Zoladex and Tamoxifen

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I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on a medication situation I have.

i have had surgery to remove breast cancer - I ended up with a double mastectomy so no need for radiotherapy. My oncotype score also meant I didn’t need chemo.

i am 49 and pre menopausal so the plan is for a monthly Zoladex injection and tamoxifen. I had issues with these in that my BP went through the roof so my oncologist took me off tamoxifen and my GP had been monitoring the BP.

i have a family history of heart issues though - my dad had them in his 40s and died early 50s and my sister also had an attack in her late 40s.

my Oncologist thinks Zoladex is the minimum I should be on to prevent the cancer coming back but my GP thinks that I shouldn’t be on it due to the heart risks.

obviously my oncologist is the specialist and I will ultimately listen to her but I don’t understand why I can’t just have tamoxifen. Zoladex doesn’t seem to be the norm for treating post cancer recurrence this seems to be tamoxifen (which I’m not currently on due to the high BP which isn’t coming down massively!)

any ideas anyone?

ps sorry this is long!

Stephj over 2 years ago

Hi. I'm currently on a 4 weekly zoladex injection and letrozole. I'm pre menopausal and was initially put on just tamoxifen but due to blood clot risk was put on a post menopausal drug letrozole. When i had tamoxifen i didn't have the zoladex injections so not sure. Obviously everyone has different treatment depending on their situation so I'm sure your oncologist has their reasons for giving you that treatment. You could query why you are having the ovary suppression when you are on tamoxifen. Best of luck. I know how difficult and confusing it can be

Time traveller over 2 years ago in reply to Stephj

See, I know so many people on just tamoxifen. I just don’t understand why I need Zoladex as well.

Stephj over 2 years ago in reply to Time traveller

Yes i didn't have zoladex with tamoxifen, it was only when i moved onto a post menopausal drug that i started the injections. I had lumpectomy and radiotherapy as well. It is confusing but everyone's treatment is different. Hopefully you'll get answers from your consultant.

Sunny25 over 2 years ago

Hi I was diagnosed in November 2021 with Stage 1 Class 2 breast cancer. Had a lumpectomy on left breast, and 20 days of radiotherapy. I was then started on Tamoxifen and zoladex the side effects for me are horrendous i am 45 and feel like 70. Am going to discuss with doc at my next months appointment about stopping Zoladex

JMR123 over 2 years ago in reply to Sunny25

Oh thank god someone else who feels as I do. I was diagnosed in may2020 had lumpectomy and radiotherapy started tamoxifen but had awful bleeds I now have zoladex and letrozole and I feel like am 90 years old I am in constant pain have had to give work up , I feel its a constant battle each day I have mo quality of life can anyone help or give me some advise please

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