after tamoxifen

skhi
skhi Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've been on tamoxifen for five years now and am interested to hear from those who've taken tam. and what their experience was when they stopped taking it. Did you quit 'cold turkey' or did you quit gradually(by taking one dose per day for a while?) My experience is, this is a very powerful drug and while I didn't really like taking it, if I forgot to take it I felt worse than when I did take it.

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • patsharkey
    patsharkey Member Posts: 7
    #3
    I took tamoxifen (20mg daily) for 8 years. I had been told that my cancer was not oestrogen receptive and that this was just a precaution. Noe I am in recurrence and have been told that in fact my cancer is/was strongly oestrogen receptive - just that the test was not done routinely 9 years ago.

    Basically I was told to throw my tamoxifen in the bin. This did not cause any side effects. More worryingly my oncologist has suggested that when you take take tamoxifen for too long your cancer gets used to it, and may even learn to feed on it. I am 47 now and after chemotherapy am going to be put on a new oestrogen blocking drug, which is supposed to work very well for post-menopausal women. (I have forgotten the name). I know no two people are the same, but I would certainly discuss this with your doctor.
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Dear Ellen I am in my third month on Tamoxifen and like you have noticed no side effects other than the fact that I am feeling so much better. My cancer is a recurrence 19 years after mastectomy and is for treatment of numerous mets in bones & lung. My protein marker levels are dropping rapidly and after radiation in one big hit on my spine for pain relief I can even go upstairs again. My oncologist says it has been known to work for 15 years to suppress the cancer & the longer it works the longer another replacement drug will work when it starts to fail. You never know what may be discovered in that time so keep on taking the drug & keep looking for a positive outcome. I am there holding your hand. Your new friend Pam (from New Zealand).
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    pamtriggs said:

    Dear Ellen I am in my third month on Tamoxifen and like you have noticed no side effects other than the fact that I am feeling so much better. My cancer is a recurrence 19 years after mastectomy and is for treatment of numerous mets in bones & lung. My protein marker levels are dropping rapidly and after radiation in one big hit on my spine for pain relief I can even go upstairs again. My oncologist says it has been known to work for 15 years to suppress the cancer & the longer it works the longer another replacement drug will work when it starts to fail. You never know what may be discovered in that time so keep on taking the drug & keep looking for a positive outcome. I am there holding your hand. Your new friend Pam (from New Zealand).

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • lisam3@msn.com
    lisam3@msn.com Member Posts: 1
    #6
    I too would like to know something about going off this drug. While on it I had sporadic periods. When I did have them they were light and lasted three or so days. However, my PMS was always a lot worse if I skipped months when I did fire. I had hot flashes galore and took Zoloft for a while to counter act them.

    Now that I have been Tam free for about two months was wondering what this process was like for others. My periods come monthly but not in a timely fashion. I have terrible PMS. My body seems terribly out of whack. Anybody out there have any information to share. I am 38 years old.

    Thanks
  • porschekitty
    porschekitty Member Posts: 1
    #7
    lisam3@msn.com said:

    I too would like to know something about going off this drug. While on it I had sporadic periods. When I did have them they were light and lasted three or so days. However, my PMS was always a lot worse if I skipped months when I did fire. I had hot flashes galore and took Zoloft for a while to counter act them.

    Now that I have been Tam free for about two months was wondering what this process was like for others. My periods come monthly but not in a timely fashion. I have terrible PMS. My body seems terribly out of whack. Anybody out there have any information to share. I am 38 years old.

    Thanks

    after tamoxifen
    After 5 years, I have been off Tam for about 6 weeks. I'm having terrible PMS - mad at the world, eating lots of junk, and extreme breast tenderness/swelling. I researched before hand about any side effects and found nothing. Today my doctor prescribed Cymbalta - although I'm neither depressed nor anxious (not sure this is the right medicine for me). Any ideas from anyone who has been through this?

    Thanks
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #8
    I am on tamoxifen. I
    I am on tamoxifen. I started taking the drug in mid-March. The only side effects I've noticed are fatigue( slight) and dry mouth. I found, since taking the drug, that I tend to drink more water. Not sure what will happen after 5 years.

    Best of luck with your journey.
    BL
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #9
    porschekitty said:

    after tamoxifen
    After 5 years, I have been off Tam for about 6 weeks. I'm having terrible PMS - mad at the world, eating lots of junk, and extreme breast tenderness/swelling. I researched before hand about any side effects and found nothing. Today my doctor prescribed Cymbalta - although I'm neither depressed nor anxious (not sure this is the right medicine for me). Any ideas from anyone who has been through this?

    Thanks

    There is a drug to help with
    There is a drug to help with hot flashes, but, I can't think of what it is right now.

    Be sure and emphasize all of the side effects you are having to your doctor.

    There surely is something besides an antidepressant.

    Hugs, Jan

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