NO post treatment meds????????????????

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disneyfan2008
disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Has anyone here NOT taken any meds after treatments? BY choice-refusal to do so at the recommendation of your doctor?

Denise

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  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #2
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    What doctors say
    I almost didn't take tamoxifin but broke down.BUT I know of some who started it and went off it on their own.Not telling their doctor till later.

    IF I started having some of the side effects some have I would go off the tamoxifin and try another.My doctors stress to me over and over it is important to take it.It keeps the cancer from coming back and since my friend of many many years took that and then another I will do the same.She is a 16 year survivor.So after her tamoxifin she took another pill for 5 years.

    Not to say I will probably look at the new bottle of pills for a few weeks before taking it.I am not there yet.Mine was non invasive but my friend's was Stage 3 and invasive with some nodes removed. Maybe 5 years of tamoxifin will be all I need.Wishful thinking!!!!


    Lynn Smith
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #3
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    Lynn Smith said:

    What doctors say
    I almost didn't take tamoxifin but broke down.BUT I know of some who started it and went off it on their own.Not telling their doctor till later.

    IF I started having some of the side effects some have I would go off the tamoxifin and try another.My doctors stress to me over and over it is important to take it.It keeps the cancer from coming back and since my friend of many many years took that and then another I will do the same.She is a 16 year survivor.So after her tamoxifin she took another pill for 5 years.

    Not to say I will probably look at the new bottle of pills for a few weeks before taking it.I am not there yet.Mine was non invasive but my friend's was Stage 3 and invasive with some nodes removed. Maybe 5 years of tamoxifin will be all I need.Wishful thinking!!!!


    Lynn Smith

    Forgot one thing
    My friend and I both hate taking meds.We flip to get a new pill to take.BUT she took those pills for 10 years and told me when I was diagnosed she wishes there was another pill for 5 more years.She feels so protected with them. Wasn't like that in the beginning though.She was terrified of the pills.

    She was diagnosed at 48 and me at 62.

    Lynn Smith
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #4
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    Yes
    I tried femera first and had a multitude of truly miserable side effects. Stopped that and tried anastrozole. With that one pretty much only one side effect, shortness of breath so bad I couldn't walk from one room to another without stopping to catch my breath. Went to ER had tests run, they found nothing. I've stopped taking that one too. At this point I don't plan to go on anything else (my choice). I've given it alot of thought and balanced the "what ifs" with the quality of life issues, and I realize that it's my choice, my decision, and my future consequences, whatever they may be.

    I'm not recommending this option to anyone, but just sharing my choice.

    marge
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #5
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    no meds for me
    I started with tamoxifen and was on it for 6 months when the cancer returned in my chest wall and sentinel node so since it did not work for me I discontinued taking it and the doctor agreed. That was back in 98, my sister took tamoxifen for 5 years and hated having to stop when the 5 years ended.

    RE
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #6
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    thanks for replies
    and opionions...
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #7
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    disneyfan2008 said:

    thanks for replies
    and opionions...

    I, like Marge, tried all the
    I, like Marge, tried all the AI's and had very bad side effects. I do not recommend not taking meds after treatment, but for me, I chose not to. I have to be more diligent now and watch myself for any signs so if you can, the meds are the best way to go. Just my opinion.
    All the best,
    Wanda

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