Tamoxfin-were you told up front to check reguarly????

KathiM said:

I was told about the risks...main was uterine cancer....

But I had already had a total hysterectomy, so it didn't apply...

 

Thanks for the information!  (The next risk, after uterine cancer, is blood pressure issues...)

 

Hugs, Kathi

Not all doctors agree, and each of us is different

This one definitely falls under the category of "We're All Different."

My gynecologist doesn't automatically do regular transvaginal ultrasounds on women who are taking Tamoxifen, and judges their need on a case-by-case basis.  

In my case, I'm not at particularly high risk for endometrial cancer, I was already religious about my annual exams, I've never had any gynecological issues whatsoever (thank goodness), and my period is so regular and normal, it's positively boring.

So my gynecologist and oncologist agreed that what was most important for me was to religiously keep up with my annual pelvic exams, and to immediately see my gynecologist if there are any changes at all in my period or any spotting.  She would only order an ultrasound if there were any changes or concerns.

I've been on Tamoxifen for about 4 1/2 years now (and both doctors agree I'll stay on it for 10 years), and thankfully have had no problems -- it hasn't affected my period or my exams one bit.

Again, every doctor has their own ways of doing things, and each of our health situations is unique -- that's just what my doctors decided was best for me.

Traci

Lynn Smith said:

My breast surgeon

my breast Surgeon told me I was a good candiate for taking tamox since I had a total hysteroctomy. Never had any check ups.They took my cervic ovaries, uterus. The gyno said he never wanted to go back in my belly again.I was happy to get it all out at once. A few less places to get cancer. 

Lynn Smith 

It's a pretty common side effect

of Tamoxifen (uterine cancer) and it can be the really scarey kind (UPSC).  Pelvic exams alone do not screen for uterine cancer.  The  most common symptom is postmenopausal bleeding or spotting between periods if you're still having them. I had uterine cancer and had absolutely NO symptoms and I was very "lucky" to have endometrial cells (normal) show up on my Pap which prompted my transvaginal ultrasound and subsequent biopsy.  This is very unusual, and it turned out I had cancer (I had the garden variety kind).  Both my breast and endometrial cancers were estrogen dependent, soooooooo I'm thinking if you had estrogen receptor positive bc, it might be a good idea to get an occasional ultrasound just to be sure there is no thickeing of the lining, especially because the uterus uses tamoxifen like estrogen.   Traci, maybe because you're still having periods and they're regular indicates that you're sloughing off anything that might otherwise build up and grow crazy cells, but the only way to be sure of course is to biopsy.  The ultrasound is painless, not the biopsy. 

I am not unusual having had both bc and uterine cancer (at the same time was a little special, tho), and estrogen was a major culprit in my case for both.  I was told that it is not unusual for women to have both bc and uterine cancer over the course of her lifetime, and that statement by a gynecologic oncologist, had nothing to do with Tamoxifen.  Add Tamoxifen to the equation and . . ..I think I'd ask for an occasional ultrasound while on Tamoxifen. 

I'm now on Tamoxifen but have had a hysterectomy so don't have to worry about any gyn cancers again.  Just have to worry about stroke and blood pressure issues now.    Ah, breast cancer, the gift that keeps on giving.

Suzanne

 

disneyfan2008 said:

Suzanne: with MY total

Suzanne: with MY total hystectomy I thought I didn't have to go for annual exam with GYNo since nothing left per say!

 

Surprise was on me when the office called to say YOU must come in.

Denise

I now go every 6 months

but was on a 4-month schedule for the first 2 years.  I think I'm done after 5 years (or at least done with the gyn oncologist).  But I did have endometrial/uterine cancer.  Do you know if you had cancer or complex atypical hyperplasia?  I think the frequency of exams (and adjuvant treatment) has to do with the type and grade of the cancer/tumor, how far it invaded the uterine wall, size of the tumor, etc.  Similar guidelines to breast cancer actually.    Denise, you said you had an enlarged uterus, but why was it enlarged?  Do you have a copy of your pathology report? 

The reason they do a Pap is looking for wierd cells at the top of the vaginal cuff.  If endo cancer comes back, it's often there, yet they say Paps seldom detect it (really?).  They tell me the most important part of the exam is the rectovaginal part (ugh) because they could feel a tumor behind the vagina.  Most of the time, recurrences of the garden variety type (endometroid adenocarcinoma) can be caught earlythis way and successfully treated with radiation. 

I was told if I did not have cancer, but had only complex atypical hyperplasia (pre cancer) that my followups would be yearly for 5 years and I'm not sure whether that would have been with the gyn oncologist or with regular gyn.  Those pre cancer cells, too, can take up residence elsewhere and eventually grow, especially if your uterus was not removed intact.  But it is highly unlikely.  It is also unlikely for me to have a recurrence, especially after 3 1/2 years, but I will go and be checked for 5 years.  After that, I'm not sure.  I would like those exams to be over. 

Suzanne

TraciInLA said:

Not all doctors agree, and each of us is different

This one definitely falls under the category of "We're All Different."

My gynecologist doesn't automatically do regular transvaginal ultrasounds on women who are taking Tamoxifen, and judges their need on a case-by-case basis.  

In my case, I'm not at particularly high risk for endometrial cancer, I was already religious about my annual exams, I've never had any gynecological issues whatsoever (thank goodness), and my period is so regular and normal, it's positively boring.

So my gynecologist and oncologist agreed that what was most important for me was to religiously keep up with my annual pelvic exams, and to immediately see my gynecologist if there are any changes at all in my period or any spotting.  She would only order an ultrasound if there were any changes or concerns.

I've been on Tamoxifen for about 4 1/2 years now (and both doctors agree I'll stay on it for 10 years), and thankfully have had no problems -- it hasn't affected my period or my exams one bit.

Again, every doctor has their own ways of doing things, and each of our health situations is unique -- that's just what my doctors decided was best for me.

Traci

Traci

Why 10 years on Tamoxifen? Most Dr's (mine) say only 5 years. I am on my last year of Tamoxifen and cannot wait to get of of it!