Tamoxifen and uterine cancer

First of all, a homeopath is NOT a doctor and shouldn't be advising you about medical issues or surgery. Secondly, the risk of uterine cancer developing in women taking tamoxifen is not "high"; it's a documented risk of about 1-3 women per 1,000. Yes, that risk goes up slightly the longer you stay on tamoxifen, but think of it this way: if your risk for have a cancer recurrence is 15% and your risk of developing tamoxifen-related uterine cancer is > 1%, then the benefits of continuing tamoxifen outweigh the risks. However, if you have a family history of uterine/endometrial cancers, then staying on tamoxifen may be something you wish to talk over with your doctor before coming to a decision.

Another thing to consider; some research has shown that women who take tamoxifen for a few years, then switch to arimidex have a higher long-term survival rate than women who take just tamoxifen alone. However, arimidex also has a number of side effects, including joint pain and bone deterioration. Again, you have to weigh if the benefits of switching outweigh the risks. Check your family history for bone density issues and discuss this with your doctor.

As for removing your ovaries; if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease and/or stroke, removing your ovaries could increase your risk for developing these conditions. This is the issue that I had to deal with. My risk of heart attack/stroke is significantly higher than my risk of developing a breast cancer recurrence/new breast cancer, so I opted to not have my ovaries removed. Of course that decision could change should a new risk factor emerge in my family, i.e., a first-degree relative with ovarian cancer, but - thus far - there are no cases.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers when it comes to breast cancer treatment and it often seems like one is hedging one's bets. It's a numbers game, involving statistics and documented outcomes based on studies which have varying demographics when it comes to breast cancer.