Hi Eternallyfit ( love your name by the way ) I hope you see this, I also had a hysterectomy with everything out- ovaries and all- but unfortunately our bodies still produce estrogen in many other places our whole lives which will feed any estrogen positive breast cancer and help it grow. Estrogen production decreases after menopause and/or a hysterectomy but it is never enough if you have a woman’s body- and I know you do. It bugged me as well! I was sure that I would be off of hormone blockers but my oncologist told me no. :-(
But you can have your estrogen checked! It is a really easy blood test, so have your oncologist check that regularly. And for gosh sakes if Tamoxifen is giving you a hard time, try switching to another AL. Keep trying until you find the right one, but you should also know that many women have side effects at first with hormone blockers but then they wear off. mine did anyway and I have heard that is what usually happens. Vitamin D also helps, antidepressants can help, Aleve can help, there are lots of things that can help with the SE but I found that exercise helped me the most. Good luck to you!!!! Hugs!!!!
- melinda
- El Cajon, CA
- Member Since Dec 2011
Their Diagnoses (2)
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- Patient: Breast Cancer
- Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: over 12 years ago, Female, Age: 71
- View this journey (0 Experiences)
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- Patient: Breast Cancer
- Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: over 12 years ago, Female, Age: 71, Stage II, HER2 Positive: No, ER Positive: Yes, PR Positive: No
- View this journey (6 Experiences)
Their Links
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melinda asked a questionBreast Cancer
Continue Tamoxifin or stop?
over 7 years ago10 answers-
lilymadeline
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eternallyfit
Thank you! Lilymadeline, I hear you, and I appreciate your response! They have put me on Vitimin D because of an earlier blood test they took and decided I needed it. I have been offered the other meds too but I am hoping and praying the surgery, yes, the exercise and good nutrition and possibly a different blocker will work. Thanks again it really does help me make decisions. Have a blessed weekend!
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tam4givin
Did you have the blood test to see if you are metabolizing Tamoxifen? Did you have the test that predicts how much you would benefit taking it. After a lot of research and only a 5 % difference predicted if I took it, I decided I would not take any hormone drugs. Most people do not know all the side effects including higher chance of a worse more aggressive non hormonal cancer. Most studies are very flawed, most were done on only post menopausal woman, most were done on woman taking different drugs so you do not know if one is better than another. This are many threads on here about Tamoxifen if you do a search. (I tell you this because some times this subject gets ugly here with one or more people thinking they know what is best for everyone and try real hard to convince you to do what they think is best.) I believe each person should do good research, and pray for wisdom for their self.
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melinda shared an experience
Celebration (Anniversary): As I finish year four and start on to year five- I feel a HUGE sense of relief! YAHOO! I made IT!!
over 7 years ago -
melinda shared an experience
Decision Point (To continue with Tamxofin or not?): I have one more year and then have to decide.... yes or no.
over 7 years ago -
melinda shared an experience
Side Effects (Chemo brain): I would say that chemo brain created the greatest problem for me. As a teacher I could not continue with my career- which was a great disappointment to me.
over 7 years ago -
melinda shared an experience
Drug or Chemo Therapy (Chemotherapy): STRONG reaction to medication in chemo. Lost hair, was very sick each week of treatment, low white blood cells which meant coming in little contact with others. General blah...
over 7 years ago