Reply #8: Not that simple [View All]

[Maralee]

I have breast cancer and am familiar with Tamoxifen. What this article is not stating strongly enough is the serious side effects caused by this drug and the newer class of drugs called AIs that I'm on to help prevent recurrence.

There are not only hot flashes but increased risks of blood clots and uterine cancer. There is joint and muscle pain and loss of sexual functioning and fatigue. Everyone is affected differently but there is an entire laundry list of side effects ... some minor, some severe ... from these drugs that can seriously impact quality of life.

Having had breast cancer I take one of the AIs ... the potential that the drug may be able to kill off any stray cancer cells that may have escaped and be out there looking for a new home elsewhere in my body outweighs the side effects in that case.

I think doctors and women agree that there are more risks than benefits except in cases where there is an extensive family history of breast cancer or where someone carries one of the genes implicated in breast cancer. Even then some will not be able to tolerate the side effects.

That article implied that all women should be taking the drug because ... hey, why not, might help, can't hurt ... and that is very misleading. Almost sounds like a drug ad.