Anyone opted not to take medication?

Options
ArmyWife322007
ArmyWife322007 Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I just completed 6 1/2 weeks of radiation preceeded by a lumpectomy in early December for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in my left breast.  I had a 1.3cm tumor, Stage 1, Grade 2, with clear margins and node-negative.  I have really come through this without any major problems whatsoever (no infections, no excessive irritation, no abnormal healing, etc.) and I certainly thank God for that and don't take it for granted!  Throughout the whole journey, I have continued to feel otherwise healthy and normal. 

But because of that, I'm very angry, kicking and screaming inside at the thought of going on Fareston (similar to Tomaxifen) for the next 5 years of what's left of the youngest part of my life.  If I feel great now, how can I toxify my system with that crap, potentially have ugly side effects (I was on Toma 6 years ago for a different health condition and didn't last a month because of nasty side effects) which would put stress on my whole body and thus my mental well-being and increase my chances for developing other health problems, possibly even endometrial cancer?!  How is that helping me more and increasing my odds for living a longer, healthier life??? 

Has anyone else felt this way?  Has anyone opted not to take Tamoxifen or Fareston?  If so, how are you doing?   

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited May 2009

    Army wife, I have felt exactly the same way as you and was very ambivalent about taking the tamoxifen because I was conerned about how estrogen depletion would affect my sex life, skin, hair, and of course the risk factors of stroke, blood clots, and uterine problems.  I've been on it for 6 months and am still feeling ambivalent, and it has caused problems in the sex department as well as making me feel that I'm aging my body more rapidly by taking it.  I've told myself that when this bottle is done, I will quit.  If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? There is a thread on here called Saying no to tamoxifen which I recommend you go to.  There are several people on there who have also opted not to take it at all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • idaho
    idaho Member Posts: 1,187
    edited May 2009

    Rgiuff- where is that thread?   I am at the decision point also.  I am looking into alternatives....First I am going to ask my onc again to show me the stats on no recurrance if I take it.  I think I remember they weren't much higher...I can't remember for sure.  Anyway, Armywife, you might look into alternatives such as DIM.    GOod luck, Tami

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Laura3
    Laura3 Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2009

    Hi Girls.....I am in the first week of my 7 weeks of radiation and I feel exactly like all of you....I do not want to take it, but still waver and get confused.  I was wondering if we could start a topic asking women that didn't take it and if it came back.  I know its not an accurate study, but I was wondering how many women opted not to take Tamoxifen and had a reoccurance.   Sort of  a ..If I knew then what I know now.....would they change their decision....

    Tami....When do you have to make the decision?  I know you are on a similar path as me, are you almost done with radiation?    I hope it is going well....

    Take Care all and God Bless...Laura

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    rgiuff---actually, tamoxifen does not cause estrogen depletion (that's the aromatase inhibitors---they decrease the actual production of estrogen)---it just blocks the estrogen receptors in the breast, so the  breast tissue won't be affected by the effects of estrogen. I finished my 5 years of tamox in the fall, my SEs were relatively mild, mainly hot flashes.

    Anne

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ArmyWife322007
    ArmyWife322007 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    I'm almost 38.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ArmyWife322007
    ArmyWife322007 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    Rgiuff, I'll be 38 on May 27th.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited May 2009

    Idaho and Army Wife, that thread is under Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After and it's called Does Anyone Say No to Tamoxifen

    Awb, I'm having a lot of hot flashes lately too. I know that tamoxifen doesn't take the estrogen out of our body, just prevents it from getting into the breasts and possibly other places where the cancer cells might have travelled to.  I know that it is estrogenic on the uterus and bones. Some of the menopausal symptoms that it causes are what you get with falling estrogen levels, such as vaginal dryness, thinning hair, and hot flashes, so I'm figuring that it's got to be antiestrogenic in other areas besides the breast cells.

    Are you going to start on an Aromatase Inhibitor  now that you are finished with the tamoxifen or are you still pre-menopausal?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories