Hi Lisa: Sounds like you've gotten all the right tests; it's good they figured out early you're a poor metabolizer for tamoxifen. Shutting down your ovaries brings with it all the usual menopausal symptoms, which can range from hot flashes and night sweats to mood swings, weight gain, loss of bone mineral density... not a pretty picture, unfortunately. BUT - millions of us go through it — you can, too.

Having shots to shut your ovaries down may sound drastic, but it's really no worse than the chemical menopause that comes with chemo, or having your ovaries removed, via hysterectomy or surgery to remove just the ovaries. Luckily, at 46, you were getting close to menopause, anyway. So yes, you have a good prognosis; yes, the menopausal symptoms will be a pain, and yes, you'll get through this.

One thing to keep in mind: aromatase inhibitors hasten loss of bone density, so be sure to get a baseline DEXA scan (bone density scan), and recheck it at least every 2 years. Stay in touch here - and good luck to you. PJH