tamoxifin and endometrial cancer

Very helpful thread.

I posted a question a few minutes ago, but these responses pretty much answer my question.

 I had two periods last year, and two this year, right about the same time. Have been on Tamox since Feb. 2010. Am scheduled for a hysteroscopy next month; doc will check lining and fibroids.

B-9! Took them long enough to let me know. So the hysterectomy is still on for Tuesday but at least I don't have to worry about losing more lymph nodes.

Great news Perky!  Good luck with your surgery on Tuesday.

One interesting thing that I've noticed after my LAVH/BSO is that I haven't had an overwhelming "crash" into menopause as I had expected.  I think that is in part because I had so many SE's from the Tamoxifen that mimicked the SE's of menopause (night sweats, body aches, fatigue, sleeplessness).  I'm still on the Tamoxifen, but I haven't noticed a bump in any SE's.

One bit of unsolicited advice... listen to your docs when they say DON"T TRY TO DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON!  They had to remind me this multiple times as I was trying to be superwoman and go off the oxy too soon, and I was doing too much too soon.  It just slowed down the overall recovery.

My Best

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the site but i have been reading this thread for the last couple of weeks.  I hope you girls can help me!  I was dx with stage 3C BC that is ER/PR+ (tumor was 9cm. x 12cm. x 6cm. and 23/23 positive lymphnodes). at 26 years old, so obviously premenopausal.  I had a bmx, ACT chemo, and 31 rounds of rads.  I just started my tamox in June.  I had a transvag us to check on a cyst on my ovary and found that not only did that one not resolve on its own as expected, it had grown and had babies living on the other ovary.  she also found that my endometrial lining is thickened (not having periods since on tamox).  Blood test showed that my tumor markers are not elevated and hormones suggest that my ovaries are still functioning (producing estrogen ie: not menopausal as we thought...) SO, i had a biopsy = inadequite results. SO, I just had a D&C yesterday.  She found that instead of being white and pretty my endo is red and angry... but no polyps that im aware of.  So now of course im positive i have endometrial cancer and im freaking out lol.

Any advice/stories to help??!!

amber

Perky - I'm finally beginning to see marked improvement on a daily basis.  I would never have thought that an hour on my feet, doing little more than walking around the house would drag me down for hours.  The fatigue feels like radiation fatigue. However, I AM improving.  I'm going to work three mornings next week and see how that goes.  The depression really comes and goes - kind of like a hot flash it just hits me out of the blue.  I'm not looking forward to returning to work - you know how everyone will treat me like I was out on vacation and dump a bunch of stress on me the moment I enter the place.  Ugh.

I do think you need to plan for an extended time away from work - you can always go back earlier if you are up to it.  

I'm scheduled for a CT scan, chest x-ray and EKG on 10/25 in preparation for surgery. Waiting...sucks.

I have a very high stress job, I'm not planning on going back to work for 4 wks minimum. That's my GYN Onc recommendation. It may be longer if they have to open me up. 

Betsy 

Betsy, just catching up on your posts, SO sorry to hear about your dx of endometrial cancer, but it sounds to me like they caught it early, and my gyn always told me it is a slow growing kind of cancer, curable with surgery, unlikely to spread. Good luck with your hysterectomy, my experience was that the recovery is so much easier than than the mastectomies. Do take it easy after and take as much time off as you can get!

My stuff started mid July. Found out I flunked my US early August, did more tests in September, waited a month to meet with the GYN and another 2 weeks for the biopsy. Good thing it is a slow growing cancer! Sheesh! So Betsy and I are both going to have a FABULOUS time on Tuesday. Fun. Sweaty, hope you can get your test soon and get off the treadmill. Thank you for all your your advice and wishes! I have mostly been very upset that I have to deal with yet another stupid surgery but after being freaked out for 4 months, I just want it over with so that I can get past it and get back to my life.

I was dx in July 2005 with stage 2 estrogen/progesterone  positive cancer.  Even though I was 52, I was still not premonopausal, so I took tamoxifen for 2 years after chemo/rads.  While I never had hot flashes or weight gain, I had to stop because of bad se's, and then I was able to take evista for 2 years.  When I finished evista, my gyn discovered an ovarian cyst that was not cancerous, but my endometrial lining was a little thicker than normal (maybe around 6?).  He had me do tvg ultrasounds every 6 months until a year ago when my cyst had grown a little (perfectly normal he said even though I was 58) and my lining had shrunk back to a respectable 2 or something.  He wanted to do an edometrial biopsy because I was having a slight discharge, but because it's an in-office (no medication) procedure, I was frightened to do it, so we delayed it.

