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Jackie07 · 10-15-2010, 04:47 PM

LTC,

Sorry for the side effects you are experiencing. The dry skin/tissue seem to be related to menopause and not directly to Tamoxifen.

I've had my 5 years worth of Tamoxifen. My BC was weakly ER + to begin with, just 5%. When I had the recurrence (the surgeon had missed a small chunk of cancer tissue and it was mistaken as 'scar tissue' for four years), I requested for Tamoxifen after my chemo because nobody had told me I had become ER-. This was told by the nurse practitioner in March when I had asked for Arimatease Inhibitor (another type of drug for ER+ patients who are menopausal) after my prophylactic hysterectomy/oophorectomy. It's really because 5% ER+ is considered by some doctors as ER-.

However, just 4 months later, I received a prescription with a note from my oncologist: "just wanted to be sure that you are still taking Tamoxifen." So I went on the National Library of Medicine Database - PubMed - and located the most current research articles on the subject. It turned out that based on statistics, continuing Tamoxifen after 5 years is good for the bones.

The article also cited statistics that Tamoxifen reduces recurrence even for patients who are not ER+, but tested PR+.

10-15-2010, 04:47 PM	#3
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,809	Re: Tamoxifen Questions LTC, Sorry for the side effects you are experiencing. The dry skin/tissue seem to be related to menopause and not directly to Tamoxifen. I've had my 5 years worth of Tamoxifen. My BC was weakly ER + to begin with, just 5%. When I had the recurrence (the surgeon had missed a small chunk of cancer tissue and it was mistaken as 'scar tissue' for four years), I requested for Tamoxifen after my chemo because nobody had told me I had become ER-. This was told by the nurse practitioner in March when I had asked for Arimatease Inhibitor (another type of drug for ER+ patients who are menopausal) after my prophylactic hysterectomy/oophorectomy. It's really because 5% ER+ is considered by some doctors as ER-. However, just 4 months later, I received a prescription with a note from my oncologist: "just wanted to be sure that you are still taking Tamoxifen." So I went on the National Library of Medicine Database - PubMed - and located the most current research articles on the subject. It turned out that based on statistics, continuing Tamoxifen after 5 years is good for the bones. The article also cited statistics that Tamoxifen reduces recurrence even for patients who are not ER+, but tested PR+. __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 10-15-2010 at 05:41 PM..