LCIS & atypical hyperplasia

I took tamoxifen for 4 1/2 years before developing a blood clot.  My oncologist put everything together very quickly for the Cancer Center in our town to be included in the STAR study that compared tamoxifen and evista. He did this for me because my husband had just lost his job due to the stores he worked for were being sold and our insurance was about to run out.  It was a blind study so I didn't know what I was taking for about 3 years.  I have been followed closely  by my oncologist and will be for the rest of my life because of the STAR study.  I have diagnostic mammograms once a year and visits with my breast specialist, Dr. Goulet and interviews with the Cancer Center.  I haven't done an MRI but I wonder now with the new diagnosis of ADH if it will ordered at some point.  I have had 4 biopsies, one being stereotactic and the other 3 excisional.  I saw Dr. Dugan yesterday and he has prescribed Femara.  I will see him in one month with labs and if everything is on track, 3 months and then every 6 months for 5 years.  What I have been frustrated with is that there just is not much information about either of these issues.  My Drs have been really good with any questions I have, but sometimes I am just not sure what to ask.  He did tell me yesterday that it is rather rare for a woman to have both.  he said my risk is probably 1 in 8 and with the Femara it will decrease by 50%, which is 1 in 16.  Thank you, Anne for responding.  It is good to hear from someone with the same issues!  And I do know who holds the future!

Thank you for responding to my post.  My oncologist told me yesterday that it is not very common to be diagnosed with LCIS and ADH.  I have not connected with anyone in my sphere of influence with one or the other so that is why I am reaching out.  I was on tamoxifen for 4 1/2 years then developed a blood clot.  My oncologist prescribed Femara yesterday and I started it last night.  He says it does not cause blood clots.  I will be on it for 5 yrs along with close observation of mammograms and visits to oncologist (1 month, then 3, then every 6 as long as all my labs are good) and my breast specialist as well as my primary physician.  I will say that I feel very fortunate to have this information, not only for myself but my 2 adult daughters.

That is what the description of femara reads, but Dr. Dugan, who is very well versed, and involved in many, in all the studies that are out there concerning breast cancer research, says that studies show that femara is also effective with ADH.  It decreases the amount of estrogen which can slow the growth or even stop the growth of some breast tumors that need estrogen to grow.

I know the confusion you are feeling!  There just is not a lot of info on any of these findings!  My oncologist says it is rather rare for a woman to be diagnosed with LCIS and ADH and the risk is like 1 in 8.  So that is rather high, which we know it to be.  He did also say if my body tolerates the Femara for 5 yrs then it will decrease my risk by 50% which will be 1 in 16.  Eventually you will come to accept the diagnosis and be thankful that you have the information.  Just think if you had not been on top of your health and had not had the mammogram, eventually these cells very well could have been and most likely would have been, invasive cancer.  Be thankful that you now know!  I have a sister-in-law that is about 12 yrs younger than me and has been battling breast cancer for 5 years now.  She lives in WA state and we are in IN so it is heartbreaking for us not to be there to help.  Let me know what your Dr says - I will be curious to compare.  God Bless!