Does anyone say no to Tamoxifen

Thank you I am really interested in this.  I just can not do the Tam thingy.  I

This was a good article.  Have you found anything that was published more recently.  I noticed that one was from 2002. I am sure they have done more research since.

When I asked my ONC about 13c her concern was for my liver enzimes.  Anyone on it having trouble?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081203092435.htm

Merilee, thats exactly why I liked it, I get a little leary of some of the links as they always end up trying to sell me! I have been on DIM for 5 months, no I am not taking tamox. Tamox started out as birth control many moons ago when first discovered, until "they" realized that it stimulated the uterus, therefore not good for preventing pregnancy!  I am not sure honestly why dosage remains the same, I am assuming you mean the dosage for tamox right?

Merilee, that makes total sense, unfortunately its a "one size fits all" thing with tamox, the dosage isn't even adjusted for weight which makes no sense, I have a hard time with the idea that a 20mg dose should be used on someone who is 100lbs and then on someone who is 150lbs and so on, my onc actually agreed with me on that, however its standard protocol, so he couldn't officially advise taking less, but he did ok me to take 5mg if I wanted to.......I didn't do chemo, my oncotype scores were low and being 100% ER and PR+ "they" say that chemo isn't effective for ER positive tumors, or at least that is the new thinking which sucks for everyone who had chemo and didn't need to.

Gertrich-that was interesting about the scar tissue and the tumeric. I too take tumeric and I have read everywhere about it's value. Thanks for the input.

Does it bother anyone else but me about how much they seem to scare us into using tamox or arimidex? I still cannot get over the fact that they are so adament that this drug will keep us cancer free, when so many other things have proven just as beneficial that have no side effects. I hope that someday, those of us who are choosing not to go the drug route, will band together and prove them all wrong.

Gertrich and Virve

Gertrich - I am a Shaklee girl too!! Loyal for years!! I have heard great things about Tumeric but do not take it. That is something I really need to look in to.

Virve - I am with you on them scaring us. In fact, I fear that is what I am going to face when I go into the oncologist and tell him I am going off it for good. In my gut I feel that the Tamox is a bad drug and later on down the road we will see the effects of it. I know my body so well and have always been very in tune with it. My body on Tamoxifen was begging me to get off of it.

I am just about finished with my radiation treatments..37 in all.  And, my oncologist wants me to be on Tamoxifen.  I am post-menopausal and am terrified of Tamox.  I have read about so many of the bad side effects, uterine cancer is one.  And, it seems that a lot of women, after taking it for a year, have to have hysterectomies.  It only helps with no chance of recurrence and my survival rate by 6%.  I don't think that is enough to make me take it..do you???

Merrilee-The I3C breaks down if it gets old. I keep mine in the fridge. Some people prefer DIM. I have read research both ways. My doctor still recommends I3C so I am sticking with it. I also take tumeric and grape seed. Google them and you will learn a lot.

Jeanne-we are all told to take tamox or arimidex. That is standard protocol, no matter what stage we are. I think it gives them an excuse to "monitor" us, more tests, more $$$. I still go to a doctor, just not an expensive onc. This is a decision only you can make. It took me a long time before I made total peace with the fact that I said NO. I did a lot of reading and everything just reinforced the fact that I would be okay without it. Look at the actual studies. I found that arimidex  was in a study with tamox users and non users, but not in comparison to those of us who chose lifestlye changes. This really bothered me. How do they know that the pills are better than what I chose? They don't because they do not want women to choose not to take the pills. There is no money in it for them. By them, I mean the drug companies who seem to control our medicine since they are the only ones who have the money to do the studies. I also found arimidex was sold on the black market to body builders. I do not want anything that body builders use. They are all walking chemical time bombs. Look at Arnold-He had major heart problems in his 40's from the steroids he took. Like you I was stage one and these drugs would only give me a supposed 5% advantage too. Well, the stats say that diet and exercise can also reduce risk by 5% so that is the route I chose. I lost 40 pounds by healthy eating and I exercise daily. It is choosing the hard way at first. No magic little pill. But now it is easy to maintain, because I feel so great. My advice to you is to just read, read, read. There are lots of books out there and lots of access  to studies on the net. Take the information to your doctor, and I bet they will support you. In fact, I am going to keep in touch with my onc for only one reason-to encourage her to look at us as individuals and be more supportive of those of us who do not want to follow the drug protocol.

Does anyone know what tamoxifen is made from?

Merilee, I have been taking I3C for over a year, about 150 mg day. I probably should take more, but I try to eat lots of veggies too. I know it has made a difference because I took a blood test , before and after, that showed my sex hormone binding numbers have improved drastically. Don't ask me to explain, I am just taking my doctors word for it. LOL

Susers-I agree, the more I read, the more I feel confident in my decision. One of my doctors told me not to read so much, just to be a good patient and listen to what we are telling you. Can you believe this?!! I really liked this doctor, but I no longer see her. Someday I might even tell her why!

Well today marks day 30 without taking Tamoxifen.

In the 30 days, I have dropped 3.5 pounds, but that was for only 2 days and I am back to the weight, (if not a pound more) I was at the time I went off it. This is going to be the hardest thing to share with my oncologist because it was my biggest complaint about the TAmoxifen side effects.Along with my hair, I think this will take time to get better.

The GREAT news is, is that I have my energy back, my muscles and joints feel like I am 41 again vs. the 80 they felt like. I have my good moods back vs. being quick to anger all the time. My vision has returned to normal and my digestive system is not so screwed up.

Now, I just have to make that follow up appointment with the oncolgist to tell him what my plan is.

I see a licensed Nutritionist for all of my supplements and go on her recommendations. Does anybody do or see anything else, like see a Herbalist or a Natruopath?

Thanks!

I see a licensed

Susers-I did work with a chiro, who has a special nutrition and detox program for a few months. It really helped me to redirect my eating habits. I have lost about 40 pounds just by eating healthier. I do not count calories or stress about what I eat. If it is good for me, I eat it. If not, I don't. Some of the major things I gave up was diet sodas, sugars, and cheese. I found that when I stopped eating certain foods, my digestion got better and the weight just melted off. Of course, I exercise daily, which is important. As a stage oner, arimidex would only give me a supposed 5% edge. Losing all the midriff, which produces a lot of estrogen, and daily exercise is also proven to lower risk by 50%. So this may be the harder road, but knowing that it is just as effective as a pill keeps me motivated. I would not worry about what you onc says. You may be surprised that he even supports your decision. Mine did. She actually said that she respected it. I bet she would not take the pills either. Unfortunately, they HAVE to follow the protocols set before them.

Merilee, when you see a naturopath, make sure you ask her about DIM or I3C and other herbs such as cinnomon and tumeric.

07508125, I was diagnosed Sept 22nd 2008, I don't use flax seed, but take a multitude of supplements including DIM, Tumeric, CoQ10, VitD3 and the list goes on! I am seeing a naturopathic MD, I actually have my next appointment with her next Thursday, I have the Onc in the morning, should be an interesting day!! I will let you all know what happens at the naturopath, she took 17 vials of blood a couple of weeks ago, so I am eager to get the results.

L

ox

Susers! I know!! it was a lot of blood! I will for sure keep you posted, I am so interested to see what they say!