Photo courtesy of MorgueFile and Aidairi
Why I Chose Against Hormone Blocking Drugs
Every single day I am contacted by women who are either going through breast cancer treatments or have finished their treatments and have been prescribed estrogen blocking drugs like tamoxifen (Nolvadex), anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin), letrozole (Femara), raloxifene (Evista).
Many of these drugs are also known as aromatase inhibitors because they deactive a key enzyme (aromatase) that is responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of estrogen.
Why Women Are Prescribed Hormone Blockers
A breast tumor is called “estrogen receptor positive” or “ER+” if it has receptors for estrogen – this suggests that the cancer cells, like normal breast cells, may receive signals from the hormone estrogen that could promote their growth. The cancer is termed “progesterone receptor positive” or “PR+” if it has progesterone receptors. Again, this means that the cancer cells may receive signals from progesterone that could promote their growth. According to BreastCancer.org, roughly two out of every three breast cancers test positive for hormone receptors.
The women who are contacting me are very concerned about the side effects of such medications, they are researching and wanting to know more and they are wondering if there are any natural products that will do the same job without the side effects.
My Personal History
I went through breast cancer in 2004. If you’d like to read my whole story, check out my Breast Cancer Diary page. Briefly, however, I had a 2.5 cm tumor, about the size of an olive, and it was a rapidly growing tumor known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma. I had a large lumpectomy and a latissimus-dorsi flap reconstruction. I was recommended to have chemotherapy right away, but being a natural therapist I needed to be convinced of the necessity of that, so I went home to heal up and work on my immune system. Eventually both my oncologist and my natural therapists convinced me that it would be beneficial for me to undergo chemotherapy and I did 6 months worth. I chose not to have radiation for various reasons, and although both my oncologist and my regular doctor tried hard to get me to say yes to the hormone blocking drugs, I just could not be convinced that this was a good route for me to follow. For one thing, I was progesterone receptor positive only, which is somewhat unusual. I couldn’t see how tamoxifen, which is used as an estrogen-blocker, was going to help me since I was PR+. My doctors argued it would “still have some therapeutic benefit.” I wasn’t convinced, and especially when I read about the side effects of these drugs. Instead I went home and went into deep research mode. Here’s what I found.
1. Some research indicated that tamoxifen was more useful in elderly and frail women and it removed the need for surgery in a high proportion of those women. (Akhtar SS, et al. A 10-year experience of tamoxifen as primary treatment of breast cancer in 100 elderly and frail patients. Eur J Surg Oncol. 1991; 17:30-5.)
2. The Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen studied 3,500 post-menopausal women who received surgery for breast cancer. About half of these patients were considered to be low risk and received no further treatment. The high risk patients received either radiotherapy or radiotherapy plus tamoxifen. After about 8 years, the scientists looked at the incidence of cancer in these women. All 3 groups had more cancer than the general population and for those who had received radiotherapy there was a higher incidence of leukemia. There was no difference in cancer incidence in the high risk group that received tamoxifen plus radiotherapy compared to those who just received radiotherapy, indicating that tamoxifen did not confer any special protective effects. In fact, there was a tendency to an elevated risk of endometrial cancer. (Andersson M, et al. Incidence of new primary cancers after adjuvant tamoxifen therapy and radiotherapy for early breast cancer: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1991; 83:1013-7.)
3. The McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research of the University of Wisconsin studied rats given tamoxifen. At first, all appeared okay, but when the rats were also given a small dose of chemicals and then fed tamoxifen, the livers of these animals showed an increase in the size and number of altered liver lesions compared with the animals that had been fed the chemicals but not the tamoxifen. The researchers felt that tamoxifen acts as a tumor promoter in the rat liver, that it was four times the strength of phenobarbital (a drug commonly used as a representative promoting agent in experimental carcinogenesis). (Dragan YP, et al. Tumor promotion as a target for estrogen/anti-estrogen effects in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Prev Med. 1991; 20:15-26).
4. There were too many disturbing reports of eye damage from the use of tamixofen. In one article that appeared in the Annals of Ophthalmology, I read about toxicity to the cornea, retina and optic nerve. And though it seemed that the damage did not progress once the drug was stopped, it could not be repaired. (Gerner EW. Ocular toxicity of tamoxifen. Annals of Ophthalmology 1989; 21:420-3). I had enough problems with my vision, I certainly didn’t need any more.
