Tamoxifen or AIs for Recurrent DCIS (17 yrs) - post-menopausal

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DCISCarol
DCISCarol Member Posts: 5
edited December 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi all - been looking at some posts here, and thanks for all the info.

I have recurrent DCIS after 17 years. First diagnosis: DCIS and DCIS/microinvasion (1mm). SNB - 1/2; high grade (comedo) DCIS. Had lumpectomy with clear margins/Radiation therapy. All went well, Chose NOT to take tamoxifen. This was 1999.

Now - 2016 - some suspicious microcalcifications/biopsy/DCIS - 1mm in the biopsy, NO necrosis, intermediate grade, ER+/PR-.same breast as the first - near the site of the first.

Lumpectomy and found residual DCIS (2.5mm total area); ER+/PR+, NO necrosis, clear margins (all >5mm). Docs are recommending hormone therapy; I have decided to give it a try, but if I have side effects that I think are unacceptable for my low chance of recurrence, I will quit the hormone therapy. Did request my onc. to look at the Oncotype DCIS test to see if my insurance covers it. My VNPI is good because of small size/wide margins/my age/and tumor grade.

SO - for those of you who are post-menopausal/DCIS - are the side effects for you more tolerable with Tamo or and AI?


THANKS for your feedback!

Carol

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Comments

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited December 2016

    Hi Carol,

    There is no way to predict what side effects you will get until you try. What does your MO recommend? If you don't have significant bone, joint or osteoporosis issues your MO may recommend AI first. If you get bad side effects on AI you can switch to tamox. Tamox has different potential side effects.

    I have been on generic AI - anastrozole - for almost three years and have very minor side effects from it.

    Good luck!

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  • DCISCarol
    DCISCarol Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2016

    THANKS! And, yes, I know I'm over-thinking this so I decided yesterday to go with an AI - that is what my MO recommends, and I chose to start with Femara (letrozole?) - and we'll see how it goes. I'm usually good with not many side effects from drugs, and I haven't had any trouble the last 10 years (since my hysterectomy for fibroids) - so I'm cautiously optimistic! If SEs are bad, I plan to try the others - we'll see -


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