Tamoxifen

iris48

Hello Lori,
My hardrive crashed and I'm