I could go on and on here, citing all of the research that I did – and yes this research is a little older, I went through breast cancer in 2004, as I mentioned.
Possible Side Effects of Hormone Blocking Drugs
The list of possible side effects of these drugs is lengthy: hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headaches, muscle, joint and body aches, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, changes in bowel habits, muscle weakness, fatigue, increased risk of liver cancer, precancerous changes in the uterus, blood clots which could travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism or a stroke, cataracts and other vision changes.
I just wasn’t willing to submit my body to any of that.
It’s Time To Wake Up
What I am seeing as a breast cancer coach is a large quantity of women (more than I ever thought possible) who have taken the hormone blockers for the prescribed length of time (usually 5 years) and are coming to me with a new breast cancer.
We need to wake up people! These drugs are not working. They are toxic to our bodies and there are better ways of regaining our health. The thing is, you can’t just say no and do nothing else. You really need to be very pro-active with your health. If you don’t know what to do, feel free to sign up for my e-books and newsletters, I provide them as a free service to people going through breast cancer and I share all of my best tips and information in them (see the sign-up form on the right side of this page).
It’s Not All About Estrogen!
I have said this so many times lately, it’s starting to become my slogan. Estrogen is a hormone we want and need in our bodies. The doctors are so focused on the fact that there are estrogen receptors on our breast cancer cells but part of the problem is that there are synthetic estrogens in our body products, our drinking water, our cosmetics, our environment, and these are part of the problem with our health (see my article Protect Yourself From Xenoestrogens and Estrogen Dominance).
In her book “Molecules of Emotion“, author and scientist Candace Pert shares with us “… accumulated environmental pollutants within our bodies are mimicking and disrupting the action of our sex hormones — estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — which run the male and female reproductive systems.” She goes on to state that “A recent report on receptor binding in Science, for example, has shown that environmental toxins have estrogenlike effects and bind to estrogen receptors, where they can stimulate breast cancer tumor growth. Similarly, various toxins can act like testosterone in the male body and stimulate prostate cancer, which is embryologically similar to breast cancer. Although this has been suspected for a long time, only recently have we gotten the hard proof that accumulation of these toxins in our bodies chronically stimulates our estrogen and testosterone receptors, putting them into a state of overdrive and leading to cancer.”
There are many other factors which put us at a higher risk for breast cancer, and right up there at the top of the list is STRESS. You can do little to avoid it but you certainly can change the way that you react to it. Try meditation to relieve that stress. Get yourself into a meditation group, or if you live in a remote area download my meditation course.
I also believe that it’s vitally important to build up your immune system to be as strong and healthy as it can be, since our immune system is our first line of defense against cancer cells. Why don’t the doctors tell you that? Any natural therapist certainly will. Have a look at my page 8 Ways To Build A Super Strong Immune System. How important are these 8 items? I believe they’re absolutely crucial. Give proper attention to each of the 8 items on the list and you will be much happier and healthier than if you are taking toxic drug therapies.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-1555-anastrozole+oral.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/tc/breast-cancer-comparing-hormone-blocking-treatments-topic-overview
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/tamoxifen
Cancer Therapy, The Independent Consumer’s Guide To Non-Toxic Treatment and Prevention by Ralph W Moss, PhD.
Molecules of Emotion by Candace B Pert, PhD.
If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters and e-book on the right, and/or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com). It is my honor and my goal to help you through this so that you emerge from breast cancer feeling better than before, thriving!
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS BLOG POST IS INFORMATION I HAVE DISCOVERED FOR MYSELF. IT FEELS TRUE FOR ME. THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE IS NOT MEANT TO DIVERT YOU ON YOUR HEALING PATH, IT IS ONLY INTENDED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF OTHER WAYS OF THINKING. YOU MUST DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
Thank you, Marnie. I am headed in to have this challenging discussion with my oncologist in Friday. After my first 4 months of Tamoxifen this year, I stopped taking it. I am young, and so am advised that no protection is ill advised. I am struggling to weigh the quality of life with risk of recurrence equation. I had strong effects from Tamoxifen that seemed to intensify over time. When I went off, I was a completely different (happy) person. Certainly, much to consider…your insights and reference materials are so helpful!
