Opting out of radiation or chemo

Hi
Have you not had any side effects to this? I am having wicked hot flashes since the doctor took me off my HRT when I was diagnosed with doctor carcinoma. In situ. I am 65 and was on it 5yrs with a yr off then back on 5yrs

I only have been on tamoxifen for 7 months. Barely noticed side effects other than occasional hot flashes and it past very quickly. I take it before I go to bed. I heard it’s more tolerable if you take it at night.

Hi
Can I ask how many milligrams your on.

So sorry to hear your story. Is the recurring cancer estrogen positive? Wonder why you are taking estrogen blocker. I read that when estrogen positive cancer recur, normally they won’t be estrogen positive anymore. Wish you all the best and can tolerate the drugs for a very long time. Try ground flaxseeds daily (2 table spoons) if the recurring cancer is still estrogen positive. God bless you!

I have clear margins DCIS stage one insitu, endocrine therapy… why should I do radiation as well??

I am on my 7th day of Anastrozole and so far so good. Maybe some absentmindedness! My sunburn and peeling has pretty much cleared up. Still sensitive to the touch deep in the lumpectomy area.

Like rene1636, I had a lumpectomy (4/4/23). Low grade, noninvasive, stage 0 DCIS, 7mm with 6mm clear margins, no family history. I’m 65. Not taking hormone blockers. With the Sloan Kettering nomogram, my chances of recurrence are 6% in 5 years and 9% in 10 with lumpectomy alone. Radiation would reduce those already low numbers by 50%. I’m leaning toward saving my one opportunity for radiation in case of an invasive lesion in the same breast in the future. These are all difficult decision, I know.

Hi @katho3 -- In 2013, at 54, I had a double mastectomy since I have the BRCA2 mutation. (We later discovered I also have the CHEK2 mutation.) My cancer was stage 1, medium grade, DCIS, LVI, 7 mm, clear margins, HR/ER+ HER2-. Radiation and chemo were not recommended due to the mastectomy and stage 1. My surgeon told me 1-3% chance of recurrence. Then my oncologist (her partner) told me I had a 99.6% survival rate with a hormone blocker and 99.2% without so he recommended I didn't take it. Ultimately, I only did the surgery.

In 2020, I found a lump in my chest and pectoral muscle. It was now highly aggressive cancer. Removed by surgery, but I had a positive margin. 37 radiation treatments. Now on Kisqali and Letrozole for over 2 years and for as long as they keep working. I'm 64 now, the meds have side effects, but nothing to make me stop taking them.

My original surgeon acted shocked I didn't take a hormone blocker originally and said it would have reduced my risk of recurrence by 50%. I saw her the entire 7 years for follow-ups and she knew I wasn't taking one. CYA

Bottom line - my current oncologist completely disagrees with what I was told back in 2013 both about risk and meds. You may want to consider getting a second opinion for peace of mind. Also remember that you can always stop taking the hormone blocker if you can't tolerate the side effects. I hope this is helpful. Blessings to you!

Hi
How do they determine which drug you take? I am awaiting pathology results from lumpectomy Dec 15 dcis . I am 65