In the wake of sad news about Elizabeth Edwards passing,

Miki, I had a laproscopic hysterectomy and oophorectomy the year before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was my first major surgery and I was very worried about down time. In reality, although I was sore and a little tender, the surgery didn't slow me down much at all. I stayed one night in the hospital, and very little time resting after that.

I will say that I was otherwise in great shape, healthy and very active. That may have had a lot to do with how well I tolerated the surgery.

PS-my skin looks amazing as well. I had oily skin so that cleared up:)lol got take when you can get with this bc crap.

Miki...I finished treatment for BC in 4/09. I went on Tamoxifen at that point (I was 39 and "pre-menopausal" - but chemo had essentially shut things down anyway). I had a laprascopic oopherectomy last November, because of ER/PR+ status, and BRCA+ status. I had discomfort for a couple of days, but took the drugs that were offered and can honestly say I was ready to go back to work after a week. I'm "lucky" in that I haven't had huge issues with hot-flashes, menopause, etc., and although I have achy joints from the AIs, I consider it a small price to pay for doing everything I possibly can to stay alive. 

Ok everyone, here's my question.  Should I have switched from Arimidex to Tomoifen because it has less SE"s.  I do feel much better than I did on the Arimidex.  I actually felt like I had bone cancer the SE's were so bad, not to mention how much it was ruinning my sex life.  After switching to the Tomifen I do feel better.  Like you miki, I want to stick with the treatment that will give me the best chances of not recurring.

Barb

I took a week off work when I had my ooph...it was day surgery done laprascopically....fatigue was the biggest side effects....but then again I went from bilat to chemo to rads to ooph!!!  I took AI's for 3 1/2 years....

Barb..... I think you made the right decision.  The important thing is to take something, and relatively less important which one works for you.  So going from feeling hit by a truck to normal is a major thing.  You will probably exercise a lot more, which is a major benefit by itself.

Miki.... Thanks for the reminder about adhering to treatment.  Really important.  Unlike Barb, I have had minimal SEs with Arimidex, including my mojo being just fine.  My skin is a bit finer, but that could be from Taxol as the major change was then.  Anyway, the plan is 5 years, but that could change based on what they discover.  The jury is still out.

Sherri....  I had also picked up on the fact that Elizabeth Edwards discontinued AIs.  There are some other things that she could have done differently.  I don't think she exercised that much.  I am saying this based on her upper body which was not toned.  I still wonder if bisphosphonates would have helped?  The jury is still out on that one too.  Also wonder if she had the most aggressive chemo?  She was very coy on that topic.

But a major lesson to the rest of us that completing the therapy is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

Note: I had already noticed this in the survival statistics of those participating in clinical trials vs everyone else.  Something like a 5% difference at the ten year mark for "high risk" patients.  This is major, and I ascribed it to the fact that all patients counted in the clinical trial statistics had completed the assigned protocol.

Jenn3-  I am in the same boat as you.  I finished chemo sept. 5 had Bilat. Mast Oct.5 started Tamoxifen 3 wks later.  Taken off of it 3 wks later because of horrible side effects.  Dr. discussed having an ooph after Rads.  Well last wk he check my hormone levels and discovered that all of them showed that I was Post Menopausal from the chemo at the age of 36.  I know I will have to go on the other type of hormonal therapy but not sure what to do with the ooph.  I hate these hot flashes, skin changes, and emotions (but the holidays and separation dont help either).  I have till my Rads are done the end of Jan. to decide.  Keep me up to to date on your decision.