Guest guest Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 Hi Carol and welcome. I had my mastectomy in 1990. I had one bad node and am Stage II, I had 6 mo of chemo and no radiation and no reconstruction. I am receptor negative so I can not take Tamoxifen. There are a lot of ladies here that do or that have taken it and I am sure someone will get back with you. You are in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at: http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html also check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at: http://www.cancerclub.com After radiation?? > Hello, > > I just discovered the group last night. I am on some other Yahoo > groups and did a search for breast cancer support and this was one of > the groups. I have spent some time reading posts on here and see > that there are all different situations and needs. > > I was diagnosed with DCIS in left breast in early December. The > surgeon I saw did not hesitate--he was only doing a lumpectomy. > Biopsy results good--totally contained, classified stage 0. He felt > only a course of Tamoxifen would keep me healthy. I was shocked then > when I visited an oncologist and he recommended radiation+tamoxifen. > > Have only 8 more treatments of radiation. It has not been as > difficult as I imagined. (although I did get sick with a flu-like > cold midway through that still hangs on) When finished seeing a new > medical oncologist--first one way too patronizing and condescending! > I took Tamoxifen for 2 weeks and stopped because it gave me terrible > abdominal pains and colitis. Gastroenterologist wants me to take > medication that will treat the colitis so that I can take the > Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen scares me--not because of the stroke and blood > clot factor but because I have bad reactions to many drugs as I get > older. But I am also scared not to take it or do anything that is > cancer preventive! > > I would like to hear from people who take Tamoxifen successfully, > also people who had to stop the drug because of side effects and bad > reactions. What alternatives are there? Doctor has not mentioned > any. I am otherwise pretty healthy. > > thanks for having a group here! > > Carol > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Hi Carol, I'm a fairly new member also. I was diagnosed with DCIS in March of 2001, also self contained...Breast surgeon recommemded tamoxifen but when I saw the oncologist she also recommended chemo along with radiation and tamoxifen. That just freaked me out but the doctor said I had an option because my cancer was a sow growing type and self contained and nodes came back fine. I did go to another oncologist just to get a second opinion...they also said it was not necessary to put my body through chemo...Tamoxifen and six weeks of radiation would be fine. Radiation didn't bother me too much but the tamoxiden, after three years of taking it, still has terrible side effects of entering menopause...the worse being the night sweats. Unfortunatley a new lump was discovered in my healthy left breast last week. It did not show on the mammo but on the follow up sonogram. Still very small. Lumectomy scheduled for Tuesday. Have faith in your doctors but be sure to express all your concerns. They are there to help you through this time as am I...You'll be in my prayers, Deb > Hello, > > I just discovered the group last night. I am on some other Yahoo > groups and did a search for breast cancer support and this was one of > the groups. I have spent some time reading posts on here and see > that there are all different situations and needs. > > I was diagnosed with DCIS in left breast in early December. The > surgeon I saw did not hesitate--he was only doing a lumpectomy. > Biopsy results good--totally contained, classified stage 0. He felt > only a course of Tamoxifen would keep me healthy. I was shocked then > when I visited an oncologist and he recommended radiation+tamoxifen. > > Have only 8 more treatments of radiation. It has not been as > difficult as I imagined. (although I did get sick with a flu-like > cold midway through that still hangs on) When finished seeing a new > medical oncologist--first one way too patronizing and condescending! > I took Tamoxifen for 2 weeks and stopped because it gave me terrible > abdominal pains and colitis. Gastroenterologist wants me to take > medication that will treat the colitis so that I can take the > Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen scares me--not because of the stroke and blood > clot factor but because I have bad reactions to many drugs as I get > older. But I am also scared not to take it or do anything that is > cancer preventive! > > I would like to hear from people who take Tamoxifen successfully, > also people who had to stop the drug because of side effects and bad > reactions. What alternatives are there? Doctor has not mentioned > any. I am otherwise pretty healthy. > > thanks for having a group here! > > Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Hi Deb, Probably what I am afraid of is exactly what you are now experiencing- taking the Tamoxifen and getting another lump or growth anyway--- I see a Cancer Support Counselor as part of my treatment and today she also mentioned Femara. Apparently this is also being used as a preventive treatment as well as for later treatment. THe first oncologist I saw mentioned Arimidex, tried to " sell " that but I chose the Tamoxifen since it has a longer success record. My thoughts will be with you on Tuesday. Carol My thoughts In breastcancer2 , " Debra " <dacl1217@a...> wrote: > Hi Carol, I'm a fairly new member also. I was diagnosed with DCIS in > March of 2001, also self contained...Breast surgeon recommemded > tamoxifen but when I saw the oncologist she also recommended chemo > along with radiation and tamoxifen. That just freaked me out but the > doctor said I had an option because my cancer was a sow growing type > and self contained and nodes came back fine. I did go to another > oncologist just to get a second opinion...they also said it was not > necessary to put my body through chemo...Tamoxifen and six weeks of > radiation would be fine. > Radiation didn't bother me too much but the tamoxiden, after three > years of taking it, still has terrible side effects of entering > menopause...the worse being the night sweats. > Unfortunatley a new lump was discovered in my healthy left breast > last week. It did not show on the mammo but on the follow up > sonogram. Still very small. Lumectomy scheduled for Tuesday. > Have faith in your doctors but be sure to express all your concerns. > They are there to help you through this time as am I...You'll be in > my prayers, Deb > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > I just discovered the group last night. I am on some other Yahoo > > groups and did a search for breast cancer support and this was one > of > > the groups. I have spent some time reading posts on here and see > > that there are all different situations and needs. > > > > I was diagnosed with DCIS in left breast in early December. The > > surgeon I saw did not hesitate--he was only doing a lumpectomy. > > Biopsy results good--totally contained, classified stage 0. He > felt > > only a course of Tamoxifen would keep me healthy. I was shocked > then > > when I visited an oncologist and he recommended radiation+tamoxifen. > > > > Have only 8 more treatments of radiation. It has not been as > > difficult as I imagined. (although I did get sick with a flu-like > > cold midway through that still hangs on) When finished seeing a new > > medical oncologist--first one way too patronizing and > condescending! > > I took Tamoxifen for 2 weeks and stopped because it gave me > terrible > > abdominal pains and colitis. Gastroenterologist wants me to take > > medication that will treat the colitis so that I can take the > > Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen scares me--not because of the stroke and > blood > > clot factor but because I have bad reactions to many drugs as I get > > older. But I am also scared not to take it or do anything that is > > cancer preventive! > > > > I would like to hear from people who take Tamoxifen successfully, > > also people who had to stop the drug because of side effects and > bad > > reactions. What alternatives are there? Doctor has not mentioned > > any. I am otherwise pretty healthy. > > > > thanks for having a group here! > > > > Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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