Tamoxifen

ShondaS
ShondaS Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1
If you have or currently take this medication, can you please share your story. I'm not sure if I can deal with the side effects. I'm only 32 and I don't want to deal with the hot flashes and other issues. I wonder why I should put myself through this when God is the only one who knows.

Of course, I don't want to be stupid. I know God put meds and doctors here for a reason. I am just not feeling this medication when it only reduces a chance. It they say it prevented reoccurrence, then maybe I would not be so reluctant.

So please share your stories of coping with this med.

Comments

  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #2
    Hi Shonda
    Well I'm 61, not 32. So the problems with taking this med. don't affect me so much. I don't have any bad side effects from it. But, if I was your age I would be concerned with the fact that it can cause problems with uterine,ovarian cancers.There are other meds. you can take like Arimedex that might be better for you. Discuss your concerns with your Onc.
    Dee
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
    just went off after 2 1/2 yrs
    I am 51 now..I had DCIS/ lumpectomy / radiation /tamoxifen. I thought no side effects until about Jan..of this year..other then hot flashes, leg cramps at night (very painful) and thickening of utersus. I just found out yesterday I must have hysterectomy. (started bleeding after no period for over 4 yrs) SO monday I go in to set date and game plan for surgery.


    Denise

    I was told by all my drs (about 4) risks outwiegh cons!
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #4
    Hey Shonda
    I have been on Tamoxifen since August-10. When I first started taking it I was moody and grouchy a lot and the hot flashes. When I had been on the med for a couple of months the moodiness and grouchiness got much much better. I do have leg cramps some but not often. I do still have hot flashes but not to bad. I am 50 though so I figured it was time for me to be having them one way or the other! I have not had a period since right befor my first chemo which has been a little over a year ago.
    I agree with you that God is in control of this and that he gave people the smarts to invent these meds. My Onc. strongly encouraged me to take Tamoxifen. I am sure he would not have made me but I wanted to do all I could to keep it from coming back so I went for it. Best of luck with your decision. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • sunshine0406
    sunshine0406 Member Posts: 65
    #5
    Me too
    I am having the same fight. I am 36 and don't want to take it. I have been through so much already with the chemo and rads. I am just starting to feel better and I don't want to start feeling bad again. But my dr said it is so good at helping against it reoccurring, that I should take it and we can work on what ever side effects come along. I just don't know that I want to...But I did not want to do chemo, surgery or rads but I have done those because 1) I trust my dr and 2) I want to look back and say I did everything I could. I will most likely take the tamoxifen and pray that I have made the right decision. Good luck to all of us in our decisions along this journey.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #6
    sunshine0406 said:

    Me too
    I am having the same fight. I am 36 and don't want to take it. I have been through so much already with the chemo and rads. I am just starting to feel better and I don't want to start feeling bad again. But my dr said it is so good at helping against it reoccurring, that I should take it and we can work on what ever side effects come along. I just don't know that I want to...But I did not want to do chemo, surgery or rads but I have done those because 1) I trust my dr and 2) I want to look back and say I did everything I could. I will most likely take the tamoxifen and pray that I have made the right decision. Good luck to all of us in our decisions along this journey.

    all my drs agree to take it
    MO/RO gyno and oncol gyno (consult with my gyno) once I have surgery I am not sure what I"ll be put on
  • sunshine0406
    sunshine0406 Member Posts: 65
    #7
    disneyfan2008 said:

    all my drs agree to take it
    MO/RO gyno and oncol gyno (consult with my gyno) once I have surgery I am not sure what I"ll be put on

    Sorry
    I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. It is stories like yours that make me second guess my decision. I am glad that you are getting off and that you and your dr seem to be keeping an eye on what is going on. I wish you a lot of luck with your surgery.
  • mjjones453
    mjjones453 Member Posts: 155
    #8
    sunshine0406 said:

    Sorry
    I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. It is stories like yours that make me second guess my decision. I am glad that you are getting off and that you and your dr seem to be keeping an eye on what is going on. I wish you a lot of luck with your surgery.

    I am with sunshine on this
    I want to follow through with every thing the Dr. has told me to do all I can to prevent the cancer from coming back. I have been on Tamoxifen for 1 year. I started it a year ago today. I think the first thing that I noticed was that I was tired. After taking it a couple of weeks, my body adjusted to that, and I didn't feel as tired. I have a few symptoms, I do have hot flashes occasionally, and also I have bone pain, different from joint pain; that pain is bothersome. I have had some issues with tummy problems, and the Dr. took me off Tamoxifen for a month to see if the issues subside, they didn't. So back on the Tamoxifen I went. I was told by my oncologist to take them in the evening, with dinner, to help with the side effects. So that is when I take the med. I have ovarian cysts, they come and go, causing some of the stomach issues, I believe that I had them before I started taking the tamoxifen. I am pre-peri menopausal, and 50 years old. Mary
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #9
    mjjones453 said:

    I am with sunshine on this
    I want to follow through with every thing the Dr. has told me to do all I can to prevent the cancer from coming back. I have been on Tamoxifen for 1 year. I started it a year ago today. I think the first thing that I noticed was that I was tired. After taking it a couple of weeks, my body adjusted to that, and I didn't feel as tired. I have a few symptoms, I do have hot flashes occasionally, and also I have bone pain, different from joint pain; that pain is bothersome. I have had some issues with tummy problems, and the Dr. took me off Tamoxifen for a month to see if the issues subside, they didn't. So back on the Tamoxifen I went. I was told by my oncologist to take them in the evening, with dinner, to help with the side effects. So that is when I take the med. I have ovarian cysts, they come and go, causing some of the stomach issues, I believe that I had them before I started taking the tamoxifen. I am pre-peri menopausal, and 50 years old. Mary

    anyone here get regular
    internal ultrasounds to check to thickening..?

Discussion Boards