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Tamoxifen script here but still dont want to take it...

suziesuze
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well ive been to the hosp today and script in hand.... I just feel like theres something they are not telling me!

I expressed my huge concerns about taking it and the side effects.

when i was up the docs one day i saw an e mail sent to my doc she had not read yet so she skipped over it quick and i saw the words " reoccurance 10 years" when i spoke to the doc at the hosp he said no i never put that! but i know what i saw !

He printed me off some info today saying this is what i sent to your GP but there was no mention of what i seen. I defo seen thoise words.

Just read on a macmillian site I should of been tested before taking this drug and eye test etc see below

Tests during treatment

You have blood tests before starting treatment and regularly during your treatment. The tests check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.

You may also have eye tests and tests to check your womb lining.

 

being as one of the biggest things im worried about is the uterine cancer ( as obviously i dont even have that !) why have they not performed any of these tests before starting me on 20!!mg of  TAMOXIFEN !

 At the moment i am not going to be taking any bloody tablets untill i have this answered. I Feel they are all too quick to prescribe drugs. And infact if having a LOBULAR cancer means its going to come back in 10 years anyway why put myself through all these side effects when it will come back in 10 years ( as i read on my notes!!) they i asked to be printed off but she said i would read too much into it. Too bloody right I will. 

 

Please advise. Suzie

 

 

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    Hi Suziesuze,

    Thank you for posting on the forum. The moderators have asked us to post a reply.

    Tamoxifen is used to treat women who have been through the menopause and also those who haven’t. It has been used for many years now and in the past it was thought that 5 years of treatment was the right length of time to take it. Research is now showing that there are advantages in taking it for 10 years.

    As you know any cancer has the ability to recur or spread but Lobular cancer is no worse than any other type. However taking tamoxifen has been shown to decrease the risk of it coming back.

    I cannot say exactly what your doctor put in the email or letter to your GP. I am not sure that they would have said it would be likely to come back in 10 years. It could mean that having tamoxifen for 10 years will lower the risk of it coming back.

    Although there is a risk of side effects and other types of cancer when taking tamoxifen research has shown that any risks are outweighed by the advantages of taking the drug. However the choice to take it is ultimately down to your decision, doctors can only advise.

    Our website says that ‘you may’ have tests to look at the womb lining and eye tests but these side effects are rare and usually only tested for if symptoms appear. The Breast Cancer Care website suggests that you have your eyes tested regularly yourself.

    Kind regards

    Deborah 

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