Choosing your course of treatment

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MariannaLaFrance
MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I met with my surgeon yesterday, and was basically told of all my options. Because my DCIS appears to be small and confined to one "core" (out of the 8 taken, that is), I am leaning heavily towards Lumpectomy with radiation. Tamoxifen could be an option, but the idea of taking a drug that sends me into early menopause, followed by real menopause doesn't appeal to me. I was told that the Tamioxifen would take my 5% recurrance rate down to 2.5%.

 Anyone on this board who has opted to not take tamoxifen?

I am going in today to take my MRI. No news on my lab sample yet, if it's an estrogen-induced DCIS, but surgeon says most of the time it is.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

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  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited January 2010

    MariannaHB,

    Just to clarify about tamoxifen - it will not send you into menopause - it will/might give you menopausal type symptoms.  I had a regular period EVERY month that I was on tamoxifen prior to my hysterectomy and ooph.  I also had minimal night sweats too. 

    Hope all goes well with your MRI

    Hugs,

    Trish

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  • AlohaGirl
    AlohaGirl Member Posts: 213
    edited January 2010

    Marianna --

    It is probably worth discussing tamoxifen with a medical oncologist.  In addition to risk of recurrance, you should talk to him/her about risk of a second breast cancer.  My understanding is that having had DCIS your risk of having breast cancer again is about double what another woman of your age and with your risk factors would have of having breast cancer in the first place.  In my case, for a variety of reasons including my age, the two medical oncologists I met with strongly advocated tamoxifen since it reduces the risk of having breast cancer again by about half.  I have been taking it for a few months now and really have had minimal side effects.  I was nervous about it but so far it hasn't been a big deal.  A lot of women forego the tamoxifen though, and in some cases its benefit is not huge.  I think it would be helpful for you to meet with a medical oncologist to discuss so that you can make a more fully informed decision.  You don't have to decide about tamoxifen right away.  I had my lumpectomy first and was in radiation when I met with the medical oncologist.  I didn't start tamoxifen until a few months after I finished radiation.

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited January 2010

    sounds like you and I are at about the same place in our treatment.  I have already had my MRI and surgery scheduled for Feb 10.  Mine is grade 3 so I know I will do radiation.  I am on the fence regarding tamoxifen.  I need to research a bit more.  My surgeon did say that if I went on it and it was awful I could just stop taking it.  That makes me feel a little better about it.  I am on the young side to have this (39) and have 4 children so I am leaning towards taking it.  I am just hoping for clean margins the first time and no surprises!  Good luck with your decision.  For me it is very overwhelming and I am trying to tackle one thing at a time.  Surgery first.  I am going for genetic testing for our daughter.  Have you had this?

    good luck,

    k

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2010

    Marianna, I had lumpectomy x 2 with rads. Opted out of tamox due to potential side effects that with my particular history and family history, made me uncomfortable. Since I was having endometrosis issues, opted for a total hysterectomy (with ooph) instead. Finished having my family anyway and was going to hit menopause in 5-10yrs anyway (I am 43) I do deal with a lot of women in my job who go on tamox and most don't have issues and you are right, if you don't do well on it, you can always stop. 

    I wish you all the best with your surgery and subsequent treatments. 

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited January 2010

    Save your tamoxifen discussion for when you meet with an Oncologist.

    My surgeon told me the same thing about tamoxifen - flipped me out. The Oncologist had a much better story to tell. Menopausal sympthoms - but not MENOPAUSE the MUSICAL.

    Surgeons need to shut up and stick to operating!

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