Hello, I am 45 and joined the club on October 7th after a routine mammogram that I was lucky enough to get through my work Bupa Health Assessment. Diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2 hormone receptive. I had lumpectomy 11th November. Next stage is radiotherapy and tamoxifen has been mentioned. I have been on HRT for about 2 years as had been suffering with perimenopausal symptoms since I was around 37 (period problems, hot flushes and terrible low mood/depression/mood swings/brain fog). I went on HRT in 2022 after having counselling for my low mood that didn't help and got low estrogen scores in hormone test at the GP and life was so much better. When I found out about my dianosis I stopped taking HRT and was plunged in to panic and depression, hot flushes etc. My surgeon told me to restart the HRT. I am just wondering when you stop it before starting tamoxifen. Do you wean yourself off slowly or is it throw yourself off a cliff again? Do they test your hormone levels before starting tamoxifen? Obviously my test would be wrong as I am taking HRT. I am just trying to be as prepared as possible and also try and extend my "feeling normal" time as long as possible. I think radiotherapy will start 16th December. Any advice greatfully received as navigating this new world is a minefield!
