posted by fluffy
30 April 2012
Alternative to taking Tamoxifen
Last reply:
02 May 2012 22:36
I was diagnosed with DCIS in March this year...
I have had 2 operations to remove an area of DCIS which was approx 5mm. I was told that this cancer was only stage 1 and very small. Im doing 6 weeks of Radiotherapy and have just started my 5 year course of Tamoxifen. In 2009 I had an ovary removed due to an ovarian cyst that was over 10cm in diameter... If Tamoxifen is prescribed to block the production of eastrogen, why aren't we offered a full hystorectomy ???? Surely this is safer ?? My concern is that when I finish the 5 year course of Tamoxifen my body will go back to its normal cycle and once again start to produce eastrogen... Is there any medical reasons to not be offered a hystorectomy...??? 
Hi Fluffy,
Tamoxifen doesn't rid your body of oestrogen , it prevents oestrogen binding with cancer cells as it's oestrogen that fuels breast cancer in hormone positive breast cancer. Oestrogen is also produced in the adrenal glands and body fat in post menopausal women. Tamoxifen has been shown to have a shelf life of around 5 years and after that it becomes less effective.
I am having an elective full hysterectomy in the next few months as my aunt died of ovarian cancer when she was 35 and there is a link between breast cancer and ovarian cancer as well as my hormone positive status!! Also I can have the option to take a group of medicines called aromatase inhibitors which actually rid your body of oestrogen unlike tamoxifen but these tablets come with their own side effects eg Arimidex has been shown to be more effective in preventing reoccurrence than Tamoxifen. Aromatase inhibitors can only be prescribed in post menopausal women and I will be menopausal due to the full hysterectomy, it's called surgical menopause.
Our ovaries and the hormones they produce play an important role in cardiac function and sometimes having rid your body of the ovaries can sometimes lead to cardiac disease.
I hope this info helps you a bit
Blessings and hugs
Maria