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RE: Finishing Tamoxifen
Dear breasts sufferers,
Next week, I am facing my 5 years oncologist review. Needless to say I am absolutely terrified. A whole new lot of new uncertainties are added to the current ones. Over the years, If I have found increasingly difficult dealing with the aftermaths of cancer, having now, 6 years after the initial dx, falling into a spiral of anxiety and depression. I am overwhelmed by fear. I know my doctors will stop me from Tamoxifen and, they won't putt me into any new medication as my hormonal status is still premenopausal. I've been looking into other possibilities but, it seems that everything there is for postmenopausal women. To continuo on Tamoxifen a few more years is not an option as, the lining of my womb is seriously thick and, I've already experienced problems with Tamoxifen. I wonder if any of you are in a similar situation and maybe, can advice me about possible alternatives.
Thank you all and stay well
xx
Have you thought about counselling, either through your care team or maybe speaking to someone on the Helpline here. Is it just the thought of recurrence that's worrying you. If so, I am sure someone can give you reassurance. You have come through the first few years when a recurrence is more likely so you are doing really well.
I have just finished my active treatment and tried Tamoxifen but had some many side effects that for the moment have decided not to take it anymore. I am lucky in that I am quite happy with my decision and not phased by the future, but know this is not the case for a lot of people, so talking it through with someone impartial may be the way forward.
Sam
Hi happynipple
I'm just starting my 6th year all clear. I had a lumpectomy,rads and five years of tamoxifen. Last Christmas, just before my all clear, I realised I had a serious problem. Not physically but mentally. I breezed through treatment to be honest went back to work full time in a school in a very socially deprived area. I was always too busy I suppose to reflect on what I'd been through.
I really crashed and burned. My GP was supportive but not really very helpful. My family was the same but most people didn't understand what was wrong after all I was coming to the end and it would soon all be over. But as we all know it never really is. As I often say they cut the cancer out of my breast but its still in my mind.
By a stroke of luck I came on this forum and heard about the Haven at Leeds. I went for councelling accupuncture and other bits an bobs. They provide support for people who have had BC and their families at any stage. I am sure many here can identify how you are feeling.
I am now much better and stronger. Physically better because the tamoxifen has gone and settled with my future.
I hope you have a Haven near you to help but you are not alone.
Love and hugs
Chinook
Hello ladies,
First of all, thank you for your support, it means a lot to me.
Sam, with hormone positive cancer, the likelihood of recurrence is not in the sort run. It not unusual to have metastatic recurrence many years after the first dx.
Yes Chinook, I have starting attending to therapy in a centre specialized in cancer patients. I have both, individual and group therapy. I had a lot of hopes on the group therapy but, it turns to be the kind of approach I find annoying, harmful, dishonest and misleading. They put a lot of emphasis into patients responsibility towards health and well being but, no comments on NHS policies or standards of care, NICE decisions and so on. I am a quite healthy person myself, I am a mediterranean diet follower since birth, I do exercise almost everyday but that is not going to make me immune to death and illnesses, so their approach doesn't really work for me specially because it comes from a morbidly obese person.
As you, I rush into "normal" routine mood as soon as I finished cancer treatment. Always very busy to think about it or chill out and now, I am just falling into peaces. My current GP is a dunce, no sympathetic at all so, I have decided to try to see a different one but, you know how surgeries are so, I don't always get an appointment with another one. Anyway my off sick period is running out and, very soon, I will be on statutory sick pay which I can't afford. I'll have to come back to work although I don't think I am completely ready for it just yet.