1st day of Tamoxifen....what to expect...5 yrs!!!

kjhbrteam
kjhbrteam Member Posts: 10
in Breast Cancer #1
I have finished 6 rounds of chemo and rads..now ready to start this one a day pill called Tamoxifen....oncologist tells me me the benefits outway the risks!

Comments

  • candu
    candu Member Posts: 30
    #2
    Tamoxifin vs aromasin
    I am with you......same 6 chemo/rads and they want me to pass on tamoxifen and go on to aromasin...less sides effects.
    But who are we to believe?
    Doctors have over 10 years of research on Tamoxifen and yes there are sides effects....but aromasin is new....but I haven't seen much on research that I can get my hands on.
    It is such a tuff decision to make......5 years on this stuff!
    Tamoxifin or aromasin? Which is better?
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    At the end of 5 years....
    with Tamoxifen. I have had very few side effects from it, as did my mom (also a breast cancer warrior). BUT I was eligible for the AI's (collective for Aromasyn, et all...) because of my surgical menopause during my fight with rectal cancer. The biggest reason I chose Tamoxifen? Because I have osteoporosis and naturally high cholesterol, both of which are trouble with the AI's...so...

    That said, at the end of December, when I'm truly over Tami, my onc and I will be discussing the positives of at least trying one of the AI's, to prevent reoccurance. Since I got into the cancer line 2 times (primary site rectal, followed by primary site breast), I really, really, really, really, REALLY don't want another fight...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    KathiM said:

    At the end of 5 years....
    with Tamoxifen. I have had very few side effects from it, as did my mom (also a breast cancer warrior). BUT I was eligible for the AI's (collective for Aromasyn, et all...) because of my surgical menopause during my fight with rectal cancer. The biggest reason I chose Tamoxifen? Because I have osteoporosis and naturally high cholesterol, both of which are trouble with the AI's...so...

    That said, at the end of December, when I'm truly over Tami, my onc and I will be discussing the positives of at least trying one of the AI's, to prevent reoccurance. Since I got into the cancer line 2 times (primary site rectal, followed by primary site breast), I really, really, really, really, REALLY don't want another fight...

    Hugs, Kathi

    so far the tamoxifen has
    so far the tamoxifen has been ok, some hot flashes, nausea (fixed by taking at night), day my docs have emphasized that the tamoxifen is more important than the chemo. I also take a baby aspirin every day. P.S. been on it 15 months
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #5
    carkris said:

    so far the tamoxifen has
    so far the tamoxifen has been ok, some hot flashes, nausea (fixed by taking at night), day my docs have emphasized that the tamoxifen is more important than the chemo. I also take a baby aspirin every day. P.S. been on it 15 months

    I take tamox
    I've been taking tamoxifin for 21 months.Almost 2 years.I read the side effects and pondered about taking it.I have bad leg veins and worried about blood clots.Also I read all those other side effects that about ALL medicines have.I finally broke down and now taking it.Husband was home to make sure I was OK.I hate starting new meds.

    I have osteoporosis.I have no problems.Also had a total hysteroctomy which helps me in not getting uterine cancer or other problems that occur with the uterus.My friends took Tamox and are doing great after 16 years and 6 years.One friend took another drug after tamox and she wishes there was soemthing else.AND she is like me hates taking meds.She wants the security of taking something that keeps the beast from returning.

    Seems my doctor mentioned something else after tamox.Can't remember.If so I will take it.My cancer was non invasive(Stage 0) but still so many other cancers I can get and even another type of breast cancer.

    For Hair loss there is some but my hair was already thin.I do shave my legs but not often.What I am hoping after I am off the tamox my hair gets thicker.That is my dream.

    Lynn Smith
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #6
    I have been on it now 2
    I have been on it now 2 months. it took till week 5 to start the hot flashes. they were bad, every 30 minutes! then I was very tired all day. I was put on effexor and my hot flashes are better. they are more like normal menopause flashes. i solved the exhaustion by taking the tamox at night. now I sleep better. i do get bone aches. it seems to have inflamed my already bad knee. at times my hip joints hurt. I have gained weight. I won't even get on the scale anymore because it is too depressing. the weird side effect is that smells bother me. i have always been sensitive to smells but now it's like i'm pregnant! the smell of cooking eggs or meat makes me gag! I don't have much choice except to not take it and risk a recurrence,so I suffer through! Hopefully you will be lucky and not have any issues.

    angela
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #7
    robang13 said:

