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04-12-2008, 04:59 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Hot flash sufferers/tamoxifen
ABSTRACT: Tamoxifen, hot flashes and recurrence in breast cancer [ Breast Cancer Research and Treatment]
We utilized data from the comparison group of the Women's Healthy Eating and Living randomized trial to investigate an "a priori" hypothesis suggested by CYP2D6 studies that hot flashes may be an independent predictor of tamoxifen efficacy. A total of 1551 women with early stage breast cancer were enrolled and randomized to the comparison group of the WHEL multi-institutional trial between 1995 and 2000. Their primary breast cancer diagnoses were between 1991 and 2000. At study entry, 864 (56%) of these women were taking tamoxifen, and hot flashes were reported by 674 (78%). After 7.3 years of follow-up, 127 of those who took tamoxifen at baseline had a confirmed breast cancer recurrence. Women who reported hot flashes at baseline were less likely to develop recurrent breast cancer than those who did not report hot flashes (12.9% vs 21%, P = 0.01). Hot flashes were a stronger predictor of breast cancer specific outcome than age, hormone receptor status, or even the difference in the stage of the cancer at diagnosis (Stage I versus Stage II). These findings suggest an association between side effects, efficacy, and tamoxifen metabolism. The strength of this finding suggests that further study of the relationship between hot flashes and breast cancer progression is warranted. Additional work is warranted to clarify the mechanism of hot flashes in this setting.
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*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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04-12-2008, 05:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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I was on tamoxifen for 5 yrs after my second occurrance of DCIS in 1999. I experienced some perimenopause type symptoms while on Tamoxifen, but I never experienced a single hot flash in my life.
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*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
Last edited by harrie; 04-12-2008 at 05:04 PM..
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04-12-2008, 06:17 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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That's good to know because I had night sweats on Tamoxifen and I have night sweats on Arimidex (would just be hot flashes if I took the drug in the morning but I take it at night to try to avoid some flashing). Of course I have a horrific flash right when I don't want one - like right before a presentation or something. At least I know flashing is a good thing!
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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"
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04-12-2008, 06:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Beckie, I don't even get any hot flashes with Arimadex. Darn, now I wish I got hot flashes like everyone else I know.....
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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04-12-2008, 06:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Beckie, great words from Christopher Robin to Pooh.
Off to yoga now.....Aloha!!!
harriecanarie...
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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04-12-2008, 06:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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My hot flashes are horrible, but was hormone negative. I've tried some other things and nothing worked so I figure I just have to deal with them till they go away. My cholesterol meds made them worse once I started taking it.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
Last edited by juanita; 04-12-2008 at 06:49 PM..
Reason: spelling
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04-12-2008, 07:02 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Thanks for posting this Harrie. (love your new avatar BTW!).
I started experiencing hot flashes and major night sweats almost immediately after I started taking Tamoxifen. I started Effexor 75gm. about 3 months later to combat both the "heat" and anxiety - worked like a charm for both.
Nice to know that my chance of recurrence may be less because of the flashes.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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04-12-2008, 08:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hello,
I am not in the hormone receptor positive group HOWEVER I am in the hot flash club. I had MAJOR hot flashes while on chemo - like every 15 minutes 24/7 and I'm NOT kidding. It was horrid. After taxol ended so did the flashes and they've been gone till just recently again. The last 2 or 3 months they are back. Not horrid - just the "normal" pain in the butt kind that all women experience. Horrid enough BUT that's ok. The sooner they begin the sooner it can all end - I hope.
Interesting post Maryann,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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04-13-2008, 01:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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Thanks for starting this thread Harrie. I am 54 and premenopausal. I have been taking tamoxifen for almost two years now. I have not experienced unbearable hot flashes, but do have "warm moments". I am beginning to wonder (and worry) if I am in the group of poor metabolizers. I just saw my onc last Friday and she is checking my FSH levels again to see where I am. I have been experiencing more frequent "warm moments", but not more severe. I have pretty much decided that if I am not menopausal yet I am going to opt to push myself there. I just have to decide which method to use and what AI to take. With the recent news about Femara I was thinking that might be a good choice. Any suggestions?
All my best,
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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04-13-2008, 03:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 154
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I've not had hot flashes, but I'm guessing (and hoping) its because I'm male.LOL
__________________
Diagnosis and Treatment: DX 12/07/07
Male Diagnosed with DCIS at age 39
Mastectomy on right breast
Tumor Stage pt1b NO MO
DCIS Tumor size 1.5 x 1.x .6cm
Infiltration tumor size .25X.17 cm
Bloom-Richardson Grade 3(score 8)
Nuclear Grade 3 with comedo necrosis
Estrogen+/Progestrone+/HER-2/Neu +++
FISH ratio 4.31
Lymph node removal scheduled 1/07/08
17 nodes tested and all negative 1/08/08
Started Tamoxifin 1/29/08
Oncotype DX score 52 (off the charts, according to my onc!!!)
Starting TCH 3/14/08
BRCA I Positive BRCA II Negative
Finished TC 6/27/08 continue Herceptin
8/1/08 Herceptin stopped due to low Muga score
Mastectomy on left breast 11/10/08
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04-13-2008, 05:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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You are so lucky Doug. Bout the best way to explain mine is the feeling of a sunburn amplified. And they hit at some of the most inoportune time.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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04-13-2008, 05:42 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: We presently live 1 1/2 hrs fr a city. in manitoba canada
Posts: 148
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great thread
i was thinking about asking for some help fr everyone. I have been having hot flashes at night so frequent that i'm not sleeping they wake me from my sleep. I'm never soaking or anything just hot...then throw off the covers only to be freezing later...just to fall asleep...just to be awakened again...so i have been taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Does this make sense to be flashing at night. Should i switch to taking it in the early evening? Back to sleeping pill...i'm bagged !!
Any advice?
thankyou, suzanne
__________________
suzannne
dx aug10/07
3 pos high, grade 3
tumor 2.5cm multifoc
bil mast recon sept 24/07
neg snb/neg lymph vascular
clear marg
chemo a/cx 4 rds
tomoxifan started feb11/08
herceptin to begin soon
herceptin completed feb/09
aromacin(A.I)for as long as i can
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04-13-2008, 05:47 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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I started experiencing terrible hot flashes with Tomixifen, then I started working on with aerobics for 45 minutes a day (elipitical, treadmill and bike) - my hot flashes totally went away. The interesting part is I finished radiation last week and I have terrible burns from it. It was to painful to exercise for 4 days and my hot flashes came back. It appears that exercise helps control those hot flashes.
I hope my exercising isn't created bad voodoo - who would think the hot flashes would be a good thing.
Last edited by goops; 04-13-2008 at 05:50 PM..
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04-13-2008, 10:25 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Goops,
Hey....maybe THAT is why I didn't get any hot flashes!! I am an exercise fanatic! So if I did not exercise as much I might have gotten the hot flashes also. I don't think that means the exercising created a jinx on the theraputics of tamox.
maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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04-14-2008, 06:05 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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That very well could be because the hot flashes stopped quickly after I started to exercise, perhaps exercise helps control surges in hormones.
I know there are studies that show people who exercise have a less likely chance of re-occurrence.
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04-14-2008, 11:01 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Thanks Gooops,
I appreciate hearing you say that. At first when I read the article, I thought to myself..."oh no....."
what you said makes sense.
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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