HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Bracing Myself For A Swift Kick Into Menopause

jaykay · 12-26-2015, 08:49 AM

I can't speak to the "instant" menopause you are facing (and I'm really sorry but glad you are off the tamoxifen poison). I was post-menopausal for both breast cancers, on tamox for 4.5 years and then Femara for 5 years (the first BC).

HATED tamoxifen - gained weight, retained fluid, legs were sore and swollen all the time but there was no real alternative because the study comparing tamox with AI's hadn't been finalized yet. Went given the option for the AI - I jumped and didn't then and haven't this time around found the side effects to be anything other than stiff joints, especially in the morning. But I am also way older than you so who is to say what is the natural aging process. I work out daily - weights and walking, which definitely helps.

Wanted to mention that I was on HRT for 5 wonderful years prior to my first BC diagnosis. Losing estrogen sucks but if it fuels the cancer, we have tools like tamox and AI's.

Everyone reacts differently to the AI's and lots of women here have tried multiple AI's to reduce the side effects which seems to work. I'm back on Femara and have found the side effects to be as benign as they were the first time. I was on Arimidex for 2 months and was miserable. Go figure

Best
Janis

P.S. Within a month of going off the tamoxifen, I felt 500% better. I'm sure some of that was mental but it helps when you drop 7 lbs in 2 weeks! :-)

12-26-2015, 08:49 AM	#6
jaykay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 645	Re: Bracing Myself For A Swift Kick Into Menopause I can't speak to the "instant" menopause you are facing (and I'm really sorry but glad you are off the tamoxifen poison). I was post-menopausal for both breast cancers, on tamox for 4.5 years and then Femara for 5 years (the first BC). HATED tamoxifen - gained weight, retained fluid, legs were sore and swollen all the time but there was no real alternative because the study comparing tamox with AI's hadn't been finalized yet. Went given the option for the AI - I jumped and didn't then and haven't this time around found the side effects to be anything other than stiff joints, especially in the morning. But I am also way older than you so who is to say what is the natural aging process. I work out daily - weights and walking, which definitely helps. Wanted to mention that I was on HRT for 5 wonderful years prior to my first BC diagnosis. Losing estrogen sucks but if it fuels the cancer, we have tools like tamox and AI's. Everyone reacts differently to the AI's and lots of women here have tried multiple AI's to reduce the side effects which seems to work. I'm back on Femara and have found the side effects to be as benign as they were the first time. I was on Arimidex for 2 months and was miserable. Go figure Best Janis P.S. Within a month of going off the tamoxifen, I felt 500% better. I'm sure some of that was mental but it helps when you drop 7 lbs in 2 weeks! :-) __________________ March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010) Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70% BRCA 1 and 2 negative October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks. March 14, 2013: Finished chemo April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x May 22, 2013: Finished rads June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs. July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin December 5, 2013: Port removed Glad this year is over!