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Aromatase Inhibitors: How to choose and manage side effects?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (94)Comment receiving replies
Yes, back when I was 43 (33 years ago) I had a mastectomy followed by 6 mo. of chemo, but no radiation. The chemo threw me into menopause; the doctor at that time wanted me to go on Tamoxifen but I said no due to the drug not having been tested yet on pre-menopausal women. He said they didn't want my periods to come back. I didn't sass him, but I refused the drug and felt better when periods returned soon.....I felt normal again and had 4 kiddos to finish raising. Menopause returned naturally at age 50, but hot flashes were a bear for 7 years, then mild after that. They never really stopped.
So I went for about 30 years before a new tiny tumor on the other side, at age 73. Had a lumpectomy. They also found a bigger recurrence under my ribs near the first site, but amazingly it has never metasticized. I wonder if the hot flashes long term were responsible for that? Anyway, that's my story for saying NO to tamoxifen when young.
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@jardinera25
Hi! jardinera:
Thanks for sharing your heart felt experiences with us to help us!
I am so sorry for the recurrence of this BC disease showing its ugly head after your mastectomy followed by 6 months of chemo treatment 30 years ago:( I truly admire your perseverance with wisdom and strength that raised your 4 young children successfully into their adulthood with a loving mother alongside them! Please don't blame yourself for not taking Tamoxifen 30 years ago after your first BC treatments! Surely your priority then was raising your young kiddos, thus you didn't want any medications to complicate your overall wellbeing at that time for their sake. None of us can predict the future in any way. I admire your courage and thank God that your BC has never metastasized! Are you under any active treatment right now after the lumpectomy surgery 3 years ago? Pray and hope you've been feeling well since.
Wishing you all a better journey ahead with hope, peace and love!