Chemo Pills for prevention...

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Frankserpico48
Frankserpico48 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

My friend was diagnosed with early stage 1 breast cancer and the doctor told her it was "microscopic" but it still took 3 operations to get it all. She's on Medicare. Is it possible that the doctor's operating for the billings? (To get more money?) Now she's been told that all the cancer is gone and the doctor wants her to take "chemo pills for 5 years for prevention". Is this normal has anyone heard of this, giving a cancer free patient chemo pills for "prevention?"? Sounds fishy to me. I don't trust the doctor. Thanks!

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2013

    Hi Frankserpico and welcome. Sometimes it does take two or three operations in order to get clear margins. The 'chemo' I think her doc will be ordering is probably Tamoxifen and that is the standard of treatment for early stage Breast Cancer. Please put your mind at ease as everything that has been done and the drug ordered is definitely standard of care treatment.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2013

    Frankserpico, as well as the great information you've received from Chrissy, here's more about tamoxifen, from the main Breastcancer.org site. The article explains what tamoxifen does, why it's prescribed, and its benefits.

    We'd be happy to welcome your friend to this wonderful community too, where she can find support and information throughout her treatment for BC.

    • The Mods

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  • fran14
    fran14 Member Posts: 13
    edited August 2013

    Can someone tell me what some of the side effects are of taking the drug called femara?

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2013

    fran, Femara is used to modulate (diminish) estrogen production.  Its side effects are similar to menopausal symptoms, including bone loss, dry skin, etc., -- all from the decreased estrogen.  

    I noticed on another thread you mentioned being 79.  I'm not a doctor, but if I was in your situation, I would question just how much estrogen you have to modulate.  It might be something to discuss with your doctor.      Deanna  

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2013

    Frank, when surgeons operate to remove cancer cells, it's very difficult to know exactly where the outer margins of those bad cells are, so it's extremely common to have to go back once and sometimes twice to get wider margins because the pathology showed cancer cells at the edge (in the margins) of where the surgeon cut.

    And being RX'd either Tamoxifen or an aromatese inhibitor, such as Femara, for women who are post-menopausal, is considered standard of care.  It's not really chemotherapy, although some doctors explain it as such.  It's a drug to keep her estrogen levels low because her doctors have determined that estrogen possibly fuels her type of cancer, and keeping estrogen levels low helps keep bc survivors cancer-free.

    It sounds like your friend had a lumpectomy.  Did she also have radiation therapy?

    Hope this helps.    Deanna

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