Cancer Survivors Network

Ok here is the difficult part: what is an adverse effect and what was destined to happen anyway because of age, overuse, etc? My experience with tamoxifen's side effects: no sex drive (I was young so very noticeable), fatigue and weight gain. I did not have joint pain but I do now (22 years later) on arimidex. I told my oncologist yesterday that, yes I had joint pain and achiness, but I wondered how much of that I would have anyway. He laughed and said that women who were off meds told him they were surprised when they still had the some of the same symptoms and realized some of the symptoms were from aging or other problems. Having said that, everyone of us is an amazing, unique combination of chemical reactions who will react to meds very individually. First rule of pharmacology is every drug has an adverse effect (to someone). The goal is to find a drug that is more beneficial than harmful--easier said than done I think. Ask your oncologist and ,also, maybe think about seeing an orthopedist or rheumatologist if you think something else is going on.

I did, and ended up on Actonel for osteoporosis!!!

I feel sooooooo much better, 2 years later...I had bones of an 80 year old from the chemo, etc. Tamoxifen is better for this than the AI's (arrymidex, etc)....the mechanisms are different.

Hugs, Kathi

I've been on Tamoxifen for a couple of months and noticed my knees kind of aching as well when going up and down the stairs. I figured it was just from being stiff or whatever, but now that you've posted the same thing, I wonder ???

Could be an age thing, I don't know. I'm 43. I'll be anxious to hear what the Oncologist has to say.

Patti