Hi All
Don't know of anyone else who has been on Zoladex, the norm seems to be tamoxifen or arimadex. I have been on Zoladex for 5 years now with a few side-effects, but the worst being it has caused me being diagnosed with oestoporosis (sorry prob spelt wrong!).Anybody else on this?
Hi Megan
After my mastectomy Iwas put on zoladex and tamoxifen. Zoladex for two years and tamoxifen, that I´m still taking for five years.
The reason for the zoladex being that my cancer was hormone ´fed´, and so zoladex is a hormone suppressant which basically means you don´t produce the hormones that could ´trigger´another bout of cancer.
Apart from the annoyance of having to administer it monthly, I injected myself, and the fact my life was one huge hot flush, I didn´t really have any major problems with it. Nowit´s finished it´s just one ex bad dream! My specialist did however test me for the likelihood of getting osteosporosis, see I can´t spell either! which had I tested positive he would have treated pre condition,but I was lucky and didn´t have a problem.
I´m sorry to hear that, on top of your initial illness you are now having to deal with another. Why have you have you been on zoladex so long
?
Are you quite young? this could be why, because I was borderline menopause so possibly two years was enough for me.
Hi Patri,
thanks for taking the time to reply. I was 36 when diagnosed and have just finished my 5 years of zoladex. Oncologist thought it would be the best thing for me to help preserve my fertility. Can't agree more about the hot flushes! Only came off it 1 month ago, so still getting the flushes. I have asked the oncologist if it's likely my periods will return, but they can't tell me for sure....they say a 30% chance of returning. It was only when ihad a fall a year and a half ago, and fractured my foot and broke several toes that i was sent for a bone desity test. Discovered i had osteoporosis then, which was caused by my time on the zoladex. I asked if now that i was coming of the zoladex, would the osteoporosis get better, but was told unfortunateley no,the damage has been done.
How you finding the tamoxifen? I hear many different stories about it.
How much longer do you have left on it?
best wishes Patri
Megan
Yes, I'm on Zoladex too. Like Pat, I'm supposed to be on it for 2 years as I'm borderline menopausal and had a hormone-induced cancer which resulted in a mastectomy. I'm also on Tamoxifen for 5 years. I'm interested to hear that there is apparently a test avaialble for oesteoporiasis (spelling again). I have another check up next week so will ask them about it. I finish my Zoladex at the end of the year when hopefully, the ONE BIG HOT FLUSH will lessen somewhat. Do you still get flushes with Tamoxifen or not? Also, does it cause weight gain or is this a myth?
The test you are refering to is called a DEXA test, which will measure your bone density and confirm if oesteoporosis is apparent. Can't help with advice on Tamoxifen...just had the Zoladex. Good luck with check up next week, hope it goes well.
Megan
I've been told I will have Zolodex for five years even though I'm 50 and already had been having hot flushes for a couple of years.
I'm going to be having the bisphosphonate infusions for three years as a bone protectant, but this is to help with the effects of anastrazole not zolodex.
I've been told I won't be bone scanned as I'm getting bisphosphonates, which I think is daft as there is no baseline to compare to in the future!
I’ve only had two zoladex injections so far, but I’ve also been prescribed bisphosponates (one tablet per day) and Adcal (calcium and vitamin D supplement). I was told that I would take the bisphosphonates and supplements for three years to strengthen my bones and the Zoladex for ten years.
Do you have an appointment to see your oncologist or a specialist?