Kim,
I thank you for your comment – and I don’t envy you that decision. It’s a hard one. Just be aware that if you do decide against it, you will need to be extremely pro-active with a few key lifestyle changes, but they are quite do-able. I highly recommend working on your immune system and making it bullet proof! Suggestions on how to do that are on my website, but if you need special help and attention, just ask!
Hugs,
Marnie
Marnie thank you for sharing the knowledge you obtained regarding the drugs used for estrogen blocking.
I agree that blocking estrogens is dangerous and promotes more unnecessary suffering for women already stressed at the treatment choices put to them.
I’m 75 years old and pretty healthy aside from the tumor and since diagnosis I have researched supplements and came upon Turkey Tail mushrooms and Essiac Tea, and both kill cancer cells and balance hormones.
I convinced my oncologist to let me do my own trial and give these therapies time to work before continuing a conventional treatment plan.
Wish me luck and sign me up for your important newsletter.
Maybe we can change the unfortunate course of treatment of cancer.
Marnie,
I am really happy that I stumbled across your blog post on WhatNext. I am facing the Tamoxifen decision right now. I’ve told my Oncologist that I didn’t think I wanted it, but I am getting a second opinion as well. My medical team was good at medicine, but I didn’t get nearly the amount of information necessary to help me deal with my diagnosis. I have gone through this BC thing largely alone, so it’s wonderful to find so much helpful information in one place. I will do more research on the Vitamin D supplements that you wrote about in your other article, and download your free material. My goal is to avoid this experience again at all costs. Now I don’t feel so lost in that goal. Thanks!
Hi Kindra,
Thanks for your comments. I am so sorry you have had to journey through this mainly by yourself – that’s the main reason I put my website out there in the world because too many are still having to face all of these hard life-changing questions without sufficient information to make those decisions. I would be happy to help you at any point, so just ask. Did you get my free e-book and newsletter subscription?
Sending hugs,
Marnie
I’m really happy to have come across your website after spending the last 48 hours trying to decide whether I can cope with tamoxifen and (for some women) it’s horrendous side effects. After researching I can clearly see I was not given nearly enough information to make an informed choice. I was given my prescription 10 days ago but a little voice was telling me not to take it.
That little voice was right and having read your website my decision is to have radiotherapy and get my life back with nothing else to do but to change my lifestyle including my diet.
Thank you
Dear Susan,
Listening to that little voice is always a good thing to do! I’m glad you did, and glad that you found my website to be useful to you.
I strongly believe that by following an anti-cancer diet (see my page Diet and Cancer for recommendations), the use of some very particular supplements to boost immunity, by removing much of the stress from your life, and by getting rid of the household and chemical toxins we put on our skin – all of these things will help you greatly in your wellness quest. Tamoxifen or other hormone blockers are always recommended – it is the oncologist’s standard of duty of care to recommend it (regardless of whether they believe it works or not). I happen to believe there are much better, less toxic ways to regain your breast health and wellness than by taking these toxic drugs.
Have you signed up for my free e-books and newsletters? You can do that from any page on my site. I will be glad to help you as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Dear marnie I just discovered your blog, and I think u r amazing.my first encounter with breast cancer was in 2004 followed by lumpectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen. Then I had a recurrence in2011, I than had left mastectomy and chemotherapy and again I was advised to take tamoxifen, which I strongly refused.I had taken it for five years earlier, and had suffered so many side effects eg terrible joint pains , fatigue, weak eyesight. Now i take flaxseed and turmeric on regular basis. Irecently read an article saying that fructose isbad for cancer , I want to know if eating fruits is right or not.I will really appreciate your advice. Thank you . Tasneem
Hi Tasneem,
Thanks for your comments. I think you are amazing too! It takes a lot of courage to go against what the doctors are telling you. I think it’s clear that these drugs are not working as well as they would like to have us believe and the side effects are heinous. I’m glad to hear that you are opting for natural medicine. Have you signed up for my free newsletters and e-books about how to heal from breast cancer and keeping recurrences away? I share lots of great information in them. Re your question about fruit sugar, my best advice is that if you have an active cancer in your body, you should definitely curb your fruit intake. If you are cancer free and just working to prevent cancer, whole fruits are very protective and full of anti-cancer nutrients. Definitely include them.
