42 and thinking about Zoladex

I'm with you on the needing-to-know-I-did-everything-I-could thing.

I'm doing Zoladex + tamoxifen; I've read the studies (SOFT and TEXT); I know it's in my best interest; I also know that this is a middle-of-the-road treatment, because the absolute lowest risk of recurrence is in the Zoladex + AI group.

I draw the line at AI. I just can't, at 37, justify taking a drug that has the potential to affect my quality of life in such a negative way. My oncologist agrees.

My first month on Zoladex was . . . uh . . . challenging, to the point where I seriously considered pulling the plug on it and just taking tamoxifen. But then I re-read the SOFT study, and what stuck out to me was this: those of us who are pre-menopausal (especially <40), who did chemo, and who were both ER and PR+, are the most likely to benefit from ovarian suppression. Call us a high-risk group if you will, but it looks to me like the benefits outweigh the costs, you know?

Other than hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and a slightly lowered libido, it's not that bad. As for bone health: tamoxifen exerts a mild osteoprotective (and cardioprotective) benefit, given that it binds to estrogen receptors, which an AI does not do. The other good thing about the Z+T combo is that Zoladex thins the endometrial lining, whereas tamoxifen can increase it; they balance each other that way.

Am I happy about any of this? No. Am I grateful that the SOFT/TEXT data exists, and that I can get the most effective treatments? Yes. Do I want to be in menopause at 37? Hell no. Am I willing to do it, in the name of preventing recurrence? You bet.

I hope that helps. And vent away; this s*** calls for venting.

Hi!

I've been on Zoladex and aromasin for over a year. I'm doing fine. My side effects have been hot flashes, depression, and feeling a little creaky. I got rid of the depression with Celexa, and my hot flashes have decreased over time.

I was diagnosed at Stage IIIA, with 95%ER and 95% PR. I am willing to tolerate mild side effects and minor inconveniences to avoid recurrence and/or mets.

Im 41, on Lupron (OS) and stayed on tamoxifen. It's not so bad really. I get a bad headache the day after my injection. But that's about it. I love not having my period. My OB really wanted me to keep my ovaries, this seemed like a good middle ground. Hugs and Goodluck with your decision.

Tresjoli2 Would you mind sharing more about what your OB said about keeping ovaries? I spoke to my MO, the midwives that delivered my son and a very good friend who heads the OB GYN at our local teaching hospital - all said at this point go for the oophorectomy. I'm on Lupron (OS) + Letrozole (AI), I think I get more SEs from Letrozole mostly in the form of joint pain, but I think I'm managing ok.

If I can take one less drug I am certainly for that. But I see opposing views here, so I thought I'd ask. Oh, I'm 45 and had two kids. I was pre-menopausal before all this fun started, I haven't had a period since I started chemo in January.