Any long-term success stories from those NOT taking hormone therapy?

I had my cancer in 2020 so that is likely the answer as to why I wasn't offered it. I was originally offered chemo but I insisted on getting the Mammaprint test as well in addition to Oncotype and my mammaprint was low risk. Given my stage, size, grade and mammaprint results, 8 doctors then said no chemo and reversed their recommendation. My Oncotype was a 29. Then I also did the RSCLIN model a year or so later and it showed very low risk as well. So I will never know if I made the right decision about not having chemo but I can say the Oncotype was the outlier which is why I paid for the Mammaprint test to see if that genomic test was more in line with my clinical tumor characteristics.

I agree with you.
Castor oil makes eyebrow grow, why not hair. In glass or safe plastic. Google Barbara O'Neil and Castor oil. Amazing this Castor oil is.
Best to you

Three years since lumpectomy and 5 accelerated radiation sessions. Not taking any anti estrogen drugs, doctor supports this due to decades of horrible menopause issues which would return/worsen on Rx. Grade 1 tumor, tiny, no duct or lymph involvement. Eat whole food plant based diet, no oil, salt or sugar. No alcohol or smoking. Follow dr. Michael greger on nutrition facts.org for soy and flaxseed protocols.

Stage 1 Class 3 in 1998.
I don’t use hormones, but my cancer was double negative.

Same as you re: cancer diagnosis-2022 20 radiations that destroyed a tear duct that was reconstructed a year later. Began Anastrozole 5 months after lumpectomy April 5, 22 and took for 1.5 years. My friend was also taking anastrozole and we both suffered memory dysfunction, impossible to sleep, relentless hot flashes, severe muscle and joint pain, heart damage, high blood pressure from suffering effects and no sleep. High cholesterol, and loss of 1/3 of my hair which has accelerated during the last year having stopped the toxic anastrozole.
I had no life or brain. All symptoms cleared after 5 months stopping except hair stopped growing and soon to be bald. I am crushed.
Good luck. I don’t trust their gold standard and doctors agreeing to push AIs on women with breast cancer for five years. And then they will play on your fear and try to coerce you to pay for the drug for another ten years!
I had a small lump and no lymph involved but Dr took it anyway. She threatened me when I stopped taking Anastrozole, Dr Christine Lee said, “you’d best take it your body is full of cancer.” Dr Lee declared, “I’m not your doctor anymore.” I have PTSD from Dr Lee’s abuse.
Good luck.
Jan

Hi Brightside,
Are you able to share more of your BC Stage/Age of occurrence and if you had radiation/lumpectomy? I've had a successful lumpectomy, clear margins, negative lymph nodes, 5 day partial breast targeted radiation therapy, I'm in perimenopause, and Tamoxifin as all the AI options seem like the side effects are really bad and may cause other major health issues. I don't think the USA offers a lower dose of Tamoxifen....
Thank you for all the above shares.

@guillermina I was diagnosed with Stage 2 ILC ER+, PR+ Her2- at 66 years old. Had mastectomy, 16 session chemo, second surgery to get clear margins and 25 radiation sessions. Tried Letrozole and Exemestane with terrible side effects. Been on Anastrazole every other day and Verzenio daily for a month.
Side Effects and osteoporosis.
I want to go off all drugs.
I live in Virginia too and thinking this test FES PER-CT Scan could help me.
Have you found the test anywhere closer?
Thank you so much.

@bluesun12 yes, 10 mg (daily) Tamoxifen was prescribed to me by my oncologist. Some women take 10 mg every other day, since it doesn't come in 5 mg (in US) & is difficult to cut in half. Trials look promising for approval of 10 mg as standard treatment in near future.

From this early article on Tamoxifen.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-023-02158-5
"Reductions in recurrence after about 10 years of follow-up were 21%, 29% and 47% for 1, 2 and 5 years of treatment, respectively. The corresponding mortality reductions were 12%, 17% and 26%, respectively, with a significantly significant test for trends in both recurrence and mortality."

The quote refers to early breast cancer. You might be one of the lucky ones who don't get a recurrence, even though you don't take tamoxifen. But I, personally, would not call it a success story--which implies that you could control the outcome--just a lucky roll of the dice.

@peggydobbs I started 10 mg Tamoxifen on Jan. 1st, so less than a month ago. First couple of weeks, I felt a mild headache at times. But now I feel fine & have pretty much forgotten that I even take it! It's too bad that many women refuse to even try any hormone blockers. I agree with you, they save lives.