Hope this helps!
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Taking anastrozole n experiencing overwhelming fatigue. I have tolerated the HOT FLASHES, but this exhaustion is unbearable. Oncologist wants me on this 10 years; I’m now 72, so ….FOREVER !! (Getting PROLIA every 6 mo.)
Just came across your website and will be having a double mastectomy. They setup appt already to follow up with oncologist. However, I do not want to take the estrogen inhibitor medicine for 5 years as being strongly recommended. I Plan on signing up for your newsletter and looking to do more research. Thank you
Im 81 yrs young , just got my diagnosis small tumor cancer on left breast ! Will have surgery Jan 9th! I am taking vitamins for immune support ! Im on meloxicam for Artherits! No other drugs! Glad I read your blog ! I like to know other avenues!
Dear Candy,
Thanks for sharing that with me. If I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hi Marnie, I too am so happy that I stumbled across your blog researching Essentail Oils and Hormone Blockers. I was do with ILC on May 31st 2013 and staged at a 3C, I had a BLM and did the recommended course of chemo and radiation and was givin Arimidex as my 1st hormone blocker last July after completing my radiation. I had the usual side effects, hot flashe, headache, joint pain etc…. I was then changed to Tamoxifen and then eventually to Letrozole last October. I am a very active 52 old and the SE’S recently have begun to cripple my hands, ankles and almost all my joints are severely affected and 4-5 days ago I could barley walk so I decided to stop taking the Aromitase Inhibators and see if the SE’S got any better. I have had some improvement in movement and decreased hot flashes, I am using Essential Oils and I plan to do in-depth research on them in regards to cancer prevention. I will sign up up for your E-Books and Newsletter as I am making a huge lifestyle change because I never want to put those toxic drugs in my body ever again, thank you so much for your information, you have made me feel as though I am making the right decision for my body.
Shary
Dear Shary,
Thanks so much for sharing all of that with us. I appreciate your comments and would just like to add that there are many things which keep us well and keep recurrences away and I share what many of those things are in my newsletters and e-books. So stay tuned! I don’t blame you for not wanting all of those side effects – nasty! If I can help you with anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Warmest regards,
Marnie Clark
I am so thankful to find your information. I was diagnosed with ducal bc, stage 1, type 1 in 2012, less than a cm. Opted to do a double mastectomy with reconstruction, no chemo, as not by chest wall. Premenopausal, so took tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years, not realizing until I got off how much of my memory was affected along with brain fog. It was a slow progression. Had a hysterectomy to get off and feel so much better, so many have noticed. Now my oc strongly encouraging femera. This time doing intense research and not liking what I see. Not wanting to let it take my quality of life. So now I am willing to make a life change to stay off this stuff. I am looking forward to learning all I can.
Catherine,
I have sent you a private email to answer your questions. Thanks for contacting me and I hope I have been of assistance to you.
Warmly,
Marnie
Hi marine. I have just started to look.for alternative to tamoxifen and was lucky to come across your page I was diagnosed with bc estrogen positive had lumpectomy, chemo , radio and then tamoxifen just had a 8wk break to have a blood test to see if I gone through the menopause but. My results confirmed I am still pre menopausal I have been taking tamoxifen for 18 months side effects are poor eyesight, fatigue, joint pain ,low moods etc could I do this with your information only I am 55years old Thanking you ren
Hi Irena,
Thanks for your message. Look out for my email in reply.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hi Marnie, I am also a “young” BC survivor (young in quotes to put my diagnosis into perspective). I was diagnosed almost a year ago, did a BMX since my cancer was obviously genetics, triple pos, stage 1, no node involvement, ACT chemo (both dense dose versions), and now on Herceptin for the year. I also decided not to take Tamoxifen. My onco was furious, but my general surgeon agreed with me. My surgeon is very well versed with all of the side effects that Tamoxifen causes – basically everything you wrote in your blog above. I just can’t take the pill. I also believe that the stats are very skewed to make it sound like this med is saving lives when the stats don’t really read that way. How will I get a recurrence on less than 2% of breast tissue?? I asked my onco that and he could not answer me saying there isn’t much data on HER+ patients on Tamoxifen… yet, he was more than willing to prescribe this to me for ten years!! That makes zero sense to me. Yet, the stats I have been reading on says that recurrence in my less-than-2% breast tissue is less than 4% not taking Tamoxifen. Why would I take a medication for a less than 4% chance of recurrence on less than 2% breast tissue?? UGH. It is frustrating. BTW, it is also very hard to find information on the web that is against Tamoxifen. It is very limited. Now, this is being considered to be prescribed to patients that don’t even have cancer but they may have a genetic background for possible BC. Scary. Thanks for letting me comment and share my story.
