Tamoxifen

Pretty much anyone who is diagnosed as hormone positive is suggested to take Tamoxifen or an AI to reduce the risk of recurrence. For those of us who've already done chemo and BMX - it's a big question of benefit vs risk. Your doctors would be the best people to discuss your personal residual risk for BC.

I took Tamoxifen for 3 months because - even though I had a great response to chemo and should have very little breast tissue remaining - I was afraid of not following through. Even more than the dread of hearing a cancer diagnosis again - the worry of how I would handle it is forefront in my mind.

I quit due to unmanageable SE's. But many people do well and therefore are rarely posting on here. I would recommend trying it and seeing how you do. We are all so different and you never know unless you try.

Cl,

I was stage 1, grade 1. No chemo or rads. Straight to implants. Been almost 6 months on tamoxifen. Side effect for me is minimal, dryness effect. No hot flashes like others have, which is usually a top side effect. For me, I see it as another thing I can do to hopefully prevent a recurrence. No guarantees but not many things have. For many, like the op above, the se's are intolerable. If that's what is worrying you, you won't know how your body reacts to it, until you try. You may have none.

I took Tamoxifen for 4 years and Arimidex for 1 year. Oncologist switched me because Arimidex attacks the bones and I was borderline osteoporosis. I am 6 years out last August. I was Stage 1b, Grade 1 IDC. I had a lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments.

I had occasional hot flashes, lack of concentration and joint pain. Tolerable but at times the joint pain was brutal.

I too was afraid not to take it plus it was my extra insurance policy. Admittedly, if the SEs had beenintolerable I probably would have stopped or maybe tried another drug.

I didn't want to look back and say what if...

Diane