Why Does Hormone Therapy Have So Many Bad Side Effects?

lynn1950 said:

Good question
My fingers are so stiff from Arimidex. It would be nice to know why. x0x0x0 Lynn

That is a good question. I
That is a good question. I am suppose to start on tamoxifen, but, I don't think I will. I think I will just pass on it. I don't like the sound of the side effects and the fact that it can give you ovarian cancer, and, I am not having my ovaries out. My percentage was really low with it anyway.

Hope your fingers feel better someday Lynn!

Akiss4me said:

I think....
Even though there are side effects with all treatments, sometimes it is still better than the alternative. We have not yet gotten to the point of inventing a magic cure that effects cancer and cancer only. Unfortunately, cancer is still made up of the same cells that the rest of our body has....just mutated. Attack the cancer cells, you have no choice but to attack the good cells too. There is a risk with ANYTHING you put into your body because it depends on how your body reacts to that substance no matter if it is food or drug. It doesn't make sense, does it? Pammy

Wondering
I am wondering if I should continue with the tamoxifen. Does the bad outweigh the good? My onco will not discuss this with me.. so I guess I'll have to carry on researching it myself and then decide. Jxxxxxxx

confused123 said:

Everything causes cancer.

Everything causes cancer. Chemo and rads can even can cause it. I have to take Tamoxifen and am getting nervous about it now. I will ask many questions when that time comes. I start the Tamoxifen after rads.

Tasha I can't believe the doc won't discuss it with you. That is crazy. Be careful where you research. I can let you know what my doc tells me.

Kim

I really do not know much
I really do not know much about all this stuff we have to do in order to save our life, but I can tell you this. My Mother had breast cancer in 1970's. She refused Chemo and Rads. However she took the 5 year pill which I believe is Tamoxifin. I believe the drug started with a N. She was a breast cancer survivor of over 15 or more years. Died from a new cancer ( from smoking ) lung.

susie09 said:

That is a good question. I
That is a good question. I am suppose to start on tamoxifen, but, I don't think I will. I think I will just pass on it. I don't like the sound of the side effects and the fact that it can give you ovarian cancer, and, I am not having my ovaries out. My percentage was really low with it anyway.

Hope your fingers feel better someday Lynn!

Thanks, Susie
I asked my onc on Wednesday if it was permananet but...(and I will attribute this to chemobrain and not early onset Alzheimer's) , I don't remember his answer! Lynn

I am also considering on not
I am also considering on not taking tamoxifen because of the side effects. Tamoxifen, from what I know, was in clinical trial stage in the late 80's in the United States. Its use had been to treat infertility in women and body builders even took it and some still do. It was also used to treat other conditions, from what I know. It is listed by the ACS as a known carcinogen. Two of the most serious side effects are uterine cancer/endometrial cancer and blood clots. When I found out that the American Cancer Society had it listed as a carcinogen, that pretty much made my mind up. I will probably go without it. To me, it isn't worth the risk.

Good luck to all of you!

survivorbc09 said:

Seems like a lot of us
Seems like a lot of us question the hormone therapy and the side effects. It is a very controversial subject. I don't know. I just don't see that it is worth even a small chance of getting another cancer. Seems like a lot of women do just fine with no recurrence without taking it. It is just a personal decision for all of us.

Get good advice
It's right that everyone has to make their own decision and weigh the pros and cons..but to do that you need an oncologist who will dicuss it with you. Don't listen to too many scare stories though..that's why you need a professional to give you the details. I am just starting Femara which is given to post menopausal women only. I know there are side effects, but for me I want to do everything I can to prevent this coming back.
Good luck with your decision.

survivorbc09 said:

I saw someone post on here
I saw someone post on here that they have no side effects with tamoxifen. My oncologist said that if you have no side effects with it, then you probably are not metabolizing it and it might not be working. They have a test to see if you can metabolize it. Oncologists use it a lot. My percentage of a recurrence without taking it is so small that it really isn't worth it for me, like it might be with someone who has a higher percentage. I just wish everyone good luck on it.

That is true, as far as I
That is true, as far as I know. If you have no side effects with tamox, then you probably are not metabolizing it and therefore, it is doing no good for you.

There is a test to see if you do metabolize it. I thought all oncologist's offer it. It would make sense to.