My good friend Deb, a young breast cancer survivor, emailed me this morning. She told me that she just filled her last prescription for Tamoxifen today. In the email she said it was a 'weird feeling'. I myself, will be going off Tamoxifen this October and will have fulfilled my five years on the drug as well.
I asked Deb to tell me more about how she felt and what it means in her life now that she will be discontinuing Tamoxifen for her breast cancer treatment.
"I have truly mixed feelings! It is bittersweet. It can be a scary, anxiety-provoking thought just thinking about ending it. It was my protection and security after chemotherapy for so long. I know that Tamoxifen still has effects in my body for years after stopping. I have three months left and I will stop Tamoxifen in June. Part of me is glad to stop it, to not have to remember to take a pill daily and my breast cancer treatment is now complete."
"Yet there is the other part of having to trust my body again. It failed me once. It means I'll have to modify some things in my life, substitute for taking a pill to fight off cancer. It means taking exercise more seriously, exercise can cut your risk for recurrence up to fifty percent. It means I'll stick to my diet a little better. I may also decide to take a Cox 2 inhibitor, like celebrex, as an anti-inflammatory. When Vioxx was pulled from the market, these similar Cox 2 inhibitors were pulled from clinical trials, now those trials are back open and are showing benefit. I have injuries in my knees, so will be taking it for that as well."
"In a sense I'll be flying on my own again. I remember them saying five years thinking how long that would be, it actually slipped right by. I will get tested to see if I'm in menopause, but seriously doubt that I am. It would be nice to go on an AI, but I really don't want to be in menopause quite yet. So, my prescription is diet and exercise and perhaps a Cox 2 inhibitor as preventative. I will still continue to see my oncologist every six months. I will continue to celebrate life and live it to its fullest and appreciate those things and people that truly make a difference in my life"
Deb Kirkland -- Young Breast Cancer Survivor
1. Congrats! I can see where the Tamoxifen might act as a type of security blanket. There would be mixed emotions. You did it though!
Just stick to your diet and exercise program right? You'll pull through with flying colors. Friendship plays almost as big of a role as diet and exercise. Be sure you have a good support system. It sounds as if you do. Good Luck, hang in there!
Sincerely, Jason
Posted at 10:32PM on Mar 6th 2007 by Jason Chambers