Dear Tarah,
Thank YOU for sharing your story with all of us, I appreciate your comment and can definitely sympathize. Hopefully you will have seen my page about the foods that help fight HER2+ breast cancer? Here is a link: https://marnieclark.com/the-best-diet-for-her2-positive-breast-cancer/ And no nasty side effects!
Warmest regards,
Marnie Clark
I am a veteran, so all my healthcare is through the VA. This means that, theoretically, all my doctors have access to what others have prescribed. My cancer was diagnosed in February 2017, followed by lumpectomy and radiation (concentrated – 2 treatments a day for 5 days). My oncologist then informed me that I would “have to” take 1 of 3 drugs (letrozole, tamoxifen or anastrozole) for FIVE YEARS. She started with letrozole, and let me tell you that chemically-induced hot flashes are far worse than the natural ones. So she switched me to anastrozole, and the “excessive” sweating was almost worse than the hot flashes. The breaking point, for me, was the loss of appetite, accompanied by constipation. Complete loss of appetite. I finally looked up side effects of all 10 of my prescribed drugs on the same website, in order to get the same information on all. Please imagine my shock when I found that 8 of the 10 include loss of appetite as a “possible” side effect! In my admittedly uneducated opinion, this makes the “possible” side effect more inevitable – and while it may sound like a good thing when one is trying to lose weight, in reality, it is more debilitating than that. The loss of appetite is accompanied by a loss of “stop eating” cues, so overeating is as likely as lack of nutrients. My next step is to return to all those doctors who prescribed the other drugs and suggest – very strongly – that they find alternatives, whether other drugs or other treatments, including what they like to call alternative medicine. The endocrinologist even suggested a drug to “treat” the loss of appetite, even though my online research indicates that this drug, too, has unacceptable side effects. And I am still waiting for the VA to do the surgery on my second cataract, so in my opinion, tamoxifen is also out of the question. Thank you for “listening”.
I cried reading this last comment. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction in August of 2017, and have struggled with the side effects of Anastrozole since then, my hot flashes are so bad that they make me claustrophobic, almost like I’m having a panic attack, I sweat so heavily I live in fear of people smelling me and thinking I’m a dirty old lady. My pain level is excruciating, now my feet and hands are so painful, walking is difficult, and I can’t grip things anymore so there are a lot of breakages in our house! My vision is deteriorating, and I’ve gained weight, because I am stress eating. I haven’t slept well in two years because my body aches are worse at night.
My 42 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with a high grade DCIS, so is about to have a double mastectomy, by the same surgeons that operated on me, so my stress level, worrying about her is through the roof.
I have decided enough is enough, I have just booked an appointment with my oncologist for next week, to tell her I am going off the hormone inhibitor, my Oncologist-DX score was low, so feel that the hormone inhibitor is just an unnecessary evil. At some point , one has to weigh quality of life over some horrendous drug that is causing huge stress.
Marnie please recommend what I should read first to get me being the best that I can be, and help prevent my cancer returning.
My mother had ovarian cancer at 39, is still alive at 99, her sister, and my grandmother and great grandmother all died from breast cancer. I have been tested for 18 cancer genes, all were negative, so I NEED to change my lifestyle!
Hi Geri,
Gosh, you have been through a lot recently! I’m so sorry! I have sent some info to you via email. You are absolutely right – at some point you DO have to weigh quality of life over a drug that is dragging you down. I’ll be glad to assist wherever I can. Sending hugs,
Marnie
I worry you are taking very rare side effects and causing needless worry, when the benefits of tamoxifen outweight those risks in the vast vast majority of cases. You have cited articles here but not necessarily put the concerns in their proper contexts. I worry you are misleading women with potentially fatal consequences.
