tamoxifen news

jphilpo
jphilpo Member Posts: 177
in Breast Cancer #1
I have a good friend at my school who has been on tamoxifen for a little over 2 years. I too am on tamoxifen. It has been a year for me.

Anyhoo, she came to me yesterday so excited! SHe had been to her oncologist and she was told that the latest research shows that there is really no added benefit to staying on tamoxifen for an entire 5 year period. She had materials from her dr., so I don't know the research, but her dr. told her she was comfortable with her going off it.

I see my dr. in May, so I will definitely ask what he thinks.

This is exciting to me , as I have had many difficult side effects. I know we are all different and no one should ever do anything without checking with our doctors. I just love getting new information!

Jean

Comments

  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #2
    Thanks
    Thanks for sharing this! I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months and the SE's have not been to terrible. I do like the possibility of not being on it for 5 years. I still have a while but I enjoy new info too. It will be interesting to see where this leads. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    Interesting because the
    Interesting because the latest studies that I have seen state the opposite: 17% reduction of recurrence in the 5 year vs the 2 year group in the Swedish study and a 6% difference favoring the 5 year protocol in the British study??? Everyone's diagnosis and prognosis is different, but, with my initial 3A diagnosis, I'd go for the full course again.

    Swedish Study:
    Long-term Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer Patients Boosts Survival


    British Study:
    Tamoxifen Sould be Taken for 5 Full Year
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #4
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    Thanks
    Thanks for sharing this! I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months and the SE's have not been to terrible. I do like the possibility of not being on it for 5 years. I still have a while but I enjoy new info too. It will be interesting to see where this leads. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice

    My appt is April
    I hope I can remember to ask my doctor about this.She and my Breast surgeon were pretty adamant about me taking it.I was the apprehensive one.Didn't take it for 6 weeks after prescribed.Then did it.I have no side effects except my hair is thinning.I had fine and thin before.

    But I look at my 3 friends who took tamox.One took another pill(5 more years) after tamox.They are still living after 18,16,6 years and doing good. My niece was not able to take it but still living after 6 years.Double masectomy.This is one of those things you don't know what to do.Another confusing thing in the life of cancer patients.

    I also had a lady tell me she just went off of tamox on her own.Made her crazy and said she had to. Her husband agreed.She is still living after 19 years.

    My doctor(BS) tells me over and over everyone is different. I also think about that.

    I've only been on tamox 15 months.The other day was thinking how much longer.45 months.

    Lynn Smith
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #5
    CypressCynthia said:

    Interesting because the
    Interesting because the latest studies that I have seen state the opposite: 17% reduction of recurrence in the 5 year vs the 2 year group in the Swedish study and a 6% difference favoring the 5 year protocol in the British study??? Everyone's diagnosis and prognosis is different, but, with my initial 3A diagnosis, I'd go for the full course again.

    Swedish Study:
    Long-term Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer Patients Boosts Survival


    British Study:
    Tamoxifen Sould be Taken for 5 Full Year

    tamoxifen
    Please do not misunderstand what I was sharing. This was information given from an oncologist to her patient. The dr. gave her numerous studies and the decision was based on that and my friends own personal history.

    I just thought it was exciting to share brand new info with everyone. I would never advise anyone what to do. I will ask my own doctor, too.

    Jean
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #6
    jphilpo said:

    tamoxifen
    Please do not misunderstand what I was sharing. This was information given from an oncologist to her patient. The dr. gave her numerous studies and the decision was based on that and my friends own personal history.

    I just thought it was exciting to share brand new info with everyone. I would never advise anyone what to do. I will ask my own doctor, too.

    Jean

    estrogen positive
    % of estrogen positive cells should be taken to consideration. Benefits of tomoxifen for high % estrogen receptors are well documentedi had my app yesterday at very respected university.. I was put back on tamoxifen 99% estrogen positive. It is still the best drug for premenopausal women.
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #7
    New Flower said:

    estrogen positive
    % of estrogen positive cells should be taken to consideration. Benefits of tomoxifen for high % estrogen receptors are well documentedi had my app yesterday at very respected university.. I was put back on tamoxifen 99% estrogen positive. It is still the best drug for premenopausal women.

    I'm confused
    Really, I wasn't saying anything was "wrong" with tamoxifen. I take it. I simply was sharing what another survivor told me. I know you all have respected doctors and universities. I do too. I seem to offended some of you & that was never my intent.



    Did I say something wrong?

    Jean
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
    jphilpo said:

    I'm confused
    Really, I wasn't saying anything was "wrong" with tamoxifen. I take it. I simply was sharing what another survivor told me. I know you all have respected doctors and universities. I do too. I seem to offended some of you & that was never my intent.



    Did I say something wrong?

    Jean

    Nothing wrong
    however some people could make their own decisions based on this news. Please everyone consult with your doctor about your diagnosis and treatment plan. It is a very difficult journey, tough road and costly mistakes.
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #9
    New Flower said:

    Nothing wrong
    however some people could make their own decisions based on this news. Please everyone consult with your doctor about your diagnosis and treatment plan. It is a very difficult journey, tough road and costly mistakes.

    mistakes???
    Wow!! I didn't expect that. If you read my post I stated that everyone should do that as I will myself. You took a completely happy bit of news I was sharing and made it into something totally different. You are insinuating I was suggesting a course of treatment.

    It just makes me sad. Every now and then I see this happen. I guess that is what is wrong with e-mail. People misunderstand. I rarely post and now I won't anymore. You said it wasn't wrong, but then you added the "however:. I try not to judge others. I have been on the "difficult tough road" you mentioned. I am not feeling well as I write this and now I feel worse. I won't tell my dear friend,as she would be shocked that her little bit of happy news from her doctor was a problem.
  • BioAdoptMom
    BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
    #10
    I find this very encouraging
    I find this very encouraging too as I am probably looking at a course of Tamoxifen very soon! It will be interesting to keep up with this new bit of info. Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #11
    BioAdoptMom said:

    I find this very encouraging
    I find this very encouraging too as I am probably looking at a course of Tamoxifen very soon! It will be interesting to keep up with this new bit of info. Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy

    jphilpo
    Please don't feel bad.You said you were talking with your doctor and others said the same thing including me. If you are having those problems with tamox then I say it is worth asking your doctor.I am so far OK with the pill but still want to mention it to my doctor to see what she says. Sometime along the line I could have problems with tamox.I know that can happen to any of us.

    Keep posting and get to feeling better real soon. No one was going to go off tamox till they asked their doctor.Like I mentioned my side effect is minor and my friends are doing OK after many years being diagnosed.So I will take it until I have some bad problems. Still will mention it.

    My doctor tells me all the time"They are finding more and more things to combat cancer". I also read about things in the paper.Not always breast cancer but other types.

    Get better soon and don't quit posting.We all learn from one another.I have learned more on this Board and to tell you the truth I still don't know alot that is going on.To much to learn. Even though we all have breast cancer we're all different. That is another thing I get from my doctor.

    Lynn Smith
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #12
    I was just taken off tamox after 2+ yrs
    I go back in 2 wks...after blood work but changing me to differnt med..not sure what yet>>>

    I have thickening of uterus (2 internal ultrasounds and 2 D & Cs)-shortly after last D & C (maybe be cooincidence) I started bleeding-so shortly after saw my gyno then oncolo. -was taken off taxox...so i'll see what goes in 2 wks or so..

    Denise

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