tamoxifen then femara

[Gerri]

I was pre-menopausal at dx (age 52 - no menstural cycle due to partial hysterectomy) so my onc put me on Tamoxifen and checked my levels periodically. Last April two of my levels had changed indicating menopause but my Estradiol remained in the normal range. My onc consulted with the endochrinologist at the center and she recommended that I be tested with the Anti Mullerian Hormone test - apparently more accurate than the standard test. The test had to be sent out and took almost a week to get the results. The test confirmed that I was in menopause. I switched to Femara and have done well with it. I do have some aches and pains but nothing that I wasn't experiencing with Tamoxifen. I still don't have overwhelming hot flashes but do get very warm a few times a day - a little more than when on Tamoxifen. Now I am wondering about Becky's comment regarding being tested again. I'll have to pull out my results from the AMH test and do a little research.

Be sure to have a bone density test when you start your AI. My onc wanted to delay mine six months because she said that Tamoxifen strenghtens bones. I asked her for one after three months and found that I have osteopenia. I will now get Zometa every six months. I have found that sometimes, no matter how smart our doctors are, we still need to watch out for ourselves.

Good luck.