I am on tamoxifen and have no side-effects at all.
Hi Anitza,
Thanks for your message. I am so glad to learn that you are side-effect-free with the Tamoxifen – but I can assure you that is not usually the case. You are one of the rare fortunate ones who do not have side effects. Almost every single person I work with has a range of the side effects mentioned in my article. As far as the benefits of tamoxifen outweighing the risks, I’m afraid we are just going to have to agree to disagree. The protocols I teach women to put into place instead of the drugs are working very nicely for everyone concerned. Thanks so much for your concern, and I wish you the absolute best.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
hi marnie, thanx for your info on ai’s. i type with only a few fingers on one hand so i dont generally capitalize or punctuate. i lost use of my right hand and arm due to breast cancer that recurred after mastectomy. a donut-like tumor developed in my axilla, squeezing the brachial plexus causing blood clots, nerve damage, and intense pain. now rediagnosed at stage 4 (bone and lung spots also) i was urged to take letrozole and ibrance. no one told me of the potential danger to my remaining non-dominant left hand, or i never would have taken them. even though i am er and pr positive. i need at least one hand! after developing 2 trigger fingers and more pain and disability than before i stopped them abruptly. the depression and some other side effects lifted quickly. but the joints in my hands, and knees, are worse. i am so angry at the drs for not telling me about this!!!
*can anything be done to bring my joints /hand back?
*is there similar danger in taking ibrance alone, or other side effects and possible permanent damage thst i need to know about?
Hi Demi,
I’m sorry to know this has happened to you. I have a lot of information to share with you, so I will email it to you.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I just had lumpectomy about a month ago. Stage o breast cancer with er and or positive. No family history of bc 66 when I was diagnosed. I’m going for consultation for radiation tomorrow . I have oncology appointment next week for drugs I can’t take. Please help.
Hi Donna,
Thanks for your patience with my response. I have just emailed you today in response.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I had lumpectomy and radiation now my oncologist want me on hormone therapy I’m 74 and feel good for my age and don’t want the side effects of these drugs
Hi Carol,
Thanks for sharing that with me. I’ve just sent you some information which will hopefully be beneficial to you.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I was diagnosed with Stage 1. I had a lumpectomy followed by Radiation. I was recommended to take Letrozole, hormone blocker.
Since I was hesitant, It’s been 9 months and finally took the first dose. Just after the first dose, the side affects were very concerning including heart palpitations. I’m deciding not to take them. Could you please send me information on an alternative.
Hi Sheryl,
Thanks for your message. I’ve just sent along some information to your email address – unfortunately it’s not a simple matter of “alternatives to hormone blockers”, but rather a very holistic approach to healing from breast cancer and reducing risk of recurrence. I hope you find the information helpful.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hi Marnie, I just stumbled across your website and I am glad I did. I was diagnosed with DCIS intermediary stage cancer- non invasive early december last year. I had a lumpectomy on 16th december and it was successful, as in everything was removed. I received the final report today 12th January that the DCIS had some parts that were high grade as well. My surgeon thinks I should have a consult with the radiology oncologist to discuss if radiation is needed and if that is a treatment I would like to consider. If not my surgeon wants to recommend me to start taking Tamoxifen. I am happy to see them both to discuss both and hear what they have to say, but to be honest I have a feeling to say no to both treatment offers. When i was diagnosed I had a strong ” reading” from my body what I needed to change and how to go about changing the energetic momentum so that the cancer would not reoccur. I am a super healthy, active and positive person and very much in touch with my body’s needs. I am reading on your posts the side effects of tamoxifen and am glad to be informed as my surgeon would likely not tell me this information, but I am wondering what you think about radiotherapy. Many thanks.
Hi Jacqueline,
Thanks for your lovely message. I think it’s a good idea to be aware of the pro’s and con’s of both radiotherapy and Tamoxifen. I’ll send you a little info, along with some information about DCIS. I hope this info helps and I look forward to helping you if you need me.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I am an 83 year old that has been taking Anastrozole for two years. I have lost so much hair, and have hot flashes.
I have an 8 % chance of the cancer coming back, according to my Oncologist. I had two tiny cancerous breast lumps removed. I had radiation.
