Cancer Survivors Network

I read on the Breast Cancer site of the ACS that soy has estrogen in it or acts like estrogen. Definitely check with doctors before taking any natural or homopathic product. One never knows how it will affect your body, even if someone at a Natural Food store tells you it's ok. Check with pharmacist, too, regarding medication interactions. The professionals can help us only if they know ALL we put in our mouths. Vitamins included!

I too have been taking tamoxifen...I was 19 when I was diagnosed....I have been on the tamoxifen for over a year now and the hot flashes are not as bad...I did find that taking vitamin E helped alot.....

I would appreciate any help or information. I am healing from a bilateral mastectomy after being diagnosed with DCIS with Micro infiltration. I will be starting Tamoxifen Friday of this week. ( 9/16/11 ). I am 57 post menopausal and wheelchair bound from Polio as a child. I know to watch out for blood clots as a side effect. ( more so because of being sedimentary )
I would like any information to talk over with my Oncologist. I am also just beginning reconstruction surgery. I have extenders and have had two injections so far getting the skin ready for implants. I was diagnosed Jun 17th and have had to process so much so fast. I am lost most of the time trying to juggle doctors and emotions.

I am currently on my third month of tamoxifen. I don't seem to be having the "hot flashes" yet, maybe an occasional temperature rise but it passes real quickly. My Oncologist suggested "Evening Primrose" and she said I could find it in the vitamin isle at Wal*Mart. Vitamin E is another suggestion I've heard regularly. My tumor was estrogen positive so I do have to be careful in what OTC medication I take. I'd say ask your MO, I am sure they can provide you with a wealth of suggestions. My only side effect that I am aware of is "moodyness". I have to be careful because it seems my tolerance has dwindled. Since I am aware of it, I give myself lots of time outs before speaking.

Mamasands I too had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. My tissue expanders are fully inflated and I am waiting for my Implant exchange surgery in November. We have been through a lot in such a short span of time, but me looking back now I was tougher then I thought I could ever be. It's amazing the strength we have within us when it is called upon. Yes you are correct, you do have to be careful of blood clots once starting tamoxifen. Can you lift and flex your legs at all? My MO said if I were to go on long car trips to just flex the foot back and forth to keep the blood flowing. I don't think blood clots are a "major" side effect but one that has to be mentioned as it does happen occasionally. It sounds like you too are quite a strong lady... Hang in there my dear you are almost though the hurdle.

Hugs,
Lorrie

Here is a link to some information on Tamoxifen located right here on the ACS website:

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/GuidetoCancerDrugs/tamoxifen

I have been on tamoxifen for 2 years; hot flashes, weight gain, leg cramps are the side effects that are bothering me. However, I have decided that the benefits outweigh the side effects. I also have avoided soy since my dx. When I asked the onc about it, he said the tamoxifen would block any estrogen from forming, but I am not taking any chances.
Good luck with everything.

I had started effexor this summer due to anxiety/depression and told it also helps with hot flashes. I was nervous before taking it and now waiting to see how it goes.

Laura

I also had debilitating hot flashes in my early months taking Tamoxifen. They kept me from sleeping for so long I was getting crazy from sleep deprivation. My doctor prescribed Effexor and they cleared right up. Later I read that they often go away after six months or so on Tamoxifen, and that is about where I was, so maybe they would have gone away without the Effexor. I'll never know, but I also would have taken the Effexor anyway. It didn't cause any side effects, and I don't think I could have lasted another month to find out if the hot flashes would go away on their own.

I have been on tamoxifen for 4 months now. At 6 weeks the hot flashes came, and boy did they come!! I was getting them every 15 minutes! My face and chest would turn bright red and the sweat would just drip. Since many woman on this board told me about effexor I asked my gyno for a script. I am on my second month. While it has helped calm the hot flashes they are not gone. I sweat at the littlest thing. I walk around with a hair tie on my wrist now because I am always hot. My aunt who is on her second round of tamoxifen told me to take it at bedtime. I have found that it helps some. I guess this is just going to be our lives for awhile. Maybe from all the sweating I will lose some of the weight I have gained from being on them?! I wish you luck~

angela