Thickened endometrium and tamoxifen

pinkgirl09,

It only took me about a year and a half to get to 17 mm. (I'm assuming you didn't mean 15 metres. 😉) Endometrial biopsy showed inflammation but nothing malignant. I hope the same for you!

I am still taking the tamoxifen. I did stop for four weeks during that whole ordeal. Monitoring the uterus via TVUS and considering a hysterectomy but I'm very reluctant to have another surgery. Also rather reluctant to have another cancer. I have a large uterine fibroid and other smaller ones. It may be possible to have a minimally invasive procedure,which would be way better, but still there are risks of surgical complications and anesthesia.

I started to have bleeding episodes. They found that my uterine thickness had hit 17 mm after 6 months of tamox. I went through a battery of imaging sessions (and an in office removal of a few cervical polyps) and eventually ended up getting a D&C. Apparently my cervical polyps had a number of big brothers and sisters in my uterus. All benign. The D&C was 3 years ago and I remain steady at 4-5 mm. Hang in there Pinkgirl, I've read many of the same story on the threads.....a vast majority were benign. I'm crossing my fingers your results are clear...keep us posted!

Maybe it's something in our Canadian water ))))

Edited to add: *waves at Pixi(dust)* My D&C was done with twilight anesthetic, and it was more of a scrape than highly invasive. I was partial awake through it all. Up and out in 2 hours. 1 day rest and I was back on track.

Thanks, pinkgirl! Let us know how things go for you!

I only took Tamoxifen for 3 months and found out a few months later that my endometrium was 1.2 cm. The follow up US 3 months later showed it was up to 1.6 cm and my GYN started talking options. Her opinion was that a D&C would be best as an endometrial biopsy could potentially miss an area of concern whereas a D&C would remove all tissue for pathology. And then I got my period - 18 months after chemo stopped them.

So now I'm trying to figure out when to do a repeat US. Best option would be right after my period - but haven't had another one!

I had a trans vaginal ultrasound today since being on Tamoxifen for 4 months and now my lining is 17 mm. Prior to that, my lining was 2 mm and I'm post menopausal. The report said a 17 mm lining is not for a post menopausal patient. Described kind of strangely but I'm not sure what to do. The Onc Gyn says the Tamoxifen benefits outweigh the risks but it doesn't seem like it to me. I really don't want surgery or to have continual problems. I don't have any bleeding or pain and the lining doesn't indicate any malignancy. I'll talk with my MO but it sure seems like the choices aren't very good and now there's damage to my lining.

Thanks Beaverntx. I attempted to add you as a friend, did you get the request.

Veeder - Why did you have the US done? And what does the GYN ONC want to do with that info? Usually, it's either watch or biopsy. Or possibly D&C or hysterectomy.

I had a thickened endometrium found several months after stopping Tamoxifen. I'd only taken it for three months. I had the US because of pain. They just watched it for a couple of months and it increased. But then I had a period (18 months after none with chemopause). The lining was normal (3mm) at last check.

I've had two D & C's this year because of thickened endometrium. March ultrasound measured at 9mm biopsy showed nothing. October showed 19mm and my recent D&C found a polyp but no malignancy. My MO switched me to Aromasin as I cannot keep going having 2 D&C's s year. I had no pain or cramping, no bleeding and no other issues with tamoxifen. No period since chemo started. I do test postmenopausal now so I guess I'm done at 52. Is an AI an option for you Veeder? It has its drawbacks too though. I already have osteopenia and I'm tiny. So just another thing to worry about.

Hi All: I'm having the same issues--thickened uterine lining, plus hypervascularity and have only been on Tamox for just over a year. I'm having my 3rd uterine biopsy later this month b/c I was having monthly bleeding again (though in perimenopause) .. I'm guessing I will have to choose between a hysterectomy and sticking with Tamox or switching to AIs (not sure if I would need Lupron b/c not completely menopausal yet), but I'm afraid of the osteoporosis and joint pain. Doc says she can give me meds for bone strengthening which I'm sure have their own side effects. OTOH, I read that hysterectomy can lead to bladder issues like leaking and reduced orgasm. Anyone have that experience?

Hi 3bears,

Did they tell you how thick your lining is in mm? If I had been at the end of taking Tamoxifen with a 17 mm thickness I probably would have tried a D & C first before hysterectomy. Sorry the D & C didn't help you? Do you know why? Has it been done more than once? I don't know much about that procedure.

Hysterectomy is major surgery, and takes time approx 6-8 weeks to recover. I'm 2 1/2 weeks out. Removing the ovaries is an added surgery usual done at the same time as hysterectomy if you want both. I'm BRAC2 so had my ovaries removed as well to prevent ovarian cancer.

Is there any chance you can or want to switch over to the Als instead of Tamoxifen? If so, maybe you can try the D & C again and avoid major surgery.

Just an added observation: Tamoxifen lists a 1% chance of endometrial cancer which seems misleading as so many women get thick lining from taking it much more than 1%. I was surprised it happened to me so quickly. Found out Tamoxifen actually gives the uterus estrogen, didn't know that starting out.