How do you decide about hormone therapy after DCIS with severe side effects?
AN
Community Member
2 days agoA year ago I found out I had DCIS that dreadful call after my mammogram I hit the floor on my knees crying out to the lord WHY!? I’m 43 years old. This past year has been nothing but a blur, but now after treatments I am trying to navigate who I am now. I question everything I have done throughout my journey since my Doctors hadn’t informed me about this after cancer chapter. Right now I’m struggling with the dreadful 5 year pill 😫 I’ve tried both Anastrozole (which made me feel like I was 90, and my bones were screaming!, I couldn’t handle the side effects) and Exemestane, which again made me feel that same way like they just changed the name of the drug on the bottle. I’m at a standstill now. I don’t want to take these AI drugs if they’re going to make me feel like this! After my lumpectomy, radiation, and a full hysterectomy to eliminate my hormones I feel that I have put my body through enough to ensure that I will be cancer free, yet my Doctors are still pushing me to take these AI drugs and right now I feel my quality of life is more important than to live in that painful, awful state. I truly believe that I have done enough to prevent this from recurring yet my Doctor said “if you don’t take it, it will come back, and you will Die”! These words installed fear in me. Every morning when I take all my other 6 pills I look at my bottle of AI and I think about taking it out of fear of it coming back, and then remember how it made me feel and so I don’t take it. I understand that the doctors have to do protocol but my cancer was stage zero, my mass was 2mm contained and removed, followed by 20 rounds of targeted radiation therapy. At this point I’m torn..I’ve done my own research, asked as many questions as possible and am still educating myself on this and even looking into homeopathic treatment. I’ve asked my Doctors if they “over treat” DCIS in situ, if course he said No. Yet I am a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I’ve done my best on making my decisions on how to go about treating my cancer by educating myself, believing in the Lord, and I’ve even read with or without treatments DCIS patients have a low % of recurrence 5% Initially my doctors told me to get a double mastectomy yet since my stage was so low my mass was small and contained I chose less invasive treatment I believe that not all doctors know what’s best and sometimes take the “old school” approach. I haven’t had the best bed side manner from my doctors and nurses. Telling me that if I don’t take the medication (that side effects outweigh the benefits for me) that they will see me in their offices again, and that I will be dead by 50 years old! I know doctors are smart but they must not teach bedside manner in college because every time I leave my doctors office I am in fear. Fear of recurrence. I definitely don’t want to go through this again, but I also don’t want to live in pain and agony either. I’ve read about homeopathic medicine and thinking and praying about going this route, or even just going to my check ups and getting my 3D mammograms. I’m torn. My heart and faith tell me that I will be okay not taking the AI yet my doctors install fear in me. I sometimes wonder if they’re trying to keep me sick with their pharmaceutical treatments. I haven’t seen an exploration date on my body, so how can they possibly predict my longevity? Anyone else struggling with this? Has anyone stopped taking their medication due to the side effects? Has anyone tried the homeopathic route? Life after cancer is really hard to navigate especially when your oncologist is so close minded and strict on protocol approach. Any advice or suggestions? May God watch over you, keep you healthy and heal your mind, body and soul Thank you 🙏
