Fall 2018 starting Hormone Therapy

My oncotype was 27. I'm 95% ER. Yes, it's because of side effects. I had stage 1, clean borders, no node involvement. Did lumpectomy and had breast reduction surgery and that tissue was tested and came back negative for cancer. They didn't expect me to have a high oncotype score, but I did. If I had kids, I'd probably feel differently. I'm otherwise very healthy. I've been under undue stress for a couple if years. I think that is what allowed for the cancer. Some of that stress has been alleviated. I'm hoping my body's immune system kicks back in and works this time. If not, I'll have to be at peace with my decision and I think I am. I also did not do chemo. I know, crazy, but maybe the cells weren't out of the gate and radiation got 'em .

The side effect that scares me is clotting. My family tends to have young strokes. My sister had one at 52 and this is her 11th year in a nursing home. I do not want that.

I totally forgot my pills yesterday. Arimidex, Claritin D3. Still haven’t started calcium. Finally took at 5pm. Slept great. So weird. Took this am and will see how I sleep tonight. So many things affect my sleep. Hasn’t been great for 15 years.

I do notice if I have a lazy day I don’t sleep as well.

Just popping in to say hi. I’ll start Arimidex in October sometime—not sure exactly when. I should be finished with rads 10/4. I’m hoping for a little break because I’m really not looking forward to this. I’ve kept an eye on the “Doing Well On AIs” thread and hoping I’ll be one of those women.

Has anyone heard about sliding in a little more gently? I know some women’s MOs have allowed them to start every other day for a while.

I have been on Tamoxifen for a while now, and have a tip regarding sleep. Try magnesium, but check with your doctor first. It helps a variety of side effects, such as sleep, muscle issues, etc.

hi all

I was hoping that just my double mastectomy would make me free and clear of any treatments (lucky) but my DCIS also had microinvasion (oddly it's ER/PR + unlike the large DCIS tumor it supposedly grew out of). My dr wants to treat with Aromasin.

I had a clot in my placenta with my 2nd child and tested for MTHFR gene mutation and the doctors think I may have a clotting disorder. She doesn't want to start me on tamoxifen so the plan is to give me Lupron and put me into menopause (I'm 49yo) and start the Aromasin. Just know thinking about this and I guess this is what I'll do. Hoping to hear more later this week

Hi all:)

I started tamoxifen last night. I am 8 days post op BMX with LD reconstruction, so I won't recognise any tamoxifen side effects for awhile as I still feel like I have been hit by a truck! I still have some questions and worries about tamoxifen, but feel decided enough to start. I am 43. Thanks for starting the thread! NVDobie, I am from Vancouver Island but now live in Australia

I had a pre-Herceptin check-in with my MO today and she didn't mention anything about the AIs and I *definitely* didn't ask. I won't see her again until Nov 5th, so maybe I won't start until then. That gets me through my birthday and WDW trip (plus would give me about a month to get over rads), so I am absoLUTEly fine with it (and am actually a little relieved!).

I wonder why my doctor started the hormone treatments while I am still in Radiation seems like most wait till it’s over. I have 15 more treatments. I was really positive for estrogen maybe they are worried about thsy

Finished first two weeks. So far so good. I had some aches and pains before that varied from day to day, week to week, and month to month. So I told my husband this am, “I am down 2 weeks of 520....518 to go!

I do have 2 friends who have muscle and joint pains often reacting to weather, which I would sometimes do. So they text me their flare ups so I can better judge if mine are weather related also or perhaps side effects. Very scientific micro study....

M

Tamoxifen can be taken by pre or post menopausal women. AI's can only be used post menopause - either natural or with suppression or removal of ovaries.