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Becky · 02-01-2007, 08:16 PM

Dear Karen,

Tamoxifen is effective for both pre and post menopausal women. AIs are only effective in postmenopausal women so, staying on Tamoxifen if you are truly postmenopausal is fine. However, studies show that AIs perform better than tamoxifen if you are postmenopausal.

Make sure your doc runs a full panel of hormones (LH, FSH and estradiol) to ensure you are postmenopausal. I got my period back 7 months after my last Taxol (I was 46). I had my ovaries removed for a variety of reasons (that ovarian cancer also runs in the family and I wanted to take an AI instead of tamoxifen. There were other reasons as well).

After the oophorectomy, I was postmenopausal for sure. The hot flashes subside over time but I still get one a night. I had more than that in the beginning.

02-01-2007, 08:16 PM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Dear Karen, Tamoxifen is effective for both pre and post menopausal women. AIs are only effective in postmenopausal women so, staying on Tamoxifen if you are truly postmenopausal is fine. However, studies show that AIs perform better than tamoxifen if you are postmenopausal. Make sure your doc runs a full panel of hormones (LH, FSH and estradiol) to ensure you are postmenopausal. I got my period back 7 months after my last Taxol (I was 46). I had my ovaries removed for a variety of reasons (that ovarian cancer also runs in the family and I wanted to take an AI instead of tamoxifen. There were other reasons as well). After the oophorectomy, I was postmenopausal for sure. The hot flashes subside over time but I still get one a night. I had more than that in the beginning. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"