Starting hormone treatment

LMKMT 1 month ago

2 replies
11 subscribers
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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!

latchbrook 1 month ago

Hi LMKMT and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet so responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list again.

While you're waiting for replies, it would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment to date into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

CelindaS 27 days ago

Hi, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate these changes, especially when balancing the effects of hormone therapy and the necessary treatments. I went through a similar situation a while back, where I had to stop my hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after being diagnosed with hormone-sensitive cancer. Like you, I had been struggling with perimenopausal symptoms, including mood swings and hot flashes, and HRT made a big difference in my life.

When I started Nolvadex (Tamoxifen), my doctors didn’t test my hormone levels right before, but they did check periodically to monitor how well my body was adjusting. I was advised to stop HRT entirely before starting Nolvadex, but it wasn’t abrupt. I gradually reduced my dosage over a couple of weeks, which helped minimize the shock to my system. During the transition, I experienced some symptoms again, like hot flashes and mood changes, but nothing too overwhelming. After starting Nolvadex, I had some ups and downs, but it was manageable.

It's really important to use only high-quality Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) to ensure its effectiveness and minimize the risk of side effects. Always make sure you’re getting it from a trusted source.

It’s great that your surgeon is supportive of your concerns, and it’s important to stay proactive in asking questions. Nolvadex itself didn’t cause me too much trouble, but I did experience occasional fatigue and hot flashes, though it was much less intense than before.

It’s a tough journey, but with the right support, you can definitely get through it. Stay strong!

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