I asked advise from my Oncologist. She just said it is MY decision on whether to stop.
I am very depressed about my hair loss. I do not want to wear a wig. I think I will quit the drug for now. I am hoping more hair comes back. I am now taking Biotin to help it.
Enjoyed reading your column.
Dear Jill,
I think the fact that you’ve been on the drug for two years – especially at your stage of life – is more than enough to provide you with ample protection. No doubt the medicos didn’t even test your estrogen levels to find out whether they were high in the first place before putting you on this drug. It’s your body, and I think you’ve made the right decision for yourself. There are plenty of other things you can do to help yourself stay well that aren’t nearly as toxic as these drugs and work just as well. Hopefully you are receiving my newsletters?
Warmest regards,
Marnie
i have a recurrence of breast ca after 25 yrs. The 1st time around I was 50 yrs old and had a radical mastectomy 19 lymph nodes removed {8+} followed with Adriamycin Cytoxan 5FU & Methotrexate and 31 treatments of Rx then was put on Tamoxifen for 5yrs and that followed by TAHBSO so i did whatever i thought wad necessary tob continue living….the hot flashes were horrendous and on going for 23 yrs, bone pain was awful and i have been combating these with OTC meds exercise yoga acupuncture whatever I needed to do I had fractures and have had cataract surgery. the latter could be age related and just carelessness but now..
25 yrs later I have a recurrence of breast ca and had the lumpectomy no lymph node involvement and clean margins I was advised to go on Arimidex and finding it very difficult emotionally to come to a decision since 1 pill gave me hot flashes. I am just at my wits end with this cause the side effects dont warrant the need for the mediczation
Renate,
I apologise for the delay in responding to you. My husband just recently passed away, and I have needed to balance my work with just coping with life without him. I have just emailed you some information, I hope you find it helpful.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hello Marnie!
I am facing the decision on hormone blocking meds soon. Non-metastatic Her2 triple+, stage 1A Grade 2. 12 Taxol and 21 radiation treatments done. Continuing with Herceptin until next April. Would love some information to help with my decision. I have to clean up my diet but already removed several toxic person care products from my routine. Taking several supplements as well. Just trying to learn as much as possible. Thanks for your time and help.
I would love to receive the information on stopping cancer from returning I had surgery in June stage 1 invasive tubular carcinoma they removed the cancer they took 3 lymph nodes all benign margins were wide no sign of cancer so I did the 1 minthb of radiation but turned down the hormone blockers I am still getting hot flashes and can’t sleep I’m 61 with the side effects of this medication I decided that I was not going to take especially when there is no guarantee. I still don’t understand why they give you medication that can cause another cancer and feel there is nothing wrong with that I would like to receive your newsletter.
Hi Mara,
Information on the way.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Thank you – I am 52 and was diagnosed with Stage 1c Invasive ductal carcinoma nos (2cm), DCIS (0.7cm), ER+, PR+ Her2-, no lymph nodes, clear margins after lumpectomy (most over 1cm). I am due to have 5 days of accelerated radiation in the next two weeks – I have asked to have prone radiation but not sure if it is feasible.
My radiation oncologist stated that the benefit of taking hormone therapy would be about 1% and has a lot of side effects and I don’t think he said you shouldn’t do it, but did indicate that the risks outweighed the benefits. He did say I could have it if I wanted. I was very surprised as my surgeon had indicated I was likely to be given hormone therapy.
Then, although I was not going to have it I found it difficult to find anyone else who had this response from their oncologist and it made me worry. I had told him my sister had ovarian cancer and I wear glasses so I chose not to take it. He didn’t mention these particular things as reasons why not to take it, just said the side effects outweigh a 1% benefit.
I’m so glad I found you – I’ll definitely be looking at your natural aromatase inhibitors and seeing what else you have on here – thank you!
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for sharing that with me. If I can help you in any way with your decision just let me know!
Warmest regards,
Marnie
ILC left breast on 10/14/22
DMX 11/30/22, took sentinel node which had micrometastasis
Pathology showed DCIS in right breast also
Oncologist is INSISTING that I take Tamoxifen, or I WILL HAVE CANCER AGAIN and I see radiation doctor on the 20th.
I have NO peace about taking this drug. I have been praying nonstop and found your page.