 My next app't was canceled, and I haven't seen him in a year.  I know I should go back just to check, but I haven't been worried.  He also prescribed estrogen/testosterone for me, but not progesterone, and I was worried that could have been causing problems.  My grandmother died of vaginal cancer many years ago.

 Recently I've been having much more of a discharge--it's sort of brown streaked with bits of red, but still very thin.  Finances are very difficult right now, and every office visits costs 30 which I honestly won't have for a month.  And then, I'll have to come back for another to do biop, then more money for blood work.  So I'm wondering, for those of you dx with a vaginal cancer, what were the symptoms?  Both my gyn and onc felt the bleeding was most likely due to post menopausal thinning.  My onc felt the thickened lining was normal as a result of evista and nothing to worry about.   

So while I don't want to go unless it's absolutely necessary (and it will still have to be a month from now), I am beginning to be worried with the change of discharge.  Also, I've had incredibly bad sciatica down my legs--but that's gone, too.  I keep thinking/wishing so much is just because of my age--59.  This is so disjointed, but I guess I'm asking about symptoms of vag. cancer.  Thanks.

Thanks, Peggy, for your reply. While I was on tamox, my onc did request a vag. ul, and it was fine for a premenopausal woman.  It has been 2 years since I took either tamoxifen or evista. I believe a lot of times tests are recommended just to cover bases especially to prevent malpractice.  Calling either doc would just necessitate office visits (one for initial consultation and one for test) then tests then bills.  If it is something, then I would try to do something, but I am 6 years out, and I'm weary of all the scans, x-rays, and blood work that are recommended.  I used to push for them, but not now. I wish my onc or gyn did respond to email--that's wonderful!

When I first reported the bleeding, neither doc thought it was unusual for a menopausal woman (most likely shedding of uterine lining), but this is more intense.  I know if I call, they'll want to see me or at least the gyn will.  But, I just want to know if any others here had similar symptoms. Thanks again for your reply. 

On tamoxifen and Lupron. My gyno said anyone who is post menopausal and has staining or even a clear discharge needs examing. Didn't realize I needed to contact the doctor about the clear discharge... But I called anyway for an appointment because I hated walking around with the discharge. Turns out, it was time to yank out another polyp, that was causing the problem. I knew I had the polyp...but the doctor only told me to call if I was "symptomatic.". I assumed that meant "staining.". Now I know it refers to ANYTHING. Go figure...



Good luck!

(((Perky))) Good luck with your surgery today.  Let us know how you are faring.

Coffee - I understand your financial concerns, but I would urge you to consult with a Doctor.  You may want to check with the social worker at the hospital where you were treated for breast cancer to find out if there are some financial options for you.  I wish you the best.

All done. Some cramping and thats it for pain. I even expect to go home tomorrow. So far, all the drama leading up to it is far worse than the surgery itself.

Not sure if this is where to post this question or not, but I have pre-existing thickening, polyps, and ovarian cyts.  I'm set to start tamoxifen in Dec.  My gynecologist says the pre-existing stuff can be managed with d&c or she would be willing to do the total hysterectomy, take worry out of the picture.  My oncologist says zoladex will have the same effect as the hysterectomy and I can take the tamoxifen without the increased risk.  

I'm so confused...I'm 43, so I know there is a downside to going into premature menopause, but I'd be doing that anyway with the zoladex.  And aren't there side effects to that too?   VoraciousReader, you mentioned you are on tamox and lupron.  Do you mind sharing your experience?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.  I don't want another surgery, but after being shocked with one cancer diagnosis, I certainly don't want another shocker a few years down the road. 

LOL! Wouldn't you love to scream for the heck of it? The gas is definitely there. I feel very full but it isn't painful, just glad I am not trying to put on jeans anytime soon. The pre-surgery stuff was so much worse than the surgery. Now that I am recovering, I get that I was in pain from my overies all the time. I am in less pain now. Hope the terror part of your ride is over soon. The surgery is nothing compared what you are worried about now. I had a meltdown over this, it was just too much to deal with. But the worry was the worst part.