Tamoxifen Brain - true or made up

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Comments

  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441
    Now it's serious.......
    Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus. I mean, lower estrogen DOES cause memory loss!

    Perimenopause,= age 47 ish, was short and I was postmenopausal before I knew it. My point is, my estrogen dropped rapidly. And my memory went right out the door, too. I used to be known for my steel trap memory, impressing people while playing trivia games, with my recall of minor facts I'd read about. Menopause changed that, and it happened rapidly, as I said.

    Then, 12 years later comes the need for Tamoxifen, and I can't remember new information for 5 seconds! It's frustrating and depressing, but what's worse is I am having trouble.doing my job! I teach classes at a community college. Never had a problem before breast cancer. But now I have actually shown up for class without my books or, once, the video I was going to show. I had to ask my son to bring it to the campus. Humiliating. I'm afraid I 'll forget to show up for a class as I have forgotten to show up for appointments!! I have forgotten all about some report deadlines, the kind I've been doing twice a year for the last four years! My boss loves it when I screw up so she can berate me (she does it to everybody when they err.)

    Can I get a medical disability retirement if I can no longer do my job properly?
    ~~Connie~~
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    good point
    I have noticed minor things i forgot..and I am on top of it all the time. I hit 51 this year thought due to that..hehe

    I'll have to pay more attention...
  • shan541
    shan541 Member Posts: 1
    memory loss

    I have been on Tamoxifen for 4 years and did not undergo chemo. I am having memory issues as well. I used to be able to keep everything in my brain, now I have o write things down. I struggle with word recall and names. There are so many side effects of tamoxifen, but memory loss is not listed.  It is driving me crazy. I am 45 years old and feel like my memory is worse than my parents....ugh

  • psuazo
    psuazo Member Posts: 1
    Dementia

    Hello kelly,

     

    I have been on Tamoxifen for 3 years now. I too am having severe memory loss and recently started having hallucinations. I've done some research online and have found testamonials from other women (and some men) who are having the same difficulties. There have also been studies on the subject and it is scientifically known that patients taking tamoxifen are experiencing dementia. I still haven't found anything indicating that it's reversible after one stops taking it. I suggest talking to your oncologist about these concerns and perhaps weaning you off and trying something else. Everone should do research on the drugs that are being prescribed to them before taking them. I plan on getting off it before it's too late.

    Good luck, Kelly.

  • dawn dunbar
    dawn dunbar Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2017 #26
    Memory loss

    Omg I had breast cancer stage 3. Went through everything mastocomy , lumpectomy,  chemo , got immune more chemo, then radiation 6 months . I am going through infusions shots ,exstame oral pills. I been reporting my memory issues since chemo they are getting worse I couldn't remember pizza in the oven ,forgot the dog at the store tied up on a pole ,over flowed the tub forgot it was running ,forgot I let a coffee pot on for a few days u till I seen it was burning , I'm afraid have to be watched everyday and it's so debilitating I cry and no one understands and I'm glad this has spell check because my brain don't spell correct anymore and the high light of this story is my Aetna claim closed because they needed to know how bad my memory is and closed my claim I'm about to loss everything I worked for for 20 years I have not got my long-term disability money in 6 months I'm hungry and ready to be eviction notice now homeless still have not got reconsrution surgery yet who goes through his ???????????????????????????????

     

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member

    Memory loss

    Omg I had breast cancer stage 3. Went through everything mastocomy , lumpectomy,  chemo , got immune more chemo, then radiation 6 months . I am going through infusions shots ,exstame oral pills. I been reporting my memory issues since chemo they are getting worse I couldn't remember pizza in the oven ,forgot the dog at the store tied up on a pole ,over flowed the tub forgot it was running ,forgot I let a coffee pot on for a few days u till I seen it was burning , I'm afraid have to be watched everyday and it's so debilitating I cry and no one understands and I'm glad this has spell check because my brain don't spell correct anymore and the high light of this story is my Aetna claim closed because they needed to know how bad my memory is and closed my claim I'm about to loss everything I worked for for 20 years I have not got my long-term disability money in 6 months I'm hungry and ready to be eviction notice now homeless still have not got reconsrution surgery yet who goes through his ???????????????????????????????

     

    go to...

    your local American Cancer Society or to your onc/hospital and there are counclers there that can help guide you.

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • kbstutts
    kbstutts Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2018 #28
    Chemo brain

    I didn't have same drug (Perjeta, Herceptin, Carboplatin, Taxotere) & yes....I have severe short term memory loss. I can't remember names of people I've known my whole life. I search for words that I can see in my mind's eye, but my brain doesn't send info to my mouth. My husband repeatedly tells me we discussed a topic I bring up thinking it is new 2-4 days before, & I'm a complete blank. If I don't write it down, I will not remember it. I used to do complex statistical analysis, but it looks like Greek to me now. I've not been able to return to work as it's so bad. My doctors told me I'd have to refrain my brain. Start with small list of items & go back several times & try to remember them. Repeat task adding more words as I remember items for bcc a week. It's still a ****.