Let's Talk About Hormone Therapy

I have 2 more rounds of chemo and then I'll be doing the hormone therapy, too. My MO said tamoxifen for 10 years, but also interested to see what other people have done - if AIs are a better choice. I had eggs retrieved prior to chemo and I'm hoping to have another child in a few years through IVF, so I'll have to see how that factors in as well... I'll be following this to see what others say.

I've been on al (arimidex) and zoladex for over a year now. For the first few months I had hot flushes, insomnia and some bone ache, but by the 7 month mark all had calmed down considerably. It's very manageable now and I feel pretty much normal. I'm 36 now

If I were stage 1 or even 2 I would either skip hormone therapy or just do tamoxifen. But at stage 3c I feel I have to do OS plus AI due to the studies showing they are more effective for young women. I sure hope they work. I am expecting the worst in terms of SEs because so far every treatment (surgery, chemo, rads) has been far less tolerable than my doctors led me to expect! Really not excited about feeling and looking much older, which is what other patients in their 30s have told me happened to them

I'm 27 and I've been on arimidex and zoladex for 2 months. To second Lottemarine's post, I've also been experiencing the hot flushes (particularly while I'm trying to sleep), insomnia and body aches. They're pretty rough at the moment, though I'm just getting back into weight-lifting after surgery/treatment so I think my symptoms are being compounded by other factors.

Thank you, Lottemarine for sharing your experiences . Makes me hopeful that the worst of this will be over at some point in the next few months/year.

Hey Ladies,

Its nice to see other survivors and welcome! Hopefully we all can be of some support to one another.

I finished chemo back in April 2016 for ER/PR positive breast cancer, that summer I was medicine free and started taking Tamoxifen in Sept 2016, for me Tamoxifen wasnt too bad, I experienced hot flashes and weight gain but I controlled the hot flashes, fatigue with marijuana, exercise and acupuncture.

My oncologist and I then decided to start Arimidex because of the SOFT Trial results, Arimidex is a bit different, I gained more weight and have osteopenia in my hip and lower back so I started a bone strength supplement.

If you all have any questions please ask!

Ask your optometrist or MO about using retaine eye drops by OCuSoft.It's preservative free. I wouldn't use visine. My optometrist said it's the worse thing for your eyes and causes a rebound effect when you stop using it. That happened to me. Now it's retaine. Kind of pricey but worth it, always check with medical docs first. Hope this helps

Hej everybody,

I was wondering if there is anyone who did not take Letrozole or Tamoxifen...

I just stopped Letrozole after a year , they suggested Tamoxifen, which I intend not to take...

Hi Everyone,

I just got my oncotype score yesterday and my Oncologist prescribed Tamoxifen to start taking.  My husband and I desire to have another child.  Does anyone know if it's safe to delay tamoxifen and get pregnant first?

I really appreciate your responses.  Best wishes to all!

I think most oncologists want you to be on Tamoxifen for at least 2 years before you break for a pregnancy.

Nem126- Our diagnosis and treatment plan is very similar.

I've been on Tamoxifen for about 5 weeks now and have very mild, barely noticeable side effects. I have the option to do OS+AI in a few months when I have my follow up. I'm not sure I want to do it and I'm leaning toward not pursuing it. Yes, we're young and there OS+AI has shown a benefit over tamoxifen alone, but I don't know if I feel like the benefit is worth the side effects and risk of bone loss. If my cancer had been more agressive or if I had lymphatic/vascular invasion I would do it without question.

As for periods I had a mirena IUD installed in 2015, and before that I was pregnant/breastfeeding so i haven't had a period since 2013. I had my IUD removed in March. I only just got my first period (ugh, I didn't miss it at all!) and it's much lighter than I expected. I guess that's the tamoxifen? I hear the paragaurd is a good method of BC for us ER/PR+ ladies.

Hi,

Curious to see if anyone is on Arimidex and Lupron shots (monthly). I was on Tamoxifen for 2.5 years and it started to cause liver damage (quit January 2017). Now I am getting Lurpon shops to bump me into menopause and take Arimidex daily. I am miserable. Weight gain, joint and bone aches. I just turned 40 and will continue this for another 2 years.

thanks for your advise!

It's really ok. I still have 6 week periods (the time in between, lol), hot flashes only in the middle of that. Dry eyes are managed though eye doctor thinks it was the radiation that set it off.

Otherwise my hair is thinning a little now and I have been having some dry mouth. I don't know for sure if the tamoxifen is the cause.

I will keep plugging away. I had the one positive node but no chemo, and was 100% er/pr positive. And I just had a family member get diagnosed with mets after nearly 2 decades of NED...so yeah, I am grateful to swallow that pill every morning, even with side effects. I would like 2 more decades of my own!!

Periods as in menstrual cycles!! They used to be 4 weeks on the dot, now it's 6 weeks.