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I was wondering if anyone has any tips for dealing with the side effects of Tamoxifen? I've been having mood swings, hotflashes, and joint pain. I was diagnosed with stage 1 estrogen receptive postitive breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy since I have a very strong family history and I'm only 28 years old. He said because my cancer hadn't spread beyond my breast tissue that I didn't need chemo or radiation. The tamoxifen would be enough. I haven't had kids yet so removing my ovaries isn't an option yet. I want to make this work. My symptoms aren't horrible, but they are not fun either. I'd appreciate any imput I could get: diet, exercise, natural meds, stress relief techniques- I'm open to it all. Thanks, TeranView Thread


I'm very excited to let you know my lymph nodes came back negative, as did the unknown mass on the right side and I am offically Stage 1 . My Oncologist is running a MammaPrint test so we can decide what, if any, chemo I might need. He is thinking I won't have to do any Chemotherapy because I had the bilateral Mastectomy and all my margins were clear. I will still have to do hormone therapy. I'm really hoping I won't have to do chemo. Thank you guys for listening to me, TeranView Thread

I'm sorry you have to deal with all this with two kids. I wanted to let you know that surgery isn't that bad. I'm 28 and I had a bilateral Mastectomy last week. I have a nurse that checks on me twice a day and changes my drainage cups. They gave me pain killers for the soreness, and some anti- nausea meds. I can move my arms just fine; however I can't lift anything over 10lbs or push myself up with my arms. I can lift my arms over my head. The skin expanders are very solid. My husband and I joke that I have boobs of steel. I will adventually get silicone implants. My plastic surgeon is very much trying to make them look and feel as natural as she can. I also haven't had any depression yet. I think having good support groups goes a long way to preventing that. It sounds like you have a loving husband and two cute little kids that will stand by you through all of this. Also check with your local hospitals for support groups, check out the support groups at Cancer.ORG and you can check with your clergy aswell. You can get help to deal with the recovery and with child care.
Deciding to get the mastectomy was the hardest part for me.
I have familial history of breast cancer and am BRCA negative as well. When they caught my breast cancer it was already invasive. I decided, for myself, that it was worth a couple of hard years of treatment and surgery to be around for my husband and kids in the future.
You still have time to research and talk to different doctors. I suggest you use it. You may be eligiable for a lumpectomy which is way less invasive and is much less recovery time. It also sounds like you haven't found a doctor that is willing to listen to you. You need to find a Doctor you trust.
Just know that you are not alone.
TeranView Thread
I appreciate everything. My surgery went well. they took 3 lymph nodes out of the left side and they all appear clean. They are still sending them for biopsy. I'm crossing my fingers.
I ended up with 11 frozen embryoes from the IVF cycle. I must say everything is going very well and I can't help but smile about it. TeranView Thread

I talked to my oncologist and he said I'd have about a 50/50 chance of getting my fertility back, The fertility specialist agreed with him too. I am currently going through an IVF cycle to collect and freeze some eggs. They fertility Clinic I went to is really nice. I would also tell anyone that wants to freeze eggs to go to fertilehope.com too. It has info and has a program to help people pay for IVF. That's one stress gone.
Update on my cancer- MRI showed a mass in the right side. It made me feel better about getting a bilateral Masectomy. My surgery is August 3rd. So cross your fingers that there is little or no lymph node involvment.
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