I have had a unilateral mastectomy so my risk is on the unaffected breast.
I don't know what my risk is or was but here is my story in case it helps. I was diagnosed early stage Invasive Ductal in 2012. I had a lumpectomy and a short course of radiation. I tried Tamoxifen but I couldn't stand the unusual side effects I got. I stopped it and was not offered a replacement.
I was disease free until 2023 when I had a recurrence. I found a lump but it took me several months to convince my doctors that I needed an ultrasound after several failed mammograms. Once they finally got it all figured out I had two new breast tumors not just the one I could find, and it had already metastasized to my bones. So far I am stable on my first line of treatment but I have been very sick with side effects. I am hoping a couple of new providers and a dose reduction will help. I don't regret any treatment decisions I have made. I did the best I could at the time. Sorry it's so long hope it helps in some small way. 🌹❣️
I had a really bad response to Tamoxifen. Not everyone does. I would encourage you to know the side effects and communicate your concerns to your medical oncologist or nurse navigator.
I had an 11 on the onctype dx and my recurrence is 3%. Not doing chemo. I had a bilateral mastectomy. Just keep up with your mammogram on the other side.
Talk to your health care team about this. Do get a second opinion too.
Deciding whether to start a treatment like Tamoxifen can indeed feel daunting, especially when weighing the recurrence risk percentage. In your case, a 4% risk might seem low, but it's important to consider the broader context of your health and the potential benefits of the treatment.
Tamoxifen, even at a lower dose, has Show Full Answer