taking tomoxafin after 5 years

what test did they do may I ask?

I was also told 10 years at the onset - now my new oncologist said we will see at the 5 year mark. I still have my periods although they are never on a proper schedule and I have had issues. I just had a uterine biopsy and ultrasound = all negative .

But if my periods keep getting spaced out the way they are (regardless of the intensity of them), perhaps I am slowly heading into menopause (going to be 47 soon) and will tackled the AI path if need be.

I am one of the fortunate ones whereby Tamox doesn't play havoc with me. Apart from yucky hair and splitting nails. I think my not being able to stay asleep is part Tamox, part age and part not getting the darn hamster to get off his wheel (in my head).

Hugs to all - I secretly hope Tamox has been helping me - even with the knowledge of it not being useful for ILC.

I just had this discussion with my MO as well, as I am at the 4 year point and wondering about continuing with Femara beyond 5 years.  This decision has to factor in that I have experienced bone loss severe enough to be treated with Prolia - so if I continue with Femara I also have to continue with Prolia.  I am willing to continue hormonal therapy for 10 years, but the cost/benefit has to be weighed against the potential issues with this particular SE.  Here is some additional info on the BCI test, which my MO has suggested we will use in a year.  I am not sure my insurance will cover it since it is not FDA approved, even though Medicare does cover it.  It is also recommended for node negative patients, but apparently there is a distinction between the prognostic and predictive aspects, and the predictive part of the test is appropriate for N1 node positives.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703639/

Ratherbe, there was a new study that came out in December that recommended OS + either Tamoxifen or an AI (with an AI at a slight advantage) for premenopausal women that needed to do chemo. The risk of recurrence was lower. This was especially true for women 35 and under.

Just fyi, I had the BCI test free.  I had an Oncotype of 11 and am taking Arimidex for 10 years.  My BCI test showed benefit from continuing.

I'm at the 3 3/4year mark with tamoxifen. I'm suppose schedule a MO appt this month. Ugh!!! I think I'll wait a year to discuss this with my MO. I have a Federal Employee health plan, so my understanding is that if Medicare covers it, so will my plan. Will my MO order it???? I had to ask 3 times for the oncotype test, the result was a "4" but I did have positive pesky nodes. Without something directing me to continue, I will stop the Tamox. The uterine toxicity is evident with me. I keep growing polyps & needing D&Cs. I don't want to take an AI, have enough aches & pains. I'm also a thin, pale, frail, female with a family history of about 100% in my female relatives.

I'm 7 years out from diagnosis, and will finish seven magical years of Tamoxifen on November 30. Right at the five year mark, my oncologist mentioned excitedly that they've learned that there are benefits from taking it for up to 10 years. Yay. I've had one uterine biopsy and a transvaginal ultrasound - nothing to be concerned about, but the lining is thicker, I have some fibroids that look uninteresting, and I develop a functional ovarian cyst as my old ovaries try to whip up an egg. I have a week of annoying pelvic congestion (allegedly due to the ovarian cyst) every cycle, and then menstrual tsunami every 31 - 47 days. Usually it's about 21 days after the worst day of pelvic pressure. I know my oncologist wants me to take SOMETHING - she was pushing for me to continue the Tamoxifen until menopause, which she's SURE will befall me any day, despite my continuing menstrual fun that shows NO sign of abating. But at the last visit, the physician's assistant I saw mentioned that it's usually recommended that node positive women take it for 7 - 10 years. I was node negative, so she said, "It's up to you."

I really don't enjoy Tamoxifen, but I suppose I should be grateful I have something I can take. And I'm not menopausal, so I don't think I can switch to an AI. I'm another one of those skinny, white poster children for osteoporosis, so probably I want to avoid AI's for as long as I can.

Still - it's SO tempting to think that I could just STOP taking it... I almost wish the PA hadn't said it was up to me.

Haven't heard of the BCI test - my onc's part of a huge, multi-unit practice and they're usually pretty good at pushing the latest tests.

Oncotype DX test result was 11, btw...