finishing tamoxifen now what?

Rockycat
Rockycat Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed at age 36, stage 2, had chemo, and radiation and mastectomy.  I am just finishing a 5 year run with tamoxifen.  I am still getting my period.  My oncologist is recommending surgerically removing my ovaries so I can go on Arimidex.  There seem to be a lot of side effects to removing ovaries.  Has anyone gone through this?  I would be going through menopause at age 41 with no hormone replacement to help me.  

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

    Get a second opinion.  Removing ovaries is so irreversible and can have some life changing side effects to bones, sex life, cardiovascular system.  And like you said, it would be almost impossible to get a doctor to prescribe hormone replacement if the side effects do turn out to be intolerable. 

    Some oncologists would rather give shots to suppress the ovaries until menopause naturally kicks in, and some actually feel that normal body functions should be maintained.  A lot also depends on the stage and aggressiveness of your cancer, and how much risk you have of it returning.  This is a question to ask any doctors you see, what is my risk of cancer reoccurrance with vs. without my ovaries?

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  • Rockycat
    Rockycat Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    Thank you for responding Rose.  I am going to my oncologist this week armed with lots of questions!

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  • KattyC
    KattyC Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2009

    Rockycat, take a look at my earlier post about ovary removal at 'tamoxifen and menstrual cycle'.  Let us know what your Dr. says in your case.

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