Size of tumor around 1.0 cm, should I still take Tamoxifen?

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sarri
sarri Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Hello all,

I am 46 years old, and had a breast cancer surgery few months ago. (Tubular cancer)

My doctors have asked me to take "Tamoxifen" for five years.

After some research, I found out in " NCCN Guide lines/ Version 1/2012- page MS-25" :

"Possible exceptions to the recommendation of adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive disease are those patients with lymph node-negative cancers less than or equal to 0.5cm or 0.6-1.0cm in diameter with favorable prognostic features where the prognosis is so favorable that the benefits of adjuvant endocrine therapy are very small."
The most established adjuvant endocrine therapy is Tamoxifen......

I would like to find out if I really need to take Tamoxifen (even if the size of Tumor is around 1.0 cm?) And if the answer is yes? For how long she needs to take Tamoxifen?

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2012

    My DCIS is 1.0.  

    I am supposed to have rads though not started.  I am trying to avoid them but that is another story.  

    I have already seen my MO and she has prescribed Tomoxifen.  She said to give it a try.  It will reduce my chances of having a recurrance from 5% to 2.5%.  So she was not adamant.

    I have a friend who was on it for 5 years with no side effects so I said I will try it.  From what I read, the side effects can go from none to hot flashes, bone pain and blood clots, to name a few.  However, T will not hurt your bones.  It may be the the side effects are worse for the younger persons.  I am 76 and my MO seemed more concered about blood clots.  It afffects everyone a little differently but i think the side effects are not that severe and go away after a few months. 

    There ae so many variables.  I think you should try.  You can always stop and/or go to another drug.  These are hard decisions. 

    What stage is yours?  Are you having chemo ro rads? 

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2012

    There is a lot of infomation on this web site.  You might try this:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/ 

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited June 2012

    At age 46, I would take it. You have years ahead of you and a life to enjoy. Why risk a recurrence? I've seen statistics that say older women with tumors that size may not need hormone therapy. If you're 65 or 70, there's less time for it to recur.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited June 2012

    It may depend on other characteristics of your tumor. Your MO should give you percentages & hopefully explain what your risk reduction will be if you do 5 yrs of Tamox. The risk reduction might be too small in your(or my)opinion. Good luck with your decision!

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  • sarri
    sarri Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2012

    Thanks all, in answer to your question regarding the treatment: Tubular Cancer -Stage one- No chemo or rad..just have asked to use Tamoxifen, but I am concerned about bone loss and the other site affects! 

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  • Stormynyte
    Stormynyte Member Posts: 650
    edited June 2012

    From what I understand it doesn't cause bone loss. I'm 37 and have been on it for about 7 months now. I had some SE's in the beginning, nothing to bad, but they went away after a month or so.

    I don't know what it does to stop a recurrence, but I have seen what it does to existing cancer. My tumor shrunk by about half in the 6 months before I had my mast so I would imagine any tiny ones that we couldn't see were effected in the same way. 

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2012

    So you have Stage 1, no chemo and no rads?  How did you get away with that?  

    Tomoxifen seems mild.  Doing nothing sounds dangerous to me.  Tomoxifen has saved many lives.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited June 2012

    Sarri. I cannot relate too much because I was hormone negative... BUT, if I were in your shoes, I would research as much concrete evidence as I could find on benefits vs. side effects for tamoxifen. Also, I would get a second opinion from another Medical Oncologist. This should help you decide. Good luck with everything!

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  • marle
    marle Member Posts: 12
    edited June 2012

     Sarri Tamox can cure you!!You dont want this beast to get invasive.When side effects happend we can help you with advice!!

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  • Annicemd
    Annicemd Member Posts: 341
    edited June 2012

    Sarri, give tamoxifen a try. If you get side effects you can deal with them when they happen. If you dont take the tamoxifen and end up stage IV you will regret not giving it a try. Tamoxifen saves many lives. I might as well be taking a vitamin tablet- I get no side effects! The NCCN guidelines suggesting no adjuvant endocrine treatment for those with a favourable prognosis is more likely to be a safe option for older women with very small tumours. As a young woman with estrogen driven disease and lots of estrogen in your body I don't think you could safely use the no adjuvant treatment route.

    There are some risks to tamoxifen but none as dangerous as the micromets

    Hugs

    Annice

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  • MissAngie
    MissAngie Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2012

    Sarri, I am 42 and have been taking Tamoxifen for about a month.  My RO told me that with radiation and Tamoxifen combined it would cut my rate of recurrence from 40% to 5%.  I am experiencing some side effects and hope they will continue to lessen as time goes by.  I was given the option to go off of Tamoxifen but I don't feel comfortable with the risk of recurrence.  As well, my RO told me that Tamoxifen benefits bone and heart health and that the side effects far outweight the benefits of the medication. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

     

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  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 3,188
    edited June 2012

    " It wouldn't hurt to give it a try."

    It might...that's what's so scary about tamoxifen!  I went through hot flashes and all the other BS when I was 41 and went through the change. I could deal with that again....not fun, but oh well.


    It's the stroke or blood clot risk or other cancers  that you really can't just 'give a try'. Some of the SEs are pretty serious.  Everyone has to weigh their own situation carefully.

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  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 3,188
    edited June 2012

    sarri

     Do you mind saying where you found this info ?
    I have done a search online, and I keep getting the 2011 booklet.  It consistently recommends tamoxifen.

    Do you have  a link or ????

    THX

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  • sarri
    sarri Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2012

    Hi Purple 32,

    This is the link to guideline:

    http://www.nccn.com/files/cancer-guidelines/breast/index.html 

    " NCCN Guide lines/ Version 1/2012- page MS-25" :

    "Possible exceptions to the recommendation of adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive disease are those patients with lymph node-negative cancers less than or equal to 0.5cm or 0.6-1.0cm in diameter with favorable prognostic features where the prognosis is so favorable that the benefits of adjuvant endocrine therapy are very small."
    The most established adjuvant endocrine therapy is Tamoxifen..

     Thanks everybody for replies...

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  • noraLCIStoILC
    noraLCIStoILC Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2012

    I found it!

    I had to sign on at NCCN.org. Then I went to "NCCN Guidelines for Treatement of Cancer by Site" -- selected "Breast Cancer" -- selected "NCCN Guidelines" not "NCCN Guidelines for Patients" -- found it on page MS-25 just like Sarri said.

    Now, I'm putting it on my kindlefire to take to the MO office on Tuesday.

    thank you! 

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  • sarri
    sarri Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2012

    Sure, this is Version 2 /year 2011, I was told a new version will be out soon.

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