Tamoxifen side effects: is it worth it?

Hi, my Mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer this year (very early stage due to staying on top of check ups for changes just like you) She was never on Tamoxifen. For me the Tamoxifen is insurance and makes me feel like I'm still doing something active to fight the BC. I did Chemo and rads too. I guess I'll throw everything I can at BC and then do the same IF something else comes along. Talk to you Doc, and see if they fell one option or the other is best for you. Good luck I'm sorry any of us have to think about any of this!

Hello. How soon did you all experience your SE? I just started 3 months ago.

Aner- if you don't mind me sharing what you mean byabnormal bleeding? Like heavier or more frequent...I'm scared about the possibility of the uterine cancer too.

-catherine

Hi -

I also had a small, grade 1 cancer but refused any treatment other than the lumpectomy and SNB.  Was 8 months into menopause (age 49) at the time of diagnosis.  I haven't had a recurrence in these 6+ years despite not having taken tamoxifen, an AI or having radiation, so having done any of those additional treatments obviously wouldn't have helped in keeping me recurrence free thus far. Of course, it's only in hindsight that I know this, but some cancers are low enough risk that you can reasonably assume it when making treatment decisions if you understanding enough about the kind of cancer you're dealing with. 

If someone with a small, low grade tumor chooses to accept these treatments (and yes, it is an option because ANY medical treatment is) and it gives them a sense of security without causing issues with quality of life, then that works for them. But when it's causing major problems (like needing a surgical procedure to make sure there's no endometrial cancer), then one definately has to wonder "do I really need this" because most really don't - especially small, grade 1, node negative removed with wide, clear margins. These treatment standards encompass huge diverse groups regardless of whether individually, someone actually needs it or not.

Yes - what I don't understand is this.  Recurrence percent with mastectomy and no node involvement is 3% (and I've read even lower percentages) versus recurrence after lumpectomy & radiation of from 5%+.  If Tamox is supposed to reduce recurrence by 50%, then we're only talking 1 1/2 percent less chance of recurrence w/mastectomy and no node involvement.  Seems like the risks of Tamox outweigh the benefits in that case. Am I missing something?   Do I have my facts wrong?  (I'm one of those people who doesn't take any medicine for anything because I don't have much  trust  in drugs in general - I'll even cut a tylenol in half:)

I had stage I also and had aggresive surgery and chemo after. Great result. Everybody was happy. 

I stopped tamox after two years cause I wanted to switch to AI. I had heard that they had a better sucess rate if you were post menopausal. So asked to be switched and I was. I ,didn't know it, but then my cancer started to grow again. Now I have Stage IV. Liver/Lung/Bone/Lymph

Essentially my b/l mastectomy and two years on tamoxifen bought me two years with my kids and husband. Dont walk away from something that is working.   

I would say. Yes. Tamoxifen is worth the side effects. Definitely.

Zoh

Thanks rgiuff.   If you can find the statistics by all means post a link.  I'll also keep googling to see if I can find something.  I'm having mastectomy instead of lump/rads and I know they'll advise Tamox afterward.  I'm post menapause.

Also - does anyone know if anti-hormone therapy depends on your oncogene report or is that for something entirely different?

I am struggling with Tamoxifen. I see it as the tipping point drug for me, but I am struggling mightily with the SEs, which are partly due to the drug itself and partly due to its interactions with other meds I am taking for another serious illness. Tamoxifen has two good non-bc related things to recommend it: it may lower cholesterol and it is good for the bones. Sure, it is officially classified as a carcinogen by the WHO because of the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus, but overall, I decided in favor of it. The question now is whether I think living for years feeling tired and lazy and mentally deranged and therefore underachieving and unfulfilled when I go on 20 mgs is worth it....