Interview 21

Age at interview: 63

Age at diagnosis: 57

Brief Outline:

Diagnosed with breast cancer, Ductal Carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) in 1995. Had a lumpectomy and was given radiotherapy and Tamoxifen.

Discusses uterine complications after taking tamoxifen and mentions the increased risk of developing cancer of the womb.

Can you explain, you sort of mentioned you had some side effects?

Yes, there are side effects.

Mostly it affected me in the uterus as I understand it where the lining of the uterus constantly discharges itself and you get very heavy bleeds every now and then.

So I went to see a doctor who specialises in the menopause and bleeding and she referred me to a gynaecologist.

And he did, scraped out the lining of the uterus in case there might be a cancer there because I think, and this would need to be checked, that one of the side effects or one of the unwelcome side effects of tamoxifen is the likelihood of a cancer of the uterus.

But that was all cleared up that.

The possibility of it was all cleared up because I hadn't got it.