Agreed to 10 years of hormonal therapy. Doing great!

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pupmom
pupmom Member Posts: 5,068

I was initially given Aromasin, but after several years of joint issues, MO switched me to Tamoxifen. I had a lot of extreme hot flashes for about a year, but that has subsided, and I really don't have any SEs now. I am happy to continue with Tamoxifen, and hopefully benefit from the extended protection.

With all the negative stuff regarding hormonal therapy on this board, I thought something positive was needed.

Comments

  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited January 2017

    Thanks for the encouragement! Glad to hear that you're on a positive track. I saw my MO yesterday and I signed on to another dose of Lupron and to try an AI, so hopefully it'll go smoothly. If not I'll follow you into Tam land

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Falconer, you can do it! We sometimes go back and forth from Tam to Als. If you have had the Oncotype DX Test, you will know your risk with and without hormonal treatment. I am one who, usually, follows doctors' orders, (although I switched treatment teams when it became obvious my first team was incompetent), I do believe in science based research. Best wishes!

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited January 2017

    yorkoemom...I'm so happy you are doing well on Tamoxifen. I also agree it's important to report. Continued good health. Be well.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Thanks dtad! Back at ya!

  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited January 2017

    Good job letting everyone know that treatment is doable!!! Keep it up!

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Michelle, it is entirely doable, and much preferable, understatement, than the alternative.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2017

    I did 9 years of AIs and had the BCI test done which proved 5.3% benefit. It was doable.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017
  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited January 2017

    Thanks for your support! Good job Aug on the ability to finish what you started. I pray that I can do the same.

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2017

    Well, I think I'm going to do 10 years on Aromasin. I'm coming close to my two-year anniversary, with minimal side effects! Lucky me, and no offense to anyone who found Aromasin intolerable

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Elaine, staying on these meds is very doable for most. But the people who don't experience many problems tend not to post, so we get an extremely negative viewpoint here. That's why I started this thread, where we can celebrate the positive aspect of treatment, especially that staying alive thingey!

  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited January 2017

    I am considering starting with Aromasin, as I hear it does have fewer side effects. Of course, doing all my research and reading studies. I have so much respect for all the ladies that make it the full amount of time. It is quite uplifting knowing that I will be on these meds for 5 years. Keep up the good work!!

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Michelle, your salmon dinner sounds delish! I made tilapia and lima beans, one of my hubby's favorites. Taking my grandsons to the movie today, and really going to fight the popcorn craving!

  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited January 2017

    Girl, you do not look old enough for grandkids. Maybe grand poochies, but your family looks so young. My kids are 20 and 18. Do you eat the skinny popcorn? It is good, low cal and carbs.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Why thank you Michelle! I'm not sure if you mean my avatar, but that is actually the Obamas (hard to see though). IDK, because on previous posts I have included pics of myself and a grandkid. My grandsons are 17, 14 and 9. The older one doesn't hang out with grandma much anymore, but we're still close.

  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited January 2017

    thanks ladies. Yorkiemom, you mentioned coming off of Aromasin bc of joint issues. Would you be willing to share what that was like? These days I'm full of aches and pains! It's hard to know what's what! But yes, I am signed on for the long haul. My 3 children are 18, 15, and 3!! Want to keep my eye on DFS

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Well, maybe the term "joints" was not accurate. I had necrosis of my femur. Doctors thought it was my spine, and I actually had a failed spinal fusion as a result. Months later, while I became more and more immobile and in terrible, increasing pain, my GP referred me to a rheumatologist. That guy FINALLY noticed that my hips were completely immobile and ordered a simple x-ray. That's when they discovered that the upper parts of both femurs were GONE. I was walking, or attempting to walk, with the rest of my femurs floating around in my hip areas. Soooo, long story shorter, I have had two complete hip replacements, and am now doing great.

    There is no empirical evidence, but my DH and I suspect the Zometa infusions I had after my lumpectomy caused this condition. Zometa is known to cause jaw necrosis, but no data, to that point, indicated necrosis could happen elsewhere in the body.

    I was, and still am, pretty mad at the numerous doctors who failed to even physically examine my hips. A basic x-ray uncovered the issue, but I had to suffer horribly for 2 years before that was done.

  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited January 2017

    yorkiemom- I'm on my 5th year of Tamoxifen and I too had a hip replacement in 2015, same reason, I suffered for over two years, me and my Dr's were thinking pain and limping was caused by my back problems, xray showed bone to bone of left hip.... do you think Tamoxifen has anything to do with it???

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Loral, I was on Aromasin when this problem happened. I went on Tamoxifen before my first hip replacement. But who the heck knows what the causes are???

  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited January 2017

    yorkiemom- I'm sorry you had to suffer for so long! It's amazing what I read about in this community how strong women are who continue to live through so much!

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Falconer, thanks for those words of support! I, like all of us here, just did what I had to. Like my dear dad used to say, it's better than the alternative.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2017

    Loral, did you have chemo? Chemo is known to cause femur necrosis. I didn't have chemo, but did get Zometa infusions for months.

  • bearcub
    bearcub Member Posts: 485
    edited January 2017

    I will be 5 years on tamoxifen in December of 2017, so I am starting to consider if I should stay on for another 5 years. I have done well on tamoxifen, no issues...tough decisions, a part of me just wants to be off all meds, and then on the other hand it mentally is asecurity blanket.

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