    I have been on it now 2
    I have been on it now 2 months. it took till week 5 to start the hot flashes. they were bad, every 30 minutes! then I was very tired all day. I was put on effexor and my hot flashes are better. they are more like normal menopause flashes. i solved the exhaustion by taking the tamox at night. now I sleep better. i do get bone aches. it seems to have inflamed my already bad knee. at times my hip joints hurt. I have gained weight. I won't even get on the scale anymore because it is too depressing. the weird side effect is that smells bother me. i have always been sensitive to smells but now it's like i'm pregnant! the smell of cooking eggs or meat makes me gag! I don't have much choice except to not take it and risk a recurrence,so I suffer through! Hopefully you will be lucky and not have any issues.

    angela

    two years on tamox
    I have been on tamoxifen for 2 years--hot flashes & leg cramps have been the worst side effects. The benefits outweigh the side effects for me. My onc wanted me to take the baby aspirin to ward off blood clots, but it upset my stomach too much.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #8
    I have been on tamox 3 yrs
    I have been on tamox 3 yrs this month! I was fine for first 2 1/2 yrs...I went @ 6mths for internal ultrasound followed D & C each time. (thickening of uterus) after 4+ yrs post meno I started bleeding, stopped tamox for 3mths no help. May 2011 I had totaly hysterctomy and ALL GOOD NOW>..back on Tamox and baby asprin daily

    Denise

    hot flashes were not too bad for me, can't sleep up each hour *I think due to med* leg cramps...(have not had since back on it)
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #9
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I have been on tamox 3 yrs
    I have been on tamox 3 yrs this month! I was fine for first 2 1/2 yrs...I went @ 6mths for internal ultrasound followed D & C each time. (thickening of uterus) after 4+ yrs post meno I started bleeding, stopped tamox for 3mths no help. May 2011 I had totaly hysterctomy and ALL GOOD NOW>..back on Tamox and baby asprin daily

    Denise

    hot flashes were not too bad for me, can't sleep up each hour *I think due to med* leg cramps...(have not had since back on it)

    Tamoxifen not bad for me
    Regarding the Tamoxifen vs. Aromasin/AIs discussion -- please don't forget that some of us are premenopausal! AIs are not an option for us, unless we take other steps to remove or shut down our ovaries -- otherwise, it's Tamoxifen or nuthin'.

    I'm 42, and not even a little bit menopausal yet :-). I've been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years, and hot flashes have been the only major side effect. For me, switching to taking it in the morning instead of the evening, and taking Vitamin E has really helped keep the hot flashes down.

    Tamoxifen hasn't affected my periods at all -- still very normal and regular. And I find that I shave my legs much less frequently, but haven't noticed any thinning at all on my head (I haven't closely inspected any other places :-o).

    I'm overweight (since well before my diagnosis), and do find it almost impossible to lose weight since going on Tamoxifen -- if I keep up the exercise, I don't gain weight, but I don't lose it either. I faithfully see my gynecologist every year -- so far, absolutely no gynecological problems or scares at all.

    But -- for me -- I can put up with all that, if it will continue to keep the bad cancer juju away!

    Traci
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #10
    TraciInLA said:

    Tamoxifen not bad for me
    Regarding the Tamoxifen vs. Aromasin/AIs discussion -- please don't forget that some of us are premenopausal! AIs are not an option for us, unless we take other steps to remove or shut down our ovaries -- otherwise, it's Tamoxifen or nuthin'.

    I'm 42, and not even a little bit menopausal yet :-). I've been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years, and hot flashes have been the only major side effect. For me, switching to taking it in the morning instead of the evening, and taking Vitamin E has really helped keep the hot flashes down.

    Tamoxifen hasn't affected my periods at all -- still very normal and regular. And I find that I shave my legs much less frequently, but haven't noticed any thinning at all on my head (I haven't closely inspected any other places :-o).

    I'm overweight (since well before my diagnosis), and do find it almost impossible to lose weight since going on Tamoxifen -- if I keep up the exercise, I don't gain weight, but I don't lose it either. I faithfully see my gynecologist every year -- so far, absolutely no gynecological problems or scares at all.

    But -- for me -- I can put up with all that, if it will continue to keep the bad cancer juju away!

    Traci

    is the baby aspirin
    to prevent blood clots?

    I start Taxoxifen after my rads are done..around the end of September...I'm very grateful that I am ER+ so I can take something that will hopefully keep the beast at bay...but I am concerned about side effects.

    I;m also overweight (since way before diagnosis also!) and heard that this can cause weight gain. I;ve increased my exercise as it seems to help a lot with my anxiety/depression and hope that will at least keep me at the same weight level as before.

    I'm taking Effexor for depression/anxiety and that is also supposed to help with the hot flashes, I;ve been told.

    Also, is it true that Tamoxifin increases your fertility? (I've heard it called the "anti-birth control pill). I;m in kind of chemopause since January but did have one period recently, not sure if that was a one month fluke or I am again going to be getting it monthly.

    Laura

    Laura

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