tamoxifin and endometrial cancer

Thanks Barbie, hope you are feeling better. I am only taking 2 weeks off work for my surgery. Hope that is enough. I got an email from my ONC who said no way would she give me any HRT EVER. Have to confess, spent the morning fighting tears after reading that. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.



My cancer was positive for estrogen and progestrogen. Can't imagine that either would be permitted for hyperasia.

That is my biggest fear. I will be at work; crying. I fully admit that I am sliding into a depression over this. It's my 10th surgery in 5 years and I'm overwhelmed. But it may make me feel better and should help keep cancer away so I'm good with it in theory. I'm ok with the sweats, tamoxifen already got me used to that but the tears were limited to Disney movies and cheesy ads.

Sweaty spice.  I'm sorry that your doctor didn't explain further for you what a D&C is and the recuperation for it.  First off, I've had several D&C's.  Basically they open your cervix and scrape out the lining of your uterus.  The one I had a few weeks ago, took place in the doctor's office.  They put me to sleep for a few minutes and voila, done!  Similiar experience to a colonoscopy.  Told me I might have some bleeding for a few weeks.  Went home with a pad and within a few hours, I was fine.  Never used the additional pads that they gave me.  I've had D&C's in the past for polyps and other stuff as well.  I don't recall ever having pain from the procedure, although they did mention I could take tylenol.  With this latest polyp, they were just watching it.  They told me it could stay there as long as I was asymptomatic.  But once I started a clear discharge, I knew it was time for it to come out.  My last polyps, before being diagnosed with BC caused bleeding for a long time.  I don't know why I waited so long back then.  This time I said, I love wearing white slacks...so it's D&C time....

Good luck!  Hope your outcome is as good as mine! 

I am hoping all of you ladies can help me and I hope you don't mind that I didn't start a new thread.  I had 2 early stage BCs since 2009, but healthy since 2010.  Tamoxifen for 2 years and then switched. Once I switched I began with spotty bloodly mucus.  Not too worried - just followed up, paps have been okay, etc.  Went for Usound and told over phone by my Onc (who is terrific) to move up my gyn appt. and follow-up testing - they saw thickened lining and something irregular.  I don't yet have the report, but onc said to be "moderately concerned" and he is not an alarmist. 

Honestly, I have no one else to turn to - I don't want to worry my husband, I already broke down at work with one sympathetic coworker and after being strong and brave with both BCs, lympademia in my hands, etc. I can't face more surgery and another diagnosis.  Can you tell me what the steps are for diagnosis - is it biopsy then d&c and hysterectomy - do I have a choice of diagnostic tools or does it require you have both biopsy and d&c?  I pray to God it is early, but am so upset I can hardly function - totally uncharacteristic of my personality which is to research, get moving, deal with it proactively.  I feel like I've had enough and want to crawl in a hole.  Thanks for listening.  K

Kathy16 - I don't know the protocol, I'm guessing that if a biopsy turned up something cancer-y there would be no need for a D&C, they'd go straight to hysterectomy.  And I guess you could have a D&C instead of a biopsy....but I'm really just guessing.

Mostly I just want to wish you well.

Saw my gyn today for my pre op appt. Had the biopsy. Unbelievibly easy. I would put it about on the same level as a pap. He is starting me of Effexor very soon so that it is fully kicked in by the time my ovaries are out. I am starting to feel better. No nasty surprises in surgery since the biopsy will already be done and hopefully not as far to fall with the help of a mild antidepressant.

Sorry to hear it Betsy, but glad you caught it early.  I drew the short straw with a localized recurrence of my breast cancer to the reconstructed breast.  I'm ticked too!

If endometrial cancer is found, is having a hysterectomy enough? Would you ever need radiation?

Posting correction:

 Hi all I just found the correct percentages abount those of us that have taken tamox and developed uterine cancer it is .2% - .5%, not 2%, a big difference. Sorry for the error, I just wanted to correct it so it doesn't freak too many folks out.  Sorry....I'm still digesting all of this. TG I have good notes from my chemo days.

Betsy

Oh, BetsyBuzz, I am sorry to run into you here.  I don't have uterine cancer, but am still on the Tamox. and "holding" for three more years unless...  Did your GYN monitor you regularly, or did he (she) just become concerned when you had symptoms?   Mine wants to do endometrial Bx every year, but I am leaning toward every other year unless I have have symptoms.

Hi sweetie, I too was on tamoxifen for 5 yrs and I got yearly pap test and check ups and Praise God doing good, I am now a 17 yr Survivor, so I believe that we must get regular check ups to be on top of things. God Bless Us ALL.  msphil(idc.stage 2, L mast, chemo, rads and tamoxifen 5 yrs, and also 3 nodes involved, and all my paps came back (Normal) thank GOD).  

Thanks Betsybuzz. I am sad to hear you have to deal with this. I know of someone else who had endometrial cancer after taking Tamoxifen. She had surgery and rads. My onc and my family doc said no need to do any TVU unless I experience symptoms which makes me worried that something could go undetected and then it might be too late to avoid chemo or rads. Perhaps I shall push to have one anyway.

I was thinking, once I have my uterus taken out then shouldn't it be safer for me to go back on tamox then move to the AI's? I will ask my GYN onc next week he will probably defer to my med onc. I'm just curious. I really, really don't want to move to Al's.

sweatyspice-my GYN said she would do a d&c if my biopsy showed polyps.

Hi Betsy, Still here... Still haven't gotten biopsy results. I will call Wed if I don't here anything by then. Hope you are doing ok and I really hope this is the last jolt for all of us!