Alternatives to taking Tamoxifen

Options
NENAP
NENAP Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I  am 39  and  was diagnosed  with stage 2 breast cancer (ER Positive)in September 2011.  After  a lumpectomy, followed by 6 weeks of radiotherapy and 12 weeks of  chemotherapy  : "Dexorubicin & Cyclofosfamide ". Now I'm supposed to begin taking Tamoxifen. I'm trying to sort out if  there are any alternative treatments.  

30 years' experience with Tamoxifen are compelling, and  my oncologist wants me
to stick with the tried and true.

I am getting frustrated with my oncologist lack of  empathy.

Any words of wisdom for me?

Thanks,

.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited June 2012

    Alternative therapies are discussed in depth on the Alternative Forum. Many people there buy into what the rest of us think of as snake oil. IMHO, if you value your life, you will at least try Tamoxifen. Best wishes though whatever your choices!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited June 2012

    5 years of tamoxifen will do more to save your life than any other treatment you have done besides than the surgery. If you wanted to skip a treatment, you would have been better off passing on the chemo. Tamoxifen gives us ER+ girls a huge improvement in survival.

    I can understand not wanting to take a pill for so many years, but it is still the most important thing you can do. And it has an awesome track record.

     Sorry

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NENAP
    NENAP Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2012

    Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

     I was so saddened to read that so may patients were struggling with the side effects of taking this medication.  I got cold feet Cry, wondering how I am going to get through it.  Will certainly manage like all of us.

    "Short as life is, we make it still shorter by careless waste of time"

    I refuse to shorten my life. will try Tamoxifen.

    Thanks again.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Shayne
    Shayne Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2012

    Im with you Nenap - not crazy about taking pills with huge SEs and HUGE health risks!  

    I am also working with a naturopath and she told me there will be things I can take that are natural, that will help with any SEs that come up taking Tamox or anything else the MO prescribes.  So I feel like I have a good shot.  And I can always switch to something else if its that bad.....or stop all together.  They say you should stick it out for 2 months bc sometimes the SEs fade.  

    Its about quality of life. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited June 2012

    NENAP, I think that is a wise decision. Also, remember you may have no or minimal SEs. The worst SE is a cancer recurrence, again IMHO. 

    God bless, sweetie! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories