Tamoxifin, Endometrial biopsy & Uterine Cancer

I had repeated thickening of the lining - but my gyno was looking at 9mm-11mm, I don't know what your figures refer to. I was ALWAYS given the choice of an endometrial biopsy in the office OR a D&C as oupatient and I always chose the D&C. (twilight anesthetic) even though I kept getting D&Cs (2) as a result of thickening - it wasn't until I had symptoms - at first a light brown stain and then a light pink stain - that a TVU revealed more thickening and a polyp and the subsequent D&C revealed a lesion. In retrospect, from first symptom to hysterectomy - about 10 months. So yes it does happen - the vast majority of endometrial cancer is in post-menopausal women and the vast majority of tamoxifen caused endometrial cancer also in post-menopausal women. Mine was caught very early - only surgery, no radiation or chemo.

Yes my sister in law got endometrial cancer from tamoxifen we are presuming it was that treatment for her breast cancer. They immediately discontinued the drug and now is doing chemo before they operate.

I have no answers . . . actually facing some of the same questions as OP. After no periods for 2+ years, I started spotting/bleeding about 12 days ago. I'm still spotting. Ultrasound found some thickening of uterine lining, not apparently significant, but also 2 ovarian cysts. One close to 5cm on my left ovary.

My doc wants to do D&C and hysteroscopy. She also started talking about a hysterectomy/removal of ovaries. I feel like that's jumping the gun! Are there really such great risks to a wait and see approach?

(And Hi to Keep the Faith from my Chemo sisters board!)

I've been taking tamoxifen for something like 6 weeks. Just got back from a transvaginal ultrasound (baseline kind of thing) and gyno appointment. She says my lining is right on the "cusp" of needing a biopsy. Report back in 3 months for another transvaginal ultrasound and possible biopsy. I had a biopsy done years ago due to heavy bleeding and it hurt like crazy for sure. She says they've come up with a better technique and it's now less painful. I really don't want to find out, but am afraid that's where this is going. Because I'm perimenopausal (I've had my period about 7 times total in the last 2 years) all bleeding is suspect at this point, so if I have any I'm supposed to report it ASAP.

Since I started Tamoxifen I've had the worst yeast infection ever, sex has become painful, especially afterwards, it takes me days to recover, I'm moody and out of sorts, my hair is thinning and today I bought a pack of cigarettes (the first in well over a year). I'm planning to open a bottle of wine soon because it is 5:00 somewhere. I really don't know if it's worth it. I won't see my OC again until August, but I'm so not happy with Tamoxifen. I put off taking it for a year and felt really good before I started it--now, not so much. Oh, and my endo wants to see me every 3 months now too because Tamoxifen can screw up thyroid meds and they may need to be adjusted. I've been stable with that medication for a couple of years but remember how horrible I felt when my thyroid messed up (Hashimoto's). Not good at all!

Yes, I need a drink!

lol. I was going to ask you if the AI was treating you more kindly. Guess not! Crap.

my doctor has taken me off of hormone replacement therapy, and now I'm having terrible hot flashes again. My doc put me on Vitamin D and Paxil for hot flashes. I went through menopause at about 41 and started the HRT at 42. My gyno did a routine ultra sound bc of the breast cancer diagnosis and my endometrial lining was thick. I had a biopsy of that yesterday and it was extremely unpleasant. As far as I'm concerned they can take it all out. I'm not doing another biopsy like that one. I'm glad I didn't read this thread before the biopsy bc I probably wouldn't have done it! My doctor says that if I don't start having sex often, then I'm going to have real problems with the lining of my vagina getting really thin (from no Estrogen) and I might not be able to have sex. Can anyone relate to this? I don't want this to happen. I'm only 49.

TheLadyGray, I have a friend who became unable to have sex after menopause due to the lining getting so thin. The problem is, that at this time, we usually only have sex on weekend bc I'm so tired, or my husband is doing something else. Not sure if that's enough? My friend tried all sorts of medications that her gyno gave her with no success.

I have been on Tamoxifen almost a year. They just found a large tumor the size of a grapefruit in my pelvis. They don't have a clue what it is---having surgery April 20th. I had a hysterectomy years ago and only have 1 ovary left, which appears unremarkable on the CT and ultrasound.

I have heard that Tamoxifen can make things grow, but haven't found much to support it during my research.

