I have been taking Tamoxifen for a year. The side effects have not been bad. I have hot flashes but am taking vitamin e to help. I have some joint pain in my hands but nothing that is stopping me from doing anything. Good luck on your decision .

The list of side effects for the estrogen blockers is very scary, but not everyone gets even one of them. I was terrified of starting on Tamoxifen, but so far, so good after two years. Side effects have been mild. Even though I'm postmenopausal, I decided to take a chance on Tamoxifen because I was most concerned about the joint pain and possible bone loss from the aromatase inhibitors. I didn't want to survive breast cancer only to begin breaking bones in old age! Having said that though, there are medications which can be prescribed to counter that side effect, so many women do opt for an aromatase inhibitor. The research shows that aromatase inhibitors are somewhat more effective at preventing recurrences for postmenopausal women. I wouldn't take the chance of opting for a natural route since there isn't science strongly backing it. In my case I would have preferred to have my ovaries removed surgically, rather than take a drug, but my gyn found that too "radical" and declined to do the surgery. Perhaps that's because he doesn't have to ingest these scary drugs!

I'm on Arimidex. According to my oncologist this is the drug of choice for post menopausal women - better than tamoxifen for suppressing estrogen. Side effects after 2 months include hot flashes (drat they're back) and fatigue but I'm not sure if it's the Arimidex or the radiation which I was doing at the same time.

Good luck - the list of side effects is scary but they're better than getting cancer again...

I am post menopausal. Radiation oncology and surgeon were of the opinion I would need estrogen blocking drugs. I was worried because I am a DES daughter. I called my gynocologist for advice. He offered an alternative and that is a hysterectomy. He explained that the ovaries are what produce estrogen. Thankfully the Medical oncologist said I did not need the estrogen blocking drugs because I am post BMX with 25 treatments of radiation. My gynocologist did say that long term use of Tamoxafin can cause uterine cancer. From what I read on this site there are really bad side effects from the drugs. Bless you in this difficult decision about what to do or not do.

I would like to go the natural route, too.