LCIS

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  • AAB53
    AAB53 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2010

         I have just gotten a diagnosis for LCIS.  I am in the learning and thinking stage right now.  I have read the posts on this thread and find that it is very helpful.  I have had two aplastic hyplasic (?) cycsts out of the same breast this was found in.  They were in 2004.  My mother had breast cancer and it recurred.  She was post menapausal though.  I have been given my options.  I have had a blood clot in the past, also have high blood pressure, and some other medical problems.  I take an awful lot of medicine now. 

    I look forward to hearing from other people on this site.

    AAB

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2010

    I'm sorry you got the diagnosis, but you've definitely come to the right place for support. I'm assuming you can't take tamoxifen or evista due to your history of blood clots??? If so,  that kinda limits your options to high risk surviellance with close monitoring ( mammos alternating with MRIs every 6 months, breast exams on the opposite 6 months) or BPMs.  I also have LCIS and family history (mom had ILC)---I do the high risk surviellance of mammos and MRIs, I took tamox for 5 years and now have taken evista for over a year. I would encourage you to discuss all your options and risks with an oncologist before making any decisions. Fortunately, since LCIS is non-invasive, there is no rush and you can take the time you need to research  and make your decisions out of knowledge, not fear. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

    Anne

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2010

    Anne is right- it is good to make decisions out of knowledge, not fear.  Take all the time you need to make your decision. You need to make the best decision for YOU.  No one should pressure you to make one decision or another.  

    I am at the 'low end' of screening here for women with LCIS.  I have a weak family history (grandmother and aunt had postmenopausal breast cancer.)  I am going on my 5th year of tamoxifen, get twice-a-year clinical exams and yearly mammograms.

  • AAB53
    AAB53 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2010

    Thank you for the replies.  Looking back I see many typos in my post.  Did either of you have side effects that were noticable with the tamoxafin?  I have time to look at options thank goodness.

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2010

    My possible tamoxifen related symptoms: mild warm flashes (was perimenopausal anyway), 3 benign endometrial growths (also had these before any breast issues).  Side effects range from absolutely zero to awful quality of life, inc incidence of stroke, endometrial cancer.

    In this one study The incidence of invasive uterine cancer is significantly lower in the raloxifene group (P = 0.003; left panel of Fig. 2). The annual average rate per 1,000 was 2.25 in the tamoxifen group compared with 1.23 in the raloxi- fene group (RR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36–0.83). ...The average annual rates of throm- boembolic events were 3.30 per 1,000 (tamoxifen) and 2.47 per 1,000 (raloxifene; RR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.93)http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2010/04/19/1940-6207.CAPR-10-0076.full.pdf#page=1&view=FitH

    Luckily, if one starts taking tamoxifen, they can stop if its not for them.  This wouldn't help of course if you were one of the very, very few people who got a stroke, uterine cancer, etc.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2010

    AAB--my SEs from tamoxifen (and also evista) have been very mild and certainly manageable--mainly hot flashes, slight insomnia, and some achiness--actually, my oncologist feels that most of my SEs are more from my lack of estrogen (from surgical menopause) than from the tamox itself; I think it's probably a combination of the 2 factors. It's a good idea while on tamox, to get a yearly transvaginal US to monitor both the uterine lining and the ovaries.

    anne

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