Tamoxifen for Tripoli Positive

windgirl
windgirl Member Posts: 340
edited August 2019 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi, I was diagnosed 5 years ago with triple positive BC and did the full treatment including Herceptin for one year. I've been taking Tamoxifen for 4.5 years almost, and know that the standard is now 10 years. While several doctors have repeated this to me, my breast surgeon whom I adore and respect has a different view. He said that the stats that show 10 years is better was not for triple positives like me who received Herceptin. He believes what protects us is the Herceptin and that taking Tamoxifen more than the 5 years is not necessary and in fact maybe more harmful due to side effects.

Have any of you heard a similar recommendation from your doctors, or considered stopping around the 5 year mark? Thanks


PS: my phone changed Tripple to Tripoli in the titleand I can’t edit it to correct it

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  • Gudrun
    Gudrun Member Posts: 140
    edited August 2019

    This is an interesting point, dear windgirl. Thank you very much for letting us know your doctor's view. I hope others will chime in who have more knowledge. G

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  • Gudrun
    Gudrun Member Posts: 140
    edited August 2019

    windgirl, did your surgeon mention any data of some retrospective studies that might confirm his findings? I would be eager to know. Or does somebody in this forum have any idea?

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  • windgirl
    windgirl Member Posts: 340
    edited August 2019

    hi, no there aren’t any direct studies but what he was referring to is the study that resulted in the 10 year recommendation did not consider the Her2 status. I think his view is since Her2 positive is a different disease the recommendation doesn’t directly give triple positives a reliable comparison of 5 vs 10, so one cannot assume it will be a statistically significant benefit if it was done on triple positives only. He said he hasn’t seen any triple positive patient of his who received Herceptin recur after a few years from diagnosis (well so far). He also did mention some research going on about the impact of extended use of anti hormonals to the potential development of hormone negative disease but he said that is not something to consider at this point
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  • Gudrun
    Gudrun Member Posts: 140
    edited August 2019

    Thank you, windgirl. Don't know how much experience your doc has, but I like his statement of never having seen patients with Herceptin treatment recur.



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