treatment options

I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, ER/PR negative and, because of extremely dense breasts, chose to have a bilateral mastectomy. I'm glad I did, because a 5mm invasive tumor was found. The tumor was Grade 1, ER/PR postive, Her-2 negative. My oncologist recommended doing nothing or, if I wanted to have some treatment, receommended tamoxifen. I've heard that Tamoxifen doesn't kill microscopic cancer cells elsewhere in the body but only inhibits their growth...vs Chemo which actually kills cancer cells. Can you clear this up for me? I think if I really pushed for chemo he'd do it. I feel like the decision I make now will determine my fate. I don't want to regret it.
By the way, lymph nodes were negative and no vascular invasion. Would the more aggressive treatment be chemo? By the way, if tamoxifen inhibits the growth of estrogen-fed cancer cells, what happens after 5 years when you stop the drug?

[shelley50]

You have been through alot. Can you get another opinion from another oncologist?  I think with the mastectomy you must be good to go. Chemo sucks the big one my dear, it is a real _itch  with lots of risks to other organs. If your oncologist is reputable and you trust him/her then I think you are cured.

[Irishgal2]

The good news for you is that your cancer was grade 1, which is not agressive and slow growing as well as being ER and PR positive.  Chemo is very hard to get through, but doable, but as shelley says above, there can be many side effects to other vital organs.  I had chemo because I was only 39, premenopausal, grade 3 cancer and vascular.  No nodes invasion or anywhere else in my body.  The reason I was given chemo was due to my age, menopausal status and more importantly the grade of cancer.  Think very carefully about chemo, you may not need it and hopefully you don't have to go through it.  I am now on Tamoxifen for 5 years as I too was ER an PR positive.  This hormone treatment is supposed to be very effective. The highest risk of reoccurrence is within the first 2.5 years.  After Tamoxifen, there is the option of AI inhibiters.  I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.  Maybe discuss the option of radiation to the breast wall area if you are concerned, it is a far less invasive and debilitating treatment than chemo.

Best of luck to you.