hormone + breast cancer

Less than one minute read time.

FormerMember

24 Apr 2011

Hi,

I'm 37 and have had a lumpectomy and now need to have a masectomy and reconstruction as my margins weren't clear. I have also learned that my cancer is hormone +, the Dr's seem to think this is a good thing. All I can work out is that it means I will have to go through early menopause and take loads of drugs for years - both options seem awful. Has anyone else got experience of ovary ablation / early menopause etc. Feel like this cancer is making me old before my time .......

Sue x

FormerMember over 14 years ago

Hi Sue, Like you, I was 37 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy. I also had chemo and radiotherapy followed by five years of tamoxifen. My cancer was hormone positive too. Being positive means that your cancer will respond better to the drugs given.

You do suffer menopausal symptoms while on the drugs, but it doesn't necessarily bring on a full menopause. It didn't in my case.

Ovarian ablation will bring on menopause. Have the doctors offered you this? The drugs do have side effects, but nothing major. Most people can take them with very little problems at all. My worst problem was the hot flushes, but they didn't last the whole five years thankfully!

I am 7 plus years from diagnosis and am doing well. I have had my final mammogram and will join the usual screening programme in five years time and hope to be discharged from the breast clinic next year, all being well.

I wish you all the very best for the future. Please let me know how you get on.

Best wishes, Christine xx
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