What helped you make treatment decisions following DCIS lumpectomy?

I only took Arimidix for 3 months. Side effects started about 4 weeks after I started. And increased to the point that I had no quality of life. I was iffy about starting it in the first place. Most of my symptoms went away except for the worsening of neuropathy. EO is Essential Oils. There are several recommended for breast cancer. Google EO for breast cancer. I rub a few drops of 2 kinds into both breast and massage for several minutes. I change the two kinds every 3 days.My scars are barely noticeable. My plant based diet is just that.. I eat most everything plant based. Like almond milk instead of dairy milk. I gave up dairy, gluten, caffeine, processed foods, fried foods, sugar …but organic everything . I only eat beef 2 a month and then it’s organic grass fed beef. Chicken maybe once a week. Organic and free range.

I wander if anybody on Tamoxifen have /had serious side effects such as endometrial problem, shortness of breath, chest pain, vision problem ?
I am hopping I can survive the common side effect, but not serious Thank you

I had a lumpectomy in 2000; tumor was small and hormone-positive. Because I was only 45, my oncologist recommended chemo as well as radiation. I had a choice of chemo—could do four treatments with Adriamycin or six treatments of another drug that would probably not cause me to lose my hair; I did the six treatments. After chemo was done, I started Tamoxifen in 2001 and was on it a little less than three years.

After about 10 weeks on Tamoxifen, I started having hot flashes; the drug had put me into "chemical" menopause. In 2004, I developed a blood clot in my right calf (blood clots are known possible side effect of Tamoxifen). While in the hospital to dissolve the clot, doctors noted that I had anemia. The anemia was from the very heavy periods I had been having for about a year; I had to have a hysterectomy because of uterine changes/early cancer (another known possible side effect of Tamoxifen).

I was put on and took Aromasin for six years after this. From the very first pill until about three months after my last dose of Aromasin, I would "urp" all night long after going to bed—I didn't have anything come up, but would belch several times every minute until I got up in the morning.

I had a lumpectomy 2 years ago for DCIS INSITU. The doctor wanted to put me on Tamoxifen but I was afraid of the side effects. I didn’t need radiation treatment. I inquired about Raloxifene (Evista) and the doctor agreed. So far so good, still praying everything will go well.

I had a lumpectomy in 2000; tumor was small and hormone-positive. Because I was only 45, my oncologist recommended chemo as well as radiation. I had a choice of chemo—could do four treatments with Adriamycin or six treatments of another drug that would probably not cause me to lose my hair; I did the six treatments. After chemo was done, I started Tamoxifen in 2001 and was on it a little less than three years.

After about 10 weeks on Tamoxifen, I started having hot flashes; the drug had put me into "chemical" menopause. In 2004, I developed a blood clot in my right calf (blood clots are known possible side effect of Tamoxifen). While in the hospital to dissolve the clot, doctors noted that I had anemia. The anemia was from the very heavy periods I had been having for about a year; I had to have a hysterectomy because of uterine changes/early cancer (another known possible side effect of Tamoxifen).

I was put on and took Aromasin for six years after this. From the very first pill until about three months after my last dose of Aromasin, I would "urp" all night long after going to bed—I didn't have anything come up, but would belch several times every minute until I got up in the morning.

I had a lumpectomy in 2000; tumor was small and hormone-positive. Because I was only 45, my oncologist recommended chemo as well as radiation. I had a choice of chemo—could do four treatments with Adriamycin or six treatments of another drug that would probably not cause me to lose my hair; I did the six treatments. After chemo was done, I started Tamoxifen in 2001 and was on it a little less than three years.

After about 10 weeks on Tamoxifen, I started having hot flashes; the drug had put me into "chemical" menopause. In 2004, I developed a blood clot in my right calf (blood clots are known possible side effect of Tamoxifen). While in the hospital to dissolve the clot, doctors noted that I had anemia. The anemia was from the very heavy periods I had been having for about a year; I had to have a hysterectomy because of uterine changes/early cancer (another known possible side effect of Tamoxifen).

I was put on and took Aromasin for six years after this. From the very first pill until about three months after my last dose of Aromasin, I would "urp" all night long after going to bed—I didn't have anything come up, but would belch several times every minute until I got up in the morning.

I use essential oils for a lot of things, can you tell me what ones you are using? I tried a few for neuropathy, they haven’t really helped that much but they smell nice anyway. I use ginger and jasmine for nausea. I eat very little meat, maybe a couple times per month, like you I eat a lot of plant based foods, but I could never give up my coffee. Lol. I do take traditional medicine, I also believe in the overall benefit of a healthy life. I am not a rigid kind of eater, I don’t have hard and fast rules but I think about health, quality and balance. I don’t want to live forever, but retirement age might be nice. Hahaha. I notice you did not take radiation, are you still following up with your doctor?

I also was young when diagnosed, at 38 and 45 I believe we look at treatment decisions a little differently. I know they told me “we will hit this with a hammer”, I didn’t ask if I could handle the side effects. I said let’s get to it, knowing I had a very aggressive cancer and I wanted more time with my husband. I am sorry you urped for years, but I am glad you got through it. How are you feeling now? How long have you been off treatment.