any of you stopped the drugs after the 1st month and stepped back and re-evaluated your situation?  Sometimes I feel that's what i need to do...I just dont know...Everything is soo darn confusing anymore.

I seen my gyno yesterday and he, so far, has been most helpful with info..he's doing labs on Vit D levels, Thyroid levels, diabetes and cholestrol...maybe there's something else going on and i need to address them also along with the darn BC...Ugh...Help!!!! I'd appreciate any info for you guys...Thanks, Cheryl

Kleenex,

Dry eyes is a common side effect. My dentist, of all people, kept asking me that. Also, he put me on a flouride mouth rinse, about $18 prescription. He also mentioned that oral hygiene is a must for us! Our saliva actually gets more acidic with the meds.

I too, have been wearing my glasses rather than my contacts. This week's the exception, since I had Moh's surgery to remove basal cell cancer from my face. One contact - 1/2 the vision.

Hang in there. Bottom line, this tamoxifen gives us a great chance!

Because we who take tamoxifen can have an increase in acidity of our saliva, not too mention the strain just battling cancer puts on our immune system, we are at a greater risk of dental disease. Poor dental health also puts people at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.

Here's an excerpt from the ADHA-CDC guidelines. Link to the article at the end.  

"Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouthrinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes."

There's controversy in any treatment we undergo. The most important thing we can do for ourselves is educate ourselves with credible information from reliable sources, and trust the doctors we've put our faith in. There's a ton of stuff on the internet, and not all of it coming from sound research.

http://www.adha.org/profissues/cdc_fluoride_guidelines.htm