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02-02-2009, 01:51 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 503
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Signs of Tamoxifen resistance...?
Anyone have resistance to Tamoxifen ?
I started tamoxifen 2 yrs ago and had to suddenly discontinue due to the hot flashes, achey joints... etc...
I started back on it 3 months ago and I have had no side effects (I feel like I did when I did not take it) AND to top it off, I got my period last week !
I thought your period ended with Tamoxifen use...
Maria
__________________
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Dx'd 8/04 at 41
Stage 1 for some onc's; Stage II for others (if you add up the sizes of all tumors).
Infiltrating DCIS
HER2+, ER+10% & PR-
.9cm tumor not visible on mammo, but palpable; visible on ultrasound
Lumpectomy/ clear margins, no nodes
Had Breast MRI after lumpectomy that revealed two more tumors in same quadrant(.4cm and 1.6cm) that were not visible on either mammo or ultrasound.
Re-excision
DD AC+T; Herceptin one year
Rads
NED/Taking Tamoxifen reluctantly
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02-02-2009, 06:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
Posts: 2,005
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Maria,
Looking at your signature it indicates you are only 10% E.R. +. Is this correct? If so, I am not surprised you are not experiencing symptoms and are menstruating again. Frankly, I did not think there was any benefit with estrogen suppressors for E.R. positive below 70%, but I may be recalling that wrongly. I have heard of several younger women menstruating while taking Tamoxifen. I am participating in a Tamoxifen study where they do testing to see if I am synthesizing the drug properly and able to benefit from it. These labs will be drawn at my next exam in mid-March. I will try to remember to email you the names of the tests.
It seems you are correct to be questioning the efficacy of that drug, especially given its side effects vs benefit.
__________________
Smile On!
Laurel
Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara
15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
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02-02-2009, 06:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Hi Maria,
While tamoxifen does not induce menopause most women continue having periods, but it is important to report irregular periods or bloody vaginal discharge to your doctor.
I remember reading about a study that women under the age of 35 who had chemo had a higher rate of having their cycle return about 6 months after chemo and that women on tamoxifen were just as likely to be menstrauating as those not on tamoxifen.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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02-03-2009, 10:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bayarea,CA
Posts: 679
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My tumor was also only 10% ER+ and my onc decided not to put me on tamoxifen.
__________________
DX: 06-30-2007 - left breast -stage IIIB, Her2/Neu 3+++, ER weakly positive, PR-
Taxol+herceptin weekly for 3 months
FEC+herceptin every 3 weeks for 3 months
BRCA 1 and 2 - Negative
Jan 2008 - Bilateral mastectomy, prophylactic Rt. side.
Radiation for 5 weeks
Completed my yr of herceptin on 07-14-2008
Brain MRI - 3/2/09 Clean
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02-04-2009, 02:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Any concerns I should address with my Mom? She has been taking Tamoxifen since her breast cancer last year. Anyone have any advice for her?>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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02-04-2009, 02:53 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands
Posts: 835
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I'm not an expert, but I seem to remember that Tamoxifen doesn't stop your periods. Chemo can do that, though. I also read that side effects like the ones you describe are associated with a better response to Tamoxifen. Meaning it's more effective. I've also read that while the benefit is greater to those who'se tumors' ER score is higher, there is still a benefit for those with lower percentages. Especially if you are young at diagnosis, this can be important. I believe that here in Europe it's given to those with a low score like yours.
F W I W
Jacqueline
__________________
Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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02-05-2009, 11:40 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 503
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Interesting responses... some contradict others... I must admit I am more confused now than before !
Looks like more research is needed on this subject.
Thank you for your responding !
Maria
__________________
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Dx'd 8/04 at 41
Stage 1 for some onc's; Stage II for others (if you add up the sizes of all tumors).
Infiltrating DCIS
HER2+, ER+10% & PR-
.9cm tumor not visible on mammo, but palpable; visible on ultrasound
Lumpectomy/ clear margins, no nodes
Had Breast MRI after lumpectomy that revealed two more tumors in same quadrant(.4cm and 1.6cm) that were not visible on either mammo or ultrasound.
Re-excision
DD AC+T; Herceptin one year
Rads
NED/Taking Tamoxifen reluctantly
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