How important is it to take estrogen reducing meds? My breast cancer was stage I, grade 3, 3.3 cm. Removed with double mammoplasty at same time. I am 66. Lymph nodes neg, her2 neg ER and PR +. At my age, how likely is it that the cancer will return? And is Zometa important? One doc says yes, one says no! My dexa scan showed no osteoporosis or osteopenia. Thank you for your time!
Hi Lorelei,
Welcome to our online community, thanks for posting your question. I’m pleased to see you are already getting some support in our breast cancer group too.
The uncertainty of what to expect with treatment and possible side effects can be daunting. And until you start treatment it’s difficult to say what, if any, you may have.
After surgery, the additional treatments are sometimes described as ‘mop up’ and help to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the future. This is known as adjuvant treatment.
A tool called PREDICT is often used to help calculate the potential benefit of offering certain treatments. We would always encourage using this tool with your doctor or breast cancer nurse. But it can help get a better understanding of what treatment is being offered and why.
It’s also important to discuss the benefit of treatment vs. the risk of side effects and possible impact to quality of life. The decision that’s right for one person may not be for another.
Zoledronic Acid (Zometa) is not only used for slowing down or preventing bone damage but also to reduce the risk of breast cancer spreading to the bones.
It might also be worth getting back in touch with your breast cancer team to ask them to explain the intended benefit and possible risks of hormone therapy and Zometa. I can see how confusing it must be when you are being told two different things. You could also ask if they can get another opinion from someone else, either from within the same team or from a different breast team at another hospital.
We often find that we can help people more by talking to them directly. A conversation may make it easier to explore complex or emotional issues. You can speak to one of our experienced cancer information nurses by calling our free helpline on 0808 808 00 00 seven days a week 8am – 8pm.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Amy C, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
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