Tamoxifin, Endometrial biopsy & Uterine Cancer

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  • ChgoDeb
    ChgoDeb Member Posts: 31
    edited May 2016

    I've been in tamoxefin just over 2 years. Prior to starting, my uterine lining was 5mm, 1 year later 16mm. Yikes! Ive had a biopsy a a D&C. I go for ultra sounds every 6 months. My next one is coming up soon. I'm scared to death. I'm want to quit tamoxefin but my onco is adamant that I continue. AIs not an option since I have osteoporosis.

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  • TheLadyGrey
    TheLadyGrey Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2016

    Well, I had the endometrial biopsy -- my third -- on Wednesday. My gyno brought in a nurse anesthesist to sedate me and I didn't feel a thing. Cost me $500 and it was worth every penny. I went round and round in my head about spending the money but in the end decided there was no way I could lay still and go through that again.

    The biopsy came back quickly and benign.

    I'm having a hysterectomy in July. My gyno agrees given the ablation history, the fibroids (does anyone even know what a fibroid is?) and my desire to continue on Tamoxifin. I tolerate it very well and am more scared of the side effects of an AI than I am a recurrence of BC.

    It may be overkill but I'm tired of cancer dancing around on the periphery of my vision -- just had some spots removed from my chin -- and this will be one less way it can get to me, one less thing to worry about.

    Not sure how the gyno is going to posture it to the insurance company.....

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  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited June 2016

    hello all

    I wanted to give a quick update...my biopsy came back normal...so relieved! there was no talk of a hysterectomy/ooph so I didn't go there. I am really trying to hang on to my ovaries a little while longer. I am back on the shots but still on tamox - I will try an AI again at 5 years since it looks like I'm on hormone therapy for 10 - yippee!

    thank you all so much for your input, everyone else in my life, while supportive, sometime don't really understand that you never really move on from BC -

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2016

    yay rozem! Glad it was all clear! Tamoxifen - the gift that keeps on giving!

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  • ChgoDeb
    ChgoDeb Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2016

    Mine keeps thickening as well. After 2 1/2 years on tamoxefin, the lining is 19mm....YIKES! Scheduled for a D&C. SO scared of what the result will be

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2016

    Deb - Just keep reminding yourself of how truly rare endometrial cancer is.

    I'm starting to think gyns can thank Tamoxifen for a lot of business. In two years I had several biopsies, ultrasounds, hysteroscopy, and a D&C. All was clear each time.

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  • julieped
    julieped Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016

    I have a pre-op today and then on 6/21 will have a hysteroscopy and d and c. I had a uterine biopsy and ultrasound last week and it came back inconclusive.

    I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 3 years. I can't believe this is happening. The waiting is really hard.

    It is comforting to know others have gone through this and the chance of cancer is very rare.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    Had general anesthesia and a hysteroscopy and d and c on June 6th, should have pathology results on June 20th, Gyn said it looked non cancerous......Been on Tamoxifen since 12/2012.

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  • julieped
    julieped Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016

    Loral

    Thank you for your reply. I was wondering what your recovery was like after the procedure? Were you tired, sore? Also did they tell you why it takes so long to get the results? Any info would help.


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  • McClure77
    McClure77 Member Posts: 55
    edited June 2016

    I was on tamoxifen for around 6 months and experienced uterine changes. Given everything, both oncologists felt that a hysterectomy was the best way to go. The pathology came back clean. I'm glad it did, but the whole thing is a little frustrating. As I listed in another thread, I suspect that Tamoxifen wouldn't have been very effective anyway.

    Something that we should ALL know is that if you have issues with Opiates (codone, etc) not working properly on you, (estimated 6-10% of population) then there is a very good chance that Tamoxifen ALSO isn't working properly on you.(is metabolized the same way) But Drs are not telling us this. Why? Women in this situation die of recurrence 3 to 4 times as much as women who do not have this issue, probably because they are taking a drug that isn't even working right and they don't even know it! And having side effects STILL doesn't mean it's working right, as many of us get very sick from Opiates, but don't get the pain relief. We are taking these drugs without any way to even know if they are doing what we HOPE they are doing to our estrogen levels. I find that strange, honestly.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    Julie, thanks for asking. How are you????

