Have to choose between Tamoxifen and Raloxifene

I've actualy taken both tamoxifen (for 5 years) and now evista (for about 4 years) and I tolerate both of them pretty well overall. I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago ( at age 46) with LCIS and my risk is further elevated by my mom's bc (she had ILC many years ago and is a survivor of over 25 years). I did develope large ovarian cysts which ruptured, necessitating a TAH/BSO, so I also had immediate surgical menopause. The first year was rough with the hot flashes and the night sweats. Things did level off over time, although I still have them to a certain degree, over 8 years later. But I still have them even when I'm off the meds (taking a break this summer as it's already hot enough!), so my gyn thinks I would've even if I never took tamox or evista.  I didn't notice a big difference in the 2 meds; I also had a bit of insomnia and some overall achiness with both, but nothing I couldn't deal with. Considering effexor, but not sure I want to trade my SEs for other SEs.

Anne

Although its rather tedious going through the data, the most information I've found in one place is from the package insert (in this case Mylan brand). It indeed suggests that in the clinical studies, women with different severities of breast cancer did have some different side effects.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/tamoxifen.html

This may be due to things such as when tamoxifen is used in people with metastatic disease, they often have been through regimens that include chemotherapy (unless they were initially diagnosed with metastatic disease), and have often had different experiences. 

The hormonal forum is good if you are trying to find out what the personal experience of people with side effect X are like.  However, it is not a good source of information if you are trying to find out the incidence of side effects of people who take hormonals.  People who are more anxious and/or have more severe side effects are more likely to post in the hormonal forum. People who don't have any issues with their anti-hormonal are not likely to post about their lack of issues.

I, like awb, had tamoxifen for 5 years with LCIS, but I haven't taken any Evista. (Unlike awb, I have a weak family history.)  My main side effects were hot flashes (really warm flashes), but I was peri-menopausal at the time, so they may have been due to that.  I also had endometrial polyps every ~1.5 years, all were benign.  But I also had these polyps before I started tamoxifen.  So I will never know if my side effects were due to tamoxifen or not.

are you  sure?  Arimidex is generally used with invasive bc; tamox and evista are given for high risk prevention.  (so if you have ADH/ADH (and not any invasive bc), it sounds like the recommendation would be for either tamox or evista.   (unless I'm missing something here).

anne

CBrown107, just like you, I was diagnosed in June, 2013 as having ADH and ALH.  I have been given the choice of three different treatments:  tamoxifen, raloxifene (Evista) or aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex or Aromasin).

According to the literature I was given, AI has already been used to help prevent BC recurrences and is now being studied as BC chemopreventive agents.  The reason I am swaying toward AI is the listed side effects.  Tamoxifen and raloxifene list blood clots and uterine cancer.  AI's side effects seem to be joint pain and bone loss.

I would be interested in hearing what side effects people have incurred.  I need to make this decision within a few days...