Now that I have a keyboard which doesn't need me to insert all the spaces
after I've typed the whole text I'll relate what has happened.

The background:

from 1998 when my bc was diagnosed and I had a lumpectomy and radiation I
also had five years of an unknown drug as part of the ATAC research - it was
either Arimidex or Tamoxifen. Part of the sub-protocol of the programme was
regular measurement of my endometrial thickness by hysteroscopy and ultra
sound. I had no apparent side-effects. I'm still being examined every six
months by my surgeon and my medical oncologist.

At Christmas I started bleeding, I've had episodes before but not as bad or
as long as this one and I was concerned because there were shreds of solid
tissue in the effusion. I contacted the research nurse and was examined by
the medical oncologist who said that I needed to be followed up.

An hysteroscopy was attempted but the nurse couldn't get the camera into my
uterus, it was bunged up, so I had to have another under a general
anaesthetic. The surgeon said that there was an unusual thickening of my
endometrium, he scraped it all out and sent it to the histology lab for a
biopsy.

Two or three weeks later I was seen by his boss, the consultant himself, who
explained that I had disordered proliferation of my endometrium which was
unusual at my age, he couldn't make head or tail of the results but that
there was no indication of cancer or pre-cancerous cells. He made an
appointment for me to see his boss who is involved in the ATAC (and other
cancer) research.

On Tuesday I saw his boss who didn't understand why a lady (!) of my age
should have that condition either because it was linked with an excess of
oestrogen (which I've always had but it should have reduced at menopause, 17
years ago). He thought that I must have been taking Arimidex during the
trial and that when it was stopped the oestrogen began to be over-abundant
again. To prevent the proliferation and bleeding it would be advisable to do
something about it. He agreed, smilingly, that oestrogen did have some
advantages but I really don't like the possible  bleeding episodes and
certainly not the chronic, if minor, pain.

We discussed alternative treatments:

a) to put me on Arimidex again to subdue the production of oestrogen

b) to dose me with progesterone to balance the oestrogen - either orally or
by an inserted coil to give a constant, measured dose (I didn't fancy that -
perhaps irrationally)

c) to take the 'blunderbuss' approach - rip it all out. I have no objection
to that but not during the summer when it would compromise our activities.

He discussed it with the medical oncologist and they agreed that I should
try taking a small dose of Arimidex for four months, then be measured to see
if my uterus had stayed normal (for my age!).

So that's how we stand now.

It's interesting because I feel that I can't be the only one who took part
in the trial who has had this condition. If I am my case will in itself be
contributing to the body of knowledge and I'm pleased that the researcher
agrees and is happy to continue to monitor my progress.

Mary