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Invasive breast cancer: What's next?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Aug 16, 2023 | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
I've gone back and forth about whether to have both radiation and hormone therapy following my DCIS lumpectomy; lymph nodes were not involved at all. My pathology report was very good with clear margins after surgery and I was deemed cancer free. Its been recommended that I do both radiation and hormone therapy. I am 65 and I am leaning towards hormone therapy only. I am not afraid of the 3 weeks radiation treatment. I just don't want to expose my body to treatment that may not be necessary for a woman my age with the less than stage 1 DCIS I had. Was wondering why some people chose radiation over hormone therapy. Has anyone here just decided to do the hormone therapy alone. Any thoughts will help. Thank you and my best to you all.
Replies to "I've gone back and forth about whether to have both radiation and hormone therapy following my..."
I take Anastrozole daily … 18 mos now. I chose hormone treatment only and have mild side effects of joint stiffness and discomfort mitigated by yoga stretching and walking( joint movement). My cholesterol has not changed and my bone density ( mild osteopenia ) was completely stable at 12 months.
I thought I had some hair thinning from Anastrozole but it stopped and reversed after 3-4 mos. I now understand that it was a reaction from the stress of surgery and anesthesia.
It’s a daily dose. Many women have no or mild and manageable side effects. It cuts risk of recurrence for certain hormone based cancers. If your oncologist feels that it would benefit you why not try it? With a 50 hour half life it’s an easy fix if you find it to be intolerable.
I opted out of radiation. Research the TAILOR RT trial which is looking into the value of radiation for certain Breast Cancer profiles. I qualified for the trial as per my B Cancer profile. One arm of trial is hormone therapy alone. Ultimately I couldn’t participate for an unrelated reason but I chose to decline radiation based on this trial information.
Best to you and all of us on this unwanted path.
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Both my sisters and sadly several of my friends have had breast cancer. The hormone therapy seems to be (in their cases) the worst of all. Memory loss. Hair loss. Vaginal dryness to the extreme. Affects to joints and pain. Weight gain on and on. Not to scare you but this is my hesitation because my cancer is “removed” and very minor.
Today I’m meeting with a Dr out of my network to see her recommendation and I will report back
Good luck
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