    I was fine when I woke up, probably the pain meds they gave me...I stayed in recovery for an hour than was sent home to rest and not drive for 24 hours...At the hospital by 6 am home by 10 am....I wore a mini pad and had very little cramping and a small amount of spotting...Not bad at all...

    My Ob Gyn wanted to see me in exactly 2 weeks, I'm sure he has the results, and they are probably negative for Cancer, I hope...


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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited June 2016

    Had a biopsy of endometrium and cervix this week and flat out told Gyn I will NOT go through that again without being well drugged up or out. Pelvic ultrasound was done due to a greenish discharge which found a 2cm-3cm multi-cyst on the cervix.

    Thankfully only took Tamoxifen for several months a few years ago. I'm on AI since 10/2012. Couldn't take Tamoxifen due to blood clots happening during reconstruction surgery.

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  • julieped
    julieped Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016

    Loral-thanks for writing back. I am doing ok. My procedure is tomorrow at 10:15 and I will be glad to get it done. The hard part for me is waiting for the biopsy results - reminds me of bc all over again. I am glad you are doing well and I know you will get good news.


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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    Julie, wishing you well with your procedure...

    Yes, good news! No cancer, he said my uterus is clean and I shouldn't have to have this done again....

    FYI... my GYN said that in his 27 years of practice he has never seen endometrial cancer caused by Tamoxifen... and he recommends 10 years of Tamoxifen.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2016

    Loral - My gyn said something similar, in fact I think she said she'd never seen a case of endo cancer.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited June 2016

    Good to hear as I wait for TVUS results.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    Farmerlucy that is what we need to hear............

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  • julieped
    julieped Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016

    My procedure went well and I found out yesterday it is benign! What a relief. I had an endrometrial polyp that was removed. Both doctors said it was ok to continue tamoxifen.

    Loral, thanks for your encouraging words.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    Congrats!!! Yes, I'm still taking Tamoxifen too..........

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited June 2016

    All righty, then. I will be having an endometrial biopsy in a couple of weeks. Ick.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2016

    ksusan-Let us now how it goes...best wishes!

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  • Live4them
    Live4them Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2016

    I have an endometrial aspiration biopsy tomorrow in the AM, my Gyno says it's not painful that she's not cutting anything. Reading on here she's lying lol..

    Going to take a cocktail on my own before going. Glad to see most come back benign . I'll keep you all posted

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited June 2016

    Hi Live4, My endometrial biopsies were not painful. I have some issues that made it difficult. 1st, my uterus is tipped backwards. This meant the GYN had to pull it forward with forceps. 2nd, I have a fibroid on the entry to my cervix that makes it hard to pass the instrument used for the biopsy(it was this whirligig thin tubing thing). I certainly felt pulling & tugging. It was quick & really not anymore painful than a PAP. I've needed this procedure done every 6-9months since starting on Tamoxifen almost 5years ago. All benign so far.

    Good luck tomorrow! Hope your experience is more like mine than some of the others shared here.

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  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited June 2016

    take something before (ask your doc) mine was painful - but maybe I just have a low tolerance to pain. An advil or something before should suffice

    I will have to have one annually due to tam - fun times!

    my last one was b9 as well - hope all you ladies going for your biopsies have the same result

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited June 2016

    People who found it painful--have you had a child? People who found it not so painful: How about you?

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  • ChgoDeb
    ChgoDeb Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2016

    Thanks for the info! D&C is next week... So worried. My docs give so little info & just not very comforting. Glad to hear many of you had benign results

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  • Live4them
    Live4them Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2016

    Coraleliz

    Went this morning to do the biopsy, and after a 10 Minute struggle they couldn't get passed my cervix for some reason it wouldn't open WTH .. So now the doctor wantS to schedule a d&c somewhat sedated .. Anyone ever have this issue ?

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  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited June 2016

    I found it painful and I've had 2 kids

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2016

    Me too. Very painful. Two kids.


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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited June 2016

    Live 4- I've had D&Cs due to Tamoxifen. I'm also grow polyps on Tamoxifen. I get a D&C when they take out my polyps. My procedures were done as an outpatient with anesthesia. I've also had several D&Cs for miscarriages prior to BC. Perhaps this explains my tolerance.

    Childbirth x2 for me

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