Please, any help is appreciated.
Hi Lia Marie,
I have sent you some information via email.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in Nov. 22. it was less than 1 cm and a very slow growing cancer. I had a lumpectomy on Dec. 14, 2022, the pathology came back all margins were clean and the 1 sentinel lymph node which was a cluster of 3 was also clean and it was only 12mm in size. Nothing was seen anywhere else and I have no history of breast cancer in my family. No radiation or chemo was recommended but they have put me on Anastrozole. I have taken 5 pills so far, but I am considering stopping it. I’ve never been one to take medicine and with the results of the pathology report, they also had a Oncotype Dx Breast Recurrence test done and my score was 8, which they said was very low and my recurrence was 3%. I am 73 years old so I would rather build my immune system than to take pharmaceuticals with so many side effects. I’ve also had osteoporosis for about 20 years, and my last scan showed improvement in my bones. I just don’t know why they would want me to take something that would jeopardize my bone density and give me bone pain.
Dear Regina,
Reading through your history, what you are saying makes very good sense to me. At your age, I think the anastrozole is likely to do more harm than good. I am sending you some information today that may help you.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Marnie
I have been searching for someone just like you. I was diagnosed with breast cancer this last spring. I am a 61 year old women who was taking HRT for many years 10, due to extreme hot flashes with my menopause. I knew the risk with taking them but I really had no choice my symptom’s were extreme. So when I had my mastectomy on my left breast ER/PR positive this past summer and saw my Dr after my onka score came back I was very pleased with the low score and not needing any chemo or radiation. They had me go on Letrozole and within 5 weeks I stopped. The side effects from that was so Bad I had everyone possible within a very short time of taking it. And my extreme hot flashes had returned when I stopped my HRT when I found out of my diagnoses. I have not had a night sleep since May 2022 and all day long constant sweat flashes. The Letrozole also gives hot flashes so that was even more extreme and all the other negative side effects. I made a decision to take none of these medications because my recurrence rate is low and my Dr’s even agrees that it is low, yet they keep pushing these poison medications for a “What If” it can return, my mind tells me no, I am a healthy women why would I take these medications that cause problems other than blocking a estrogen receptor and have to take more medication to counter the damage they do. I had discussions with the Dr’s and ask them , theses medications “Don”t” prevent it from returning, it just maybe can lower the risk, Well I have a low risk so why would I do it . They don’t want to tell you about the many women who choose not to take them. I keep seeing all the negative feed back from women suffering on these medicines. I understand that some women do need these but as I told my Dr it is not a “one size fits all when treating” I want to feel healthy and alive they want you to take these for 5 years…I was sick for 5 weeks I could not imagine not being able to live normally.
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for sharing all of that with me. It’s a rough decision, for sure. I’ve sent you an email today with a little more information in it, hopefully it will help you.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
I have been following Marnie’s website for over a year now. I found it after I was diagnosed with BC. Like everyone I was totally devastated and shocked as I thought I was somehow immune to BC. I have found Marnie’s articles to be very helpful.
Surgical oncologist put me on letrozole for 6 months before surgery – said trying to reduce the size of the lump which was in an unusual place below my collar bone (not in my breast). He said letrozole reduced the lump a little, not significantly. Had my lumpectomy 8 months ago. He said I should do radiation and on letrozole for 5 years. I was relieved that no chemo. However, he said a meeting was held with a number of specialists to review my case and they said I should do 6 months chemo (because the biopsy showed my cancer cells were high grade) then 3 months radiation and then 10 years on hormone reduction drug. I cried as I did not want to do chemo. And I opted out of chemo and only did radiation. He wanted me to be on AI drug of some sort, maybe tamoxifen. I said I did not want to take any drug due to their many side effects, he said I should be on something. So far, I have stayed off drug and been wondering if I have made the right decision. After reading this article, I am feeling relieved. I have begun taking DIM tablets and changed my diet to include cruciferous vegetables, plus taking supplements and exercise. Except at the moment, I had a tooth extracted, as I did not want to do a root canal, and have suffered some pain and discomfort. Praying that the blood clot has formed well and the gap will heal and close.
Hi May,
Thanks so much for sharing all of that with us. Sending healing hugs your way.
Warmest regards,
Marnie