I believe that "being normal" with cancer is possible but not easy...
If you get off the Effexor... DO IT SLOWLY !! I discontinued Tamoxifen (I am <10% ER+ and PR-) and I have been weaning myself off the effexor. The withdrawals from the Effexor are nasty. Dizzy, dizzy, dizzy. I am down to 1/4 of a pill and if I miss one day I feel awful.
You stated that you are ER- and PR + What % positive are you ?
Of course you miss your estrogen. I do too (I am 44 and Dx'd at 41). Going into "chemopause" was difficult for me emotionally and physically. But that was a price I was willing to pay in order to rid myself of my cancer. For me, my % of ER/PR positivity dictated whether I needed Tamoxifen or not. After 2 1/2 yrs of it, and 1 yr of Herceptin, my onc and I concluded that Tamoxifen was not really going to provide me with a better outcome. To some oncs, 10% ER+ is equal to being ER-
I know we are all different and some of us give up more than others in order to stay well. Look at your percentage of positivity, your previous tx and discuss it with your onc.
You may also want to reconsider getting off Tamoxifen once you read the side effects (real and perceived) of Herceptin. Joint pain and muscle tightness are just a couple of the MANY symptoms recorded on this site. I don't know if your carpal tunnel symptoms are caused by the Tamoxifen or just the fact that all the stuff your body has been through just enhances something that may have already been there.
For me, every little pain or twitch was cancer's fault- but the reality is that you tend to notice things now more than ever because you know how serious this cancer can be.
Hang in there !
maria (MTS)
|