Early 40s trying to decide if hormone therapy is worth it

Posted by mozzilla @mozzilla, May 25, 2023

Hi. I am trying to figure out a hard decision - thought I would maybe have kids later in life and then I got breast cancer. 9mm, stage 1, invasive, intermediate grade, slow growing, node negative. I had lumpectomy and will start radiation now on my right side in a week for 4wks. I am considering not taking tamoxifen after and try to have a family...and possibly go on it in 2-3yrs....my onc says the delay doesn't pose a huge risk...anyone have similar experience? In general i'd love to hear if any younger patients have a similar diagnosis and have gone through something like this life decision wise.

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I came here seeking advice on Tamoxifen too. Onc is recommending Tamoxifen for 10 years and a shot in my ovaries every month for 5 years, both to ensure no hormones can feed any lingering cancer cells or fuure cancer. I had a double mastectomy. Neg nodes. OncoDX Test came back that I do not need chemo. Not sure the shot and med is necessary since both breasts are gone and cancer was not found in nodes.

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I will tell my story. I was 60 years old. I had Stage 1 breast cancer in 2018 and had a lumpectomy and started on Anastrazole in February of 2019, which is similar to Tamoxifen. I went through radiation, but chose not to go through chemo as the surgeon said he got a wide margin and the cancer did not get out to the lymph nodes. In March of 2022 I started having pain in my hip. I have leg issues from another problem and use a cane. Having said that, I thought this was more of the same so I started down a path for that problem. Finally, in July my doctor tells me that I should have an MRI of my hip because what she is seeing on the x-ray has nothing to do with my previous problems.

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in August of 2022. I had 12 radiation sessions and have started Verzenio and Fluvestrant since last September. I guess I'm telling you this because I thought I was all good with my cancer circumstances. Now I'm living with terminal cancer. If anything, get another opinion.

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@msseamo

I will tell my story. I was 60 years old. I had Stage 1 breast cancer in 2018 and had a lumpectomy and started on Anastrazole in February of 2019, which is similar to Tamoxifen. I went through radiation, but chose not to go through chemo as the surgeon said he got a wide margin and the cancer did not get out to the lymph nodes. In March of 2022 I started having pain in my hip. I have leg issues from another problem and use a cane. Having said that, I thought this was more of the same so I started down a path for that problem. Finally, in July my doctor tells me that I should have an MRI of my hip because what she is seeing on the x-ray has nothing to do with my previous problems.

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in August of 2022. I had 12 radiation sessions and have started Verzenio and Fluvestrant since last September. I guess I'm telling you this because I thought I was all good with my cancer circumstances. Now I'm living with terminal cancer. If anything, get another opinion.

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what was your breast cancer type? other than stage 1?

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@msseamo

I will tell my story. I was 60 years old. I had Stage 1 breast cancer in 2018 and had a lumpectomy and started on Anastrazole in February of 2019, which is similar to Tamoxifen. I went through radiation, but chose not to go through chemo as the surgeon said he got a wide margin and the cancer did not get out to the lymph nodes. In March of 2022 I started having pain in my hip. I have leg issues from another problem and use a cane. Having said that, I thought this was more of the same so I started down a path for that problem. Finally, in July my doctor tells me that I should have an MRI of my hip because what she is seeing on the x-ray has nothing to do with my previous problems.

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in August of 2022. I had 12 radiation sessions and have started Verzenio and Fluvestrant since last September. I guess I'm telling you this because I thought I was all good with my cancer circumstances. Now I'm living with terminal cancer. If anything, get another opinion.

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So sorry to read this! Thank you for sharing.

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@mozzilla

what was your breast cancer type? other than stage 1?

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I don't remember.

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@mozzilla
My personal history is 31 years old. However, treatment might still be similar today. I had IDC, hormone receptor negative. I was recommended mastectomy and chemo. I was 48 at the time and I had 3 young children, also starting late.
My thought then and it would be the same now was that I wanted to prevent cancer recurrence.
Are you able to freeze eggs if you want future children?
In my mind there is no hoping and guessing -I would still choose the same treatment to give me the best chance of not having a recurrence.

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