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fauxgypsy · 04-08-2008, 10:22 PM

I am in total agreement about quality of life. So far the arimidex is not too bad. I have night sweats pretty bad and my hot flashes are worse but that is much better than phlebitis and pain to the point of not being able to use my right arm. My doctors have never mentioned anything about the test about metabolizing tamoxifen. I have decided that I will not continue these medications if they interfere too much with how I want to live my life. I may come to regret that decision later but if it comes down to enjoying life now or living through five years of severe discomfort for the hope of a longer life, I think I will choose life now. These are hard decisions for the ones who have to live with the side effects, not so hard for those who prescribe the medications. Living longer is not the most important thing from my perspective now, but if it comes down to it, I hope I don't have to make that decision. I tend to have a "full speed ahead and damn the consequences" attitude sometimes anyway. I wish I had answers but I am not sure there really are any except to do what you think is right in your circumstances. When my stepfather was very ill with lung cancer I had time to evaluate how far I would be willing to go to live longer and I came to the belief that quality of life was the most important thing. It is an easier decision to make when you are not the patient

Leslie

04-08-2008, 10:22 PM	#10
fauxgypsy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 600	I am in total agreement about quality of life. So far the arimidex is not too bad. I have night sweats pretty bad and my hot flashes are worse but that is much better than phlebitis and pain to the point of not being able to use my right arm. My doctors have never mentioned anything about the test about metabolizing tamoxifen. I have decided that I will not continue these medications if they interfere too much with how I want to live my life. I may come to regret that decision later but if it comes down to enjoying life now or living through five years of severe discomfort for the hope of a longer life, I think I will choose life now. These are hard decisions for the ones who have to live with the side effects, not so hard for those who prescribe the medications. Living longer is not the most important thing from my perspective now, but if it comes down to it, I hope I don't have to make that decision. I tend to have a "full speed ahead and damn the consequences" attitude sometimes anyway. I wish I had answers but I am not sure there really are any except to do what you think is right in your circumstances. When my stepfather was very ill with lung cancer I had time to evaluate how far I would be willing to go to live longer and I came to the belief that quality of life was the most important thing. It is an easier decision to make when you are not the patient Leslie __________________ In the world of destiny, there are no statistics. Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3 February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy. March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy, June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative August 7th - Brain MRI-negative August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07 July 2008-Finished Herceptin!