MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Hi guys! wish you all  a very good evening from India. I went to see my doctor  on six month,s follow up check up. My mammogram report says NAD. My doctor  noted NAD.  It is  six years and 3 months  from the date of my operation, followed by radiotherapy (33 cycles) with booster and chemo ( six cycles). I took tamoxifan for 1 and 1/2 years  follwed by Arimidex  till Feb,2011. Instead of six months  check up I have been advised  to report in August,2012. I pray  to God everyday  to  get rid of cancer from my body but how long.. no idea... still  my mind got stuck  with  the same...life is  still confused...

Yeah Barbe! that is exactly what I am confusing. I keep on wondering  everytime why the doses given by my doctor  is very different  from your  doctors. I am still not sure myself. Moreover, I am not that much expert to tackle with my doctor, I just listen to what  the board says. Last time when I said I better complete the arimidex doses for  five years but they combine  five years duration  taking into account  of the period of   tamoxifan. I should better  change  the doctor to get second opinion.

If it is  right then  I feel better now Barbe.  By the way I was concerning only on my part but dont have the courtesy to ask you  about your health,   but  everytime  you are in my mind as  a very strong lady. I can feel  how you  manage  with BC.   thanx  a lot for sharing with me.  And thanx to  all the members  for sharing  valuable ideas, knowledge  through this thread.

elimar, I didn't mean JUST Tamoxifen, but ANY AI. Sorry for the confusion. Is that the part I had wrong? Only mentioning Tamox and not the AI????

I don't see a picture either.

Elimar now I see the pic at the top

Elimar - I see the picture at the top now.

Yep e, that's what I meant. No point in counting on an Oncotype score unless you are going to take a HORMONAL (not Tamoxifen specific).

Leisa my condolences and prayers to your family.

@cmblastic: I had a lumpectomy on July 12th, or as one of the gals on this site called it a "slabectomy."  Surgeon removed 9 cm x 7.5 cm x (I think) 3 cm for a 1.6 cm tumor and I don't know how to feel about that.  Clear margins thought, so I guess I should drink champagne out of that big old dent that's going to be there when the swelling finally goes down.  Their plan for me is radiation and then Tamoxifen, since I am perimenopausal.  Oncotype dx came in at 15, so no chemo. I am very concerned about all of the side effects I have been reading about.  Also, trying to learn about absolute risk and the math involved in order to make better decisions.  Yes, it's overwhelming.  

Leisaparis--I am so sorry to hear about your dad.  So sad, so hard. 

Yes Elimar, I will be taking Tamoxifen.  My Onc did tell me that Tamoxifin was included in the Oncotype score (15 for me,) and he also said that AIs were considered more effective (and that some women request that menopause be induced in order to use them.)  But inducing menopause has other serious side effects including the short term overproduction of estrogen, which is counterproductive to the goal.  It's all so complicated...I feel like I'm in medical training.