Should I Take Hormone Blockers After Breast Cancer Treatment?

I felt the same way. But my dr said just try it. There is a large increase in survival rates.

I will be starting next week to see how I feel and then I will meet with my Oncologist in 4 weeks.

I have had very few side effects. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to take it. On message boards, there are horror stories of women who have had an awful experience with Anastrazole. If I were you, I would try it to see if you are one of the many that have few side effects. The advantages of being on the blocker are life changing. I am one who was diagnosed with stage 4 triple positive breast cancer. I was diagnosed in 2019 and I have no evidence of disease. The treatment has given me years of life with my wonderful family. My husband and I just planned another honeymoon to the Virgin Islands. We are celebrating!!

I was scared. But started it about 2 weeks ago. Although I’m hot all the time , no issues

I stopped taking it due to the fact my joints hurt every where but since I have been off of it they still hurt , so I guess I need to go back on it

Please help me, I keep having nerve ending pain in my breast does anyone else have this it’s like someone is cutting me

Yes, I decided not to take them or have radiotherapy for the following reasons. HR+HER2-, Grade 1 lumpectomy. PREDICTBreast2 estimates my mortality risk over 20 years to be 1/100. NHS does not assess for recurrence risk and just relies upon a generalised recurrence risk of 40% without adjuvant therapy and a 20% risk with it. So if adjuvant therapy only offers a net gain of 20% and at 67 quality of life is more important than quantity, why put myself through that misery? Why shouldn't I be one of the 80% of women for whom adjuvant therapy makes no difference to recurrence and one of the 99% of women for whom ajuvant therapy makes no difference to mortality? C/x

I am currently on Anastrozole. had breast cancer stage 1 last October. Luckily it didn’t spread, and they did 3 hour surgery to remove a small tumor in my right breast, a lumpectomy was done. I had 20 radiation treatments and 4 preventative chemo treatments which were not good to me. I didn’t dare say no to the chemo treatments as much as I didn’t want them. It wasn’t worth taking that chance to say no just incase something , even one cell was missed. Lost my shoulder length hair, lost all my taste buds for 5 months and lost use of my legs for a while. I had to go for therapy to learn to walk again. Chemo was trapped in the tissues. When he put me on Anastrozole, my oncologist stressed to me never ever to miss one, it’s not worth the risk!!. I take mine before bed, so no side effects. Please ladies don’t take that risk or chance, we come this far, don’t quit now!!. God Bless You All!!, Keep Fighting!!,👍💪💪💪💪💪💗❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌹🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I was supposed to start tamoxifen last month. I just can't get it in my mouth. I'm so terrified of it.

I started Tamoxifen in September right after my lumpectomy and before radiation. I started taking it at night, but felt it aggravated my insomnia, so I take it in the mornings. I have hot flashes which have reduced since I started on Black Cohash. I had used this during menopause. Give it a try.

Hi Teresa, I am actually going to start taking Anastrozole tonight as I read it's better to take it before bed. I'm hoping for no bad side effects. My thought process is to do what is necessary to minimize the risk of recurrence.

I’m in a similar boat. I have my tamoxifen rx filled and sitting on my bathroom shelf but I can’t bring myself to try it. Quality of life is a priority, and yet trying it to see how it is for me is a valid point as well.

I am still not sure about the anastrozole it kept up all night, when I take it during the day I get the hot flashes

I took tamoxifen for 5 months. The headaches were unbearable. I am now on a 2 month break. I had grade 1 very small tumor. No lymph involvement. HR/PR+, HER2 -. I had a lumpectomy and 20 rounds of radiation. My onc wants to discuss a lower dose in a few months but I do not think I will go back on it. My quality of life was suffering. With that said, I know people who have been fine on it.

I am writing this message to Betty who takes Black Cohosh. Black Cohos is dangerous to take with hormone blockers. My oncologist told me I should not take it, but I can take Primrose oil she suggested...it works

I understand your hesitancy becausewe have gone through alot and want to feel better after chemo. Initially, I was started on Anastrazole but I developed severe hot flashes and I hurted everywhere. So I stopped it, my Oncologist started me on Tamoxifen but still felt awful. I now take Exemestane with much less hot flashes and body does not hurt.

I have been on exemestane for almost 6 years and only 1 more year to go! I have had very few side effects, maybe more UTIs

Thank you everyone! I started 2 nights ago!! We shall see!!

I debuted too, but started Anastrozole in November. Had a few hot flashes but besides that doing fine. A friend of mine sister didn’t take it and her cancer came back last year. So I’ll take it for the five years. Hope for better outcome. Good luck.

Marija S - I’ll talk to my doctor about this. Thx

I was on Tamoxifen for 4 yrs in my early 40s. Put me into medically induced menopause. Good days and bad. Exercise and healthy diet helped me through the side effects along with taking Effexor (for a while. )

I’m on Anastrozole since 2022. I have muscle and joint pain but physical therapy helps. If you are having lots of side effects from Anastrozole ask to switch to a different med and switch as many times as you need to. There are several out there now. Hopefully you will find one with little or no side effects.

I will not

You’re not alone. Prayers are sent your way. Hang in there!

Teresa, side effects are very scary, but you have to remember that we are all different and some people have mild side effects, some severe, and some not at all. Why giving up without first trying? Give yourself a chance to see how it goes, don’t close yourself from the possibility that you might not have any side effects at all! Give it a try! While you are taking it, exercise, drink sufficient water, and eat well! Good luck🙏🏼.