1. < Women's Health

Cancer medications yes or no? Tamoxifen as prevention?

Posted by cora61 @cora61, Jul 25, 2020

I was diagnosed with pre-cancer calcification on my left breast and had surgery on June 11 2020. On my follow up I learned they removed 2 cancer tumors. So I was schedule for a second surgery on July 13 2020. I am cancer free now and my oncologist wants to put me on cancer med Tamoxifen. Because of all the side effects I'm wondering if I really need this? Thank you for listening.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Women's Health Support Group.

junec | @junec | Oct 12, 2020

I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph nodes on that side. I've sclerotic lesions in various places in skeletal system, and the bone biopsy found BC in that sample. The NC surgical oncologist has ruled out surgery, The NC medical oncologist has ruled out both chemo & rad says it's to late because its metastasized, so I'm left with one of 2 choice. 1. take either Ibrance or Venezio and live up to 2 yrs. 2. Or not take either and get @ 12-13mths. The medications will cause low to no immune system and a lot of other side effects that may make my last 1-2 yrs unenjoyable. I want to travel see friends and family and I feel great. has anyone had to make this choice and if so how did you go about making it? Thank you for your responses.

REPLY
3 replies
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @junec "I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph..." + (show)
@junec

I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph nodes on that side. I've sclerotic lesions in various places in skeletal system, and the bone biopsy found BC in that sample. The NC surgical oncologist has ruled out surgery, The NC medical oncologist has ruled out both chemo & rad says it's to late because its metastasized, so I'm left with one of 2 choice. 1. take either Ibrance or Venezio and live up to 2 yrs. 2. Or not take either and get @ 12-13mths. The medications will cause low to no immune system and a lot of other side effects that may make my last 1-2 yrs unenjoyable. I want to travel see friends and family and I feel great. has anyone had to make this choice and if so how did you go about making it? Thank you for your responses.

Jump to this post

@junec
I have a couple of friends in my local cancer support group with Stage 4 breast cancer who have been on Ibrance with success. One is going on several years and doing fine and the other has had her cancer escape more and is now on infusion with Taxol and I'm not sure what else. Please don't give up. Ask for a second opinion and look for clinical trials.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @sparklegram "Hi everyone. I'm back! I've mentioned before that I've been taking Tamoxifen since December 2019. Currently..." + (show)
@sparklegram

Hi everyone. I'm back! I've mentioned before that I've been taking Tamoxifen since December 2019. Currently I'm experiencing intense pain in the top of my foot, making it difficult to walk. I've had it for over 3 weeks First it was diagnosed as an infection. Nope. Then Gout. Nope. I'm waiting for a video appointment with a podiatrist next week. Today it occurred to me to ask if anyone else on this site who is taking Tamoxifen has experienced this.

Jump to this post

@sparklegram, how did the appointment with the podiatrist go? How's the foot?

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @junec "I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph..." + (show)
@junec

I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph nodes on that side. I've sclerotic lesions in various places in skeletal system, and the bone biopsy found BC in that sample. The NC surgical oncologist has ruled out surgery, The NC medical oncologist has ruled out both chemo & rad says it's to late because its metastasized, so I'm left with one of 2 choice. 1. take either Ibrance or Venezio and live up to 2 yrs. 2. Or not take either and get @ 12-13mths. The medications will cause low to no immune system and a lot of other side effects that may make my last 1-2 yrs unenjoyable. I want to travel see friends and family and I feel great. has anyone had to make this choice and if so how did you go about making it? Thank you for your responses.

Jump to this post

@junec, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I encourage you to start a new discussion about making treatment choices with metastatic breast cancer. i will bring others into the discussion.

Here's how:
1. Go to the Breast Cancer group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/
2. Click START A DISCUSSION
3. Enter a title that describes the topic well.
4. Write your message.
5. Click POST DISCUSSION.

REPLY
1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "@sparklegram, how did the appointment with the podiatrist go? How's the foot?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@sparklegram, how did the appointment with the podiatrist go? How's the foot?

Jump to this post

Hi Colleen, Thank you for asking! In the video appointment, the podiatrist said that it seems to be being caused by an abnormality of the metatarsals. I would guess caused by my age. He made an in-office appointment to add some kind of padding to the orthotics that were made for me many years ago.

REPLY
junec | @junec | Oct 13, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "@junec, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I encourage you to start a new discussion about making..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@junec, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I encourage you to start a new discussion about making treatment choices with metastatic breast cancer. i will bring others into the discussion.

Here's how:
1. Go to the Breast Cancer group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/
2. Click START A DISCUSSION
3. Enter a title that describes the topic well.
4. Write your message.
5. Click POST DISCUSSION.

Jump to this post

Thank you, I did so. June

REPLY
wyngnit | @wyngnit | Nov 3, 2020
In reply to @junec "I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph..." + (show)
@junec

I've been just diagnosed with mBC, Invasive globular on right side has moved into 3-4 lymph nodes on that side. I've sclerotic lesions in various places in skeletal system, and the bone biopsy found BC in that sample. The NC surgical oncologist has ruled out surgery, The NC medical oncologist has ruled out both chemo & rad says it's to late because its metastasized, so I'm left with one of 2 choice. 1. take either Ibrance or Venezio and live up to 2 yrs. 2. Or not take either and get @ 12-13mths. The medications will cause low to no immune system and a lot of other side effects that may make my last 1-2 yrs unenjoyable. I want to travel see friends and family and I feel great. has anyone had to make this choice and if so how did you go about making it? Thank you for your responses.

Jump to this post

Very good friend of mine was faced with that decision and she went on chemo until she decided to go off to go to her relatives overseas. She also worked with a psychologist specializing in cancer treatment as well as her pastor to decide
The oncologist job is to keep you alive as long as possible while the psychologists job with is to help insure quality of life

REPLY
1 reply
Kelly Hahn, Connect Moderator | @kellyhahn1 | Nov 3, 2020
In reply to @wyngnit "Very good friend of mine was faced with that decision and she went on chemo until..." + (show)
@wyngnit

Very good friend of mine was faced with that decision and she went on chemo until she decided to go off to go to her relatives overseas. She also worked with a psychologist specializing in cancer treatment as well as her pastor to decide
The oncologist job is to keep you alive as long as possible while the psychologists job with is to help insure quality of life

Jump to this post

Hello, @wyngnit and Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! We are glad to have you here. I read your post and believe you bring up a good point. It’s important to have a care “team” focused on the patient and their needs. When it comes to difficult and emotional choices, you need support from those you trust. It must have been a difficult decision for your friend either way.

Did your friend take Ibrance or Venezio?

Looking forward to reading more of your posts,
Kelly

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.