I agree with your comment about the treatment being worse than the disease. My oncologist was also pushing Tamoxifen but I politely declined. Any lingering estrogen in my body is there for a reason and helps to support the skelital and muscular systems as well as the brain. It's been hard enough going off HRT. I suffer from major depressive disorder and anxiety and the removal of HRT has resulted in a real increase with these problems. They say "go talk to your shrink" but I've been seeing a psychiatrist and treated for depression for 30 years (tramatic childhood event leading to chronic depression) and have treatment resistent depression. I can't magine taking a drug that will remove any trace of estrogen in my body. I feel crummy enough! I read a l recommend the book "A Smart Woman's Guide to Cancer" by Emma Simmons. I have learned that doctors make recommendations and I am the ultimate decision maker. Only I can weigh the pros and cons of treatment and decide if the tradeoffs are worth it. "Something" is going to end each of our lives someday, so I want to live each day to the fullest and that's more important to me than "killing cancer at all costs." But not everyone has that viewpoint. . . .

I have read studies that say that 10mg of Tamoxifen is as effective as 20mg, but with lot less side effects. But my oncologist won't even talk about it, nor will the pharmacist because she says that is the recommended protocol in the US and she could lose her license if she suggests otherwise. Its one size fits all with them. If I do decide to take Tamoxifen, I will cut in half myself. I value quality of life over quantity too.