Sorry you have to go through this!

Deb

Dutchgirl6, completely understand. 7 years later and still dealing. Had a brief pity party today.I too am from Okanogan ... County in Washington.

Hi ladies - I found this thread last night knowing I had an endometrial biopsy today just to get a feel for the experience of my bc sisters. I'm so sorry some of you ladies have had such horrific pain. When they make it so painful it's easy to put it off for sure (I thought about "forgetting" my appointment this morning!). I am generally a sissy about pain and was all set to beg for an epidural (ha ha) or a hysterectomy so I don't have do bear this procedure annually. But I was pleasantly surprised. My doc had prescribed a med (misoprostol) that I took last night to help me dilate, I took 800mg of ibuprofen about an hour before and a Xanax to calm my nerves maybe 20 minutes before since I was a freaked out. It wasn't fun, but it was super quick (maybe a few minutes?), a painful pinch or two, and then a tiny bit of cramping (nothing as bad as a period cramp) and that's it. I really think it's primarily the skill of the doc. There is just no reason that docs aren't more helpful in making the procedure more bearable. So if you've had a terrible experience, maybe try a new doc before avoiding it. Thinking of all of you and wishing you health!!!

Great News dutchgirl6! I hope I am so lucky. Have a biopsy next Thursday. Definitely worried.

Hi all,

I just wanted to mention my own experience with an endometrial biopsy -- since I just had one yesterday. Like others, I was completely freaked out and worried that the experience would be extremely painful. I talked to my ob/gyn about my fears, and she said there were definitely things we could do to make the biopsy easier on me.

I ended up taking two 200 mcg tablets of Misoprostol three hours before the procedure -- which helped my cervix dilate a bit. Then, I took two 325 mg tablets of hydrododone (pain med) and one 5 mg tablet of Valium (anti-anxiety med) one hour before the procedure. These meds helped me tremendously. I was relaxed and the biopsy didn't hurt much at all -- just a couple of pinches. I think bcisnofun had a similar experience. So, I would HIGHLY recommend medical intervention/assistance when it comes to an endometrial biospy. Why suffer unnecessarily?

If the biopsy is negative, the next step will be a D&C. If it's positive, that will mean a hysterectomy. I know the odds of Taxomifen causing uterine cancer are low (isn't it 1 in 500?), but I'm still very anxious. Really don't want to go through cancer treatment again.

I did have one question for the group. My official diagnosis (after the transvaginal ultrasound) was "cystic endometrial hyperplasia". Has anyone been told they have that specifically? And if so, do you know how common it is for those on Tamoxifen? My ob/gyn is telling me it's not that common, but I'm finding that hard to believe.

Pam

Rozem - I had a couple biopsies while on Tamoxifen. They are no fun. I spoke to a gynonc about my issues. I discovered that uterine cancer is very rare and often easily curable with a hysterectomy. Thus I didn't really worry too much about it. I was peri menopausal at the time and had continuous bleeding from a polyp and a couple of episodes of incredibly heavy bleeding. I blamed in on T ( and still do) but coincidentally I spoke to my onc's nurse and she had the same thing premenopausally and has never had BC or been on Tamoxifen.

In the end I had a D&C and an ooph then moved to an AI. After struggling for about a year on the AI I'm back to Tamoxifen. Crazy to think that I'm relieved to be back on it.

Best of luck. Finger and toes crossed that everything is just fine.

The same gynonc told me if the uterus is proven benign with a D&C there is no reason to remove it. So I didn't. My gyn gave me a list of option from doing nothing to a full ooph/hyst - I opted to just do the ooph/D&C - it was very easy surgery and beside being a bit tired the next day I was back at it.

If I was a betting person, I'd bet that Tamoxifen is up to its old tricks with you, and you'll be just fine. Hug to you my friend.

well I had the biopsy this AM - they had a cancellation. Of course I then freaked because im thinking they must have squeezed me in....

no warning of taking anything and that hurt like hell. I am actually quite disappointed in my Gyn's office for not warning me about the pain

in any case she did the dreaded biopsy and she said that normally with uterine cancer she sees a lot of sheets of tissue and mine didn't look that way. My lining is 10mm and I have cysts. Oh and my ovaries are still working because I have follicles - chemo/zoladex/tam/age and I cant slow these puppies down...back to the shots I go

thanks for all your support ladies