Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator - it binds to estrogen receptors in breast tissue, blocking the receptors to estrogen, and also not causing the cell to act as if it is being signaled by estrogen (estrogen antagonist). In other places, like the uterus, it binds to estrogen receptors, and the cells act as if estrogen is at the receptor ( estrogen agonists ).
I’m endlessly surprised that things like Roxifene or even better Faslodex haven’t superseded Tamoxifen .
A benefit of fully invasive hysterectomy is that the uterus is removed whole - if cancer is present in the uterus, then morcellating it, either by power tool or manually presents the possibility of spreading cancer cells within the abdominopelvic region.
Unless there’s fibroids (which can make the uterus very large), the uterus can be freed from its moorings and delivered through the birth canal in a laparoscopic surgery - no need to cut it up.
I am not a doctor, but it would seem that even a slip back, or a temporary halt, to your exercise progress would be better than gambling on getting cancer.
I think if I had the type of breast cancer that is linked to other female cancers, I’d have all the goods yanked out as soon as possible, just to get rid of the worry and stress. But I’m someone who is prone to anxiety. And I’m not really using my uterus.
You’ll have to stop exercising and that will be a setback, but in my experience - at about the same age you are - its was way easier two years ago to bounce back, and I expect it would be easier today than it will two years from now.
And if you need inspiration, Ruth Bader Ginsberg had cancer twice, and at 80 could do 20 pushups.
Between that and other things you’ve said it sounds like your uterus is starting to malfunction. Presumably, you’re not intending to have children at this point so that motive for keeping the bits isn’t on the list. I understand it’s part of you and surgery/recovery sucks, but removing it now, before things get disastrous, while you’re healthy, will be far better than waiting until removal becomes a matter of life or death. You will recover better now than 10 years from now.
If it were me I think I’d get the hysterectomy. However, I’m not you, I’m not your doctor. That is strictly my opinion and what might work for me might not for you. By all means, talk to your doctors about this.
You could get a second opinion and see if the doctor agree with the first Dr. that you need to have the surgery . I knew a woman that was told she breast cancer and needed to have her breast removed , she was only in her 20’s .
She got a second opinion and found out the lumps on her breast was from hitting her breast while shooting pool and not cancer. Some doctors are knife happy .
When Mom went in for her own laparoscopic hysterectomy (prolapse; if you don’t know what that is, don’t google), the doctor’s orders were “no exercises involving the abs for the first two weeks and take it easy starting on the third, but DO stretch and walk”.
Her gym teach was familiar enough with the “abdominal surgery” scenario to be able to adapt her exercises easily.
I had some questions for Dr. T and she called me this morning. She’s planning on taking out everything, including my cervix. She said if my endometrium lining wasn’t getting thick again, she’d wait and see on the ovary cyst. But this would be the fourth D&C she’d have to do and either I keep getting them done and hope it doesn’t develop into anything nasty or have the surgery.
She was more than happy to forward her findings to my oncologist. I will see him on Monday.
If you go for the hysterectomy, does that mean you can stop taking the Tamoxifen? Or possibly go for a lower dose, since the you don’t have to worry about the reproductive tissue any more?
Perhaps one of your doctors knows of a good exercise or PT program for people who’ve had major surgery. That way, you’d still be able to keep exercising, you’d just be varying up your routine with a new program for a few weeks. (Yeah, it’s a mind game, but some times how we think about things is what really matters.) That way you wouldn’t stop your exercises, just vary them, and keep the routine of thinking, I have exercise today.
If my wife’s experience is any indication, the hysterectomy doesn’t change the Tamoxifen requirement. I’m pretty sure my wife is still taking the drug in the same dose as before the operation.
Dr. T said I may be able to switch to something else, although Dr. K (the oncologist) may keep me on the Tamoxifen since I’ve tolerated it well so far. I’ve heard horror stories about Arimidex. Because I was pre-menopausal when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, Dr. K put me on Tamoxifen.
That having been said, if the main reason you are avoiding this is six weeks with no exercise, vs. no more D&Cs and no chance of uterine cancer, I am as much of an endorphin junkie as the next guy and more than most, and no exercise would not be all that big a reason not to.
My mom had a hysterectomy thirty years ago, and she bounced back pretty quick even though it wasn’t laporoscopic.
My dad is a vet. He would never be confused with Phil Donahue at his best moments, and his idea of how to tell me about the surgery was “your mom is going in for a spay.” I wish I thought he was joking, but he thinks in those terms. Other than that, he’s a great dad, but Mr. Tact he ain’t.
You do what is best for you, and my prayers for your swift recovery no matter what you decide.