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How important is taking hormone blockers after surgery for IDC?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: May 8, 2023 | Replies (91)Comment receiving replies
I am 67 and also had a small tumor. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation , nothing in my lymph nodes. I have since been on Exemestane, Anestrozole and am currently on Letrozone. The side affects for me were all bad so I may try Tamoxifen next but am not very hopeful. The bone pain is better on the Letrozone but I am still very tired, have hot flashes and headaches. My dry eye condition is also much worse.I have considered not taking them at all but am scared not to. The ones that have no side affects are very fortunate. It’s depressing because I recently retired and don’t feel like doing much. Everyone is different. Good luck to you!!
Replies to "I am 67 and also had a small tumor. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation..."
Good morning aej1954, I'm about to turn 78 years old. I'm on my 5th year of AIs. I started with some of the ones you've mentioned here after my lumpectomy, with all the intolerable side effects you've mentioned here. Finally I was put on Tamoxifen and that has been MUCH better. There are side effects, but tolerable ones unlike the ones I first tried. December will be my last month after 5 years of AIs. (Hopefully!) I wish you the best of luck with your decision and if you do try Tamoxifen, I hope you find that it is tolerable for you.
Almost same scenario. Started with Anastrozole. After 4 months, I was in such joint pain I had to stop. Took a month off, then started Letrozole. Two months in, my joints, though less sore, were barely noticeable because my hormones were so whacked out. I’ll be 69 in December and I felt like I had traveled back in time to peri-menopause. Sleep deprived, moody (mostly sad), crying for no reason - you get the drift. So I stopped after 2 months and told my oncologist that my quality of life was too important to me. These drugs are all about recurrence for cancers that are cured, and the percentages are low. I’ve been given a 3 month reprieve without inhibitors and we’ll re-access and discuss options on Jan 3rd 2023. I’m pretty sure that I’ll decline another drug, especially since they can’t tell me precisely how the drugs are helping with blocking estrogen production, which bloodwork doesn’t show.
Good luck to you & I’m sure you’ll decide what’s best for you in your journey. 🙏💕
Hello, my situation is very similar to yours. I had terrible side affects on all 3 ai's and have been on Temoxifan for 3 months. I had terrible hot flashes and my oncologist prescribed Effexor and that has eliminated almost all hot flashes. So far the Temoxifan has been the best for me. Good luck to you!! I was not very hopeful either!!
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I have dry eyes and it has seemed much worse the past few months. I started taking Anastrozole in May…I thought it was allergies but my regular drops my ophthalmologist gave me didn’t help. This might be the explanation. Thanks and I hope you do well.