Tamoxifin and her2/neu+ gals

[Melissa]

I did have the tamoxifin test and was found to be a poor metabolizer. My onc and I thought it best to go the ooph route since my period came back after chemo and my cancer tested high for hormones. So I had the ooph and I am now on Arimidix. I still have lots of hot flashes and sometimes I just don't feel the same but all in all I'm doing great. I think it's only 10% that are poor metabolizer and I'm one of them. So tamoxifin would not have worked for me.

[wtfsanjo]

krista -

i cannot believe your PA said that if you had a period on tamoxifen that she would put you on an AI. tamoxifen has nothing to do with menopause and periods - it simply blocks the cancer cells' ability to "eat" the estrogen and progesterone you are naturally producing. i was on tamoxifen for 9 months and had normal periods the whole time.

the larger issue about tamoxifen and her2+ is whether her2+ cancers are resistant to tamoxifen. there have not been dedicated studies on this that meet the scientific rigor that would be "practice changing" but there is significant evidence embedded in lots of small studies that her2+ cancers are resistant to tamoxifen.

the one exception to that is that herceptin (when you are taking it) allows the her2+ cancer to NOT be resistant to the tamox. so i took tamoxifen during herceptin, and am on nothing now - onc and i decided i wasn't doing any good.

but i just wanted to weigh in on your PA's comment - that makes no sense and is absolutely FRIGHTENING that you were given such info.

xo
katie