Just have stage one breast cancer

Options
nancy67
nancy67 Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed

I have had three doctors for consultations and was not happy with two and then wanted to put me on tamoxifen ( I am afraid of that drug ) Is there something else to use . ? My cancer is estrogen related  . I have cried for three days and very upset . I am 67 yrs old and no history of breast cancer in my mother only Dad who had lung cancer . They tell me I am production to much estrogen . I am not a happy camper at this point .

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited March 2014

    Hi Nancy and welcome to BCO.  There is another drug similar to Tamoxifen called Fareston and there are all of the Aromatase inhibitors i.e. Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin.  At age 67 I am presuming you are past menopause so any of these drugs can be used if you are ER+. 

    Talk to you onc about them but they do all carry some SE.  What you read on these boards are often from women who get the worst of the SE as the ones that don't  ( and that is the majority) get no SE at all and are out there living life.

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited March 2014

    Hi Nancy - Sorry you have to be here. Honestly I think Tamoxifen gets a bad reputation due party to the fact that our anxiety is high when we start it. I was totally freaked out to take it, blamed everything on the drug (even the pain from my tissue expanders!) stopped it for a year, but felt very guilty not doing everything I could to prevent recurrence. When I tried it again my main SE were hot flashes. It does make me have very vivid dreams which I actually enjoy.  There is no harm in trying it. You can always go off it. Plus it does help strengthen your bones. I take it in the a.m. so it doesn't keep me awake. I compliment it with Effexor which helps with the hot flashes and evens out my moods. I really think it will be ok. Gentle hug.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NinaW
    NinaW Member Posts: 110
    edited March 2014

    Hi Nancy - 

    I'm so sorry you have to join us, but yes, there are definitely options. Since I assume you're post-menopausal, you can go with AIs like Femara, Aromisin, Arimidex. Every drug has side effects, of course, so it might be a matter of experimenting a little until you find the one you're most comfortable with.

    Did your doctors give you any reason why they only wanted you to consider tamoxifen? Also, please note that everyone reacts differently, and there are most definitely differences in those reactions if you're pre-menopausal or post-menopausal. Some of the reactions you've read about might not be applicable to your case.

    Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nancy67
    nancy67 Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2014

    Thank you for replying . I have cataracts the dry form of AMD  and I understand in reading about taking tamoxifen if you have cataracts you should not take this drug . No,

     she did not after all this is my third Doctor I have been to in a hospital breast cancer center . I live in  a big city . Hopkins Hospital is my last stop . My retina doctor I have to call Monday and tell him about this tamoxifen that the cancer doctor wants me on. He suggested Hopkins Hospital here before . I will not need chemo and thankful for that and they do IROT radiation at surgery . One time radiation treatment  . I am glad I found you all . I have cried for three days and found some conman ground here . We need to go where we feel comfortable with a doctor .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2014

    I'm also 67.  I have been on Femara/letrozole since Feb 2010 with no problems that can be directly traced to it according to all my Drs.  During those years, I did develope cataracts during that time but none of my Drs thought that Femara/letrozole was the cause but rather my very light green eyes and many years outdoors.  Late last July, my retina detached - again none of my Drs (including my eye surgeon) 'blamed' Femara/letrozole - just me getting older and "things happen".

    Talk to your Eye Dr and get his/her input.  Remember that just because you read a POSSIBLE side effect does not mean that you will experience it.,

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2014

    I just went back and reread your OP.  

    Talk to your Drs for a better explaination.  Take a recorder or someone else with you to also hear what the Dr says.  It can be hard to understand for some to 'get' what the Dr really says.  It's not how much estrogen your body is producing but that your cancer feeds on estrogen.  That's why estrogen blockers are used to prevent the uptake of estrogen. 

    What is your diagnosis (DCIS/LCIS.IDC/ILC/IBC) or treatment plan?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nancy67
    nancy67 Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2014

    I don't need chemo and stage one of course radiation at surgery lumpectomy  and taking out to   nobes external radiation one time only IROT new method . Although I read is you you have catracts you should not take tamoxphine , but will call Retina Doctor on Monday . So, much to do . Just want to go on with my life . I am glad I can talk with you all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2014

    I have never taken Tamoxifen!  I have only taken Femara/letrozole because I was many years post menopause.  Because of  being IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) and ER+, I will be on it forever.   I HAD cataracts - they were removed 2 yrs ago.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited March 2014

    nancy,

    i am pretty sure they can put other hormone blocker drug on your treatment. my onc told me tamoxifen was for pre menapausal women in general. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories