Confusion about taking tamox....thoughts

[linn65]

I read on this board in the past week about NOT being a good canditate or taking tamoxifen would not really help with ER status of a certain number and the person opted to remove her ovaries. Since then I drove to my sons first basketball game (surprised him) leaving at 1 pm Saturday and not getting home until Sunday 4 AM. I am just not rested up after Monday work day....Whew!!

Anyway, my ER status in the beginning was ER 30% and after chemo, then my final pathology after masectomy changed to ER 70% or about that (I would have to re-read my signature to remember exact number ). My PR in beginning was negative and then changed to PR+ 2, so I am now wondering about taking tamox.

Anyway, my OCD mind just thought about it again and the people on this board are BRILLIANT, DIVERSED, EXPERIENCED AND DEPENDABLE more then doctors at times. Been there, done that, hine site is 20/20 kind of thing and being your own patient advocate and making the best decision possible on what and what not to do is a MUST in my humble opinion.

Thank you in advance.......I would be lost without this board!!!

[tricia keegan]

Hi Linn, I was one of those people who decided on an ooph to take Arimidex and have no regrets and will be taking it up to ten years in total, I've been taking it seven years so far. I really didn't like the potential serious side effects of Tamox but feel its important we hormone positive's take some form of hormone therapy to help with the risk of recurrance, its a tough decision and I hope you're happy with whatever you decide on.

[sarah]

Hello Linn,
I agree with Tricia that if you're ER+, you must take an anti-ER drug, whether it's Tamoxifen or Raloxifene or others and for 10 years - that's the protocol now. I took Femara for 6 in the years the protocol was 5. Take it at night, helps lessen side effects. As to the ovaries that's a question for you and your doctor. Cancer loves estrogen so that must be lessened in your body. Watch the dairy including yogurt and soy.
take care
sarah

[linn65]

I have been taking Tamoxifen as of February.

All this time on Herceptin finishing it August20th, and I was thinking that what was making my hands hurt, sometimes ankles or knees. The day starts off alright but by night my hands can really ache, or just achy joints, and I just thought it was the Herceptin. Now, I am wondering if it is the Tamoxifen that is the culprit or just more time needs to go by and it will improve.

I hate SIDE EFFECTS! I know I am being Ms. Obvious because like anyone would love them, right. 11 weeks under my belt from my diep flap and it is sure better then a few weeks ago and am thankful for that.

['lizbeth]

You've been through a lot of stuff. You body is not going to recover from chemo and anesthesia and surgeries instantly. It takes time to heal.

What you think of as side effects might be your body recovering from the taxane. You could have had a numbness in your lower limbs from peripheral neuropathy. As the nerves heal you might be feeling this as pain. Just track how you feel, and if it continues or worsens - it is treatable with medication.

You are still in a recovery phase from cancer treatment. Be nice to your body and give it lots of healthy fruits & veggies, lean proteins & filtered water. Relax, laugh, exercise, sleep.

[linn65]

I have been laughing and sleeping. Relaxing and Exercising....I should do more of that.

I am totally right brained I just learned that from taking a left/right brain test. I have a new number I should had to my signature!! LOL....I am 78% right brain so many things makes sense now! hahaha.

You know Ilizabeth I can be patient with others but myself not so much. I am always in a hurry, walk quickly, talk fast, so I guess you would say I am hyper. I suck at being a cancer patient because I am inpatient...irony!! LOL #cancergoals.

Did I tell you that you are Awesome today Ms. Lizbeth??? Because you SOOOO are!! And in case you did not know right brain people have really good gut instinct.

['lizbeth]

Above are just a few things associated with the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain. People who are right brain dominant are usually good with these things. Here is some more characteristics of a right-brained person.

• Prefer rock music
• Right brain controls left side of body
• Prefer visual instructions with examples
• Good at sports
• Good at art
• Follow Eastern thought*
• Cat lovers
• Enjoy clowning around
• Can be hypnotized
• Like to read fantasy and mystery stories
• Can listen to music or TV while studying
• Like to write fiction
• Prefer group
• Fun to dream about things that will probably never happen
• Enjoy making up own drawings and images
• Good at geometry
• Like organizing things to show relation
• Can memorize music
• Occasionally absentminded
• Like to act out stories
• Enjoy interacting affectively with others
• Think better when lying down
• Become restless during long verbal explanations
• Enjoy creative storytelling
• Prefer to learn through free exploration
• Good at recalling spatial imagery
• Read for main details
• Skilled in showing relationships between ideas
• Preference for summarizing over outlining
• Solve problems intuitively
• Very Spontaneous and unpredictable
• Dreamer
• Philosophical

Linn 65, considering we could be neighbors at the looney bin - it is great to like your neighbors . . . .

[linn65]

Sweet!! Love my Looney bin neighbors!! As long as it is a spa time "Looney Bin"!! High Maintenance all the way!!

• Prefer rock music -----I prefer Pop, 80's (like Prince)
• Right brain controls left side of body (yep)
• Prefer visual instructions with examples (definately)
• Good at sports (depends what you consider good-l0l)
• Good at art (I suck at it)
• Follow Eastern thought* (What is that?)
• Cat lovers (Not really)
• Enjoy clowning around (Ya, duh)
• Can be hypnotized (never, isn't that weak minded)
• Like to read fantasy and mystery stories (sure but like bio's)
• Can listen to music or TV while studying (yes)
• Like to write fiction (I don't know, never tried)
• Prefer group (depends)
• Fun to dream about things that will probably never happen (sure)
• Enjoy making up own drawings and images (back to I suck at art)
• Good at geometry (IDK- I never liked math)
• Like organizing things to show relation (Yes, linking)
• Can memorize music ( I used too)
• Occasionally absentminded (Maybe )
• Like to act out stories (Yes)
• Enjoy interacting affectively with others (yes)
• Think better when lying down (Is that why I can't sleep) haha
• Become restless during long verbal explanations (depends)
• Enjoy creative storytelling (yes)
• Prefer to learn through free exploration (back to visual learning)
• Good at recalling spatial imagery ..idk
• Read for main details - oh yeah
• Skilled in showing relationships between ideas (yes)
• Preference for summarizing over outlining (sure)
• Solve problems intuitively (definately)
• Very Spontaneous and unpredictable (Fo sho)
• Dreamer (trying to)
• Philosophical (yes)

['lizbeth]

Great, we may be crazy cancer chicks - but we can get our nails done! And we need to work on getting Kim in DC as a neighbor so we can get eyelash extensions. Sweet!