Has anyone else declined Tamoxifen after DCIS breast cancer treatment?

This is such an important question that many people face after DCIS treatment. The decision about post-treatment medications is deeply personal and involves weighing various factors with your medical team. Hearing from others in similar situations can provide valuable perspective as you navigate this choice - hopefully some community members will share their experiences and reasoning to help inform your discussions with your healthcare providers.

I am taking an aromatase inhibitor. If it lowers my risk of a DCIS recurrence or a new invasive cancer, i will take the medication, stay in contact with my treatment team and deal with any side effects.

I would like to hear more on this because I am faced with a decision about Tamoxifen myself. Thanks

Ive had gi symptoms, resolved by taking the pill in the evening. Increased joint pain (have pre existing osteoarthritis), which I still sometimes struggle with; Claritin helps some. Oncology says i can try a washout followed by a change in aromatase inhibitor. I use topical minoxidil to avoid hair thinning. Am on my second year of anastrozole..

I am a 2b. Er/Pr+ HER2-. I choose a double mastectomy and had 15 days of hyper-fractionated radiation. Onco score 17. I decided not to take Letrozole. Two many questions not enough strong answers from oncology. I asked about Metformin since it regulates blood sugar with no side effects. I need to find an integrative onco to prescribe.

I turned them down 14 years ago. I was supposed to take them for 5 years. I decided not to, because I was already suffering from major depression. My cancer has returned in the opposite breast, and when I asked the oncologist if taking Tamoxifen would have prevented it, he told me, “No,” not after 14 years. It was the luck of the draw. I’m 75 now and confronted with taking the drugs again. I already have arthritis, osteopenia and a host of other age related problems. I probably will forgo the drugs again. It’s an individual decision one has to make. You might also try them and see if you can tolerate the side effects. A website by Cambridge University and Cedars Sinai Hospital helped me decide. It’s called “Predict”. We’re given so little information when trying to make this decision. This website helped me in that regard. Good luck to you.