Who can help me out with the medication Tomoxafin?

[nonnie317]

After getting my biopsy results showing that I did have some cancer cells but the BS removed them but I need to follow up with an oncologist now since the BS said Im at a higher risk now for cancer. I have an appt. this Wednesday with the oncologist. My gyn said most likely he would recommend Tomoxafin but it does have a few side effects.Any one out there to help decide if this is a good medication to go on or not. Thanks for your support all.

[madgeOwens]

ah...........ok I see...well I had the steriotatic biopsy and then lumpectomy and neither I or the surgeon could feel the lump....but if she has not met with oncologist then thats when she will know more. Thanks for info

[japdip]

An excisional biopsy can remove the entire suspicious area .... this is at the discretion of the Surgeon. If the area is small it can certainly be removed with an excisional biopsy. It's only called a lumpectomy when there is an actual lump to be removed. My own excisional biopsy removed nearly half of the suspicious area which was a palpable lump. She hasn't been to the Oncologist so her post op treatment has not been determined as yet.

[madgeOwens]

I believe she said she onlyh hada biopsy and not a lumpectomy, so I am confused as o how they know what they are telling her.  Also if they find cancer it was my understanding that they followed up withradiation treatments to be sure they get even that single elusive cancer cell. What say you?

[japdip]

Your Oncologist will go over all your Pathology reports and then recommend the appropriate treatment for your particular case. Tamoxifen is always recommended when cancer cells are found to be ER/PR positive. This means that the cancer depends on Estrogen for growth and Tamoxifen blockes the production of Estrogen. It is also being used to reduce the risk of recurrance in cases such as yours. The side effects are similar to the effects of menopause although some women don't have a problem with it. I'm not sure that one can be so definite about removing all the cancer cells ... since you can't see a single cell; I supppose she meant that she obtained clean margins when she excised the suspicious area. Oncologists are usually very good at detailed information and please don't hesitate to ask any and all questions that may be of concern. It's alwyas a good idea to take someone with you so you don't miss anything. Never hurts to have an extra pr. of ears ....  Best wishes.

[nonnie317]

I had a biopsy Madge that had pre-cancerous and also carinoma cells. She removed all of the tissue and said there was no more cancer there. so when the report came back showing I had these cells, the BS is recommending me following up with an oncologist to see what step is next. But she was very spefic and said she got all of the cancer cells. My gyn dr. is the one who said the oncologist will probably recommend tomoxafin. he said there were some side effects, but the oncologist would review them with me. I would like to know now if anyone had real bad side effects and what were they.

[madgeOwens]

You had cancer and they did not recommend radiation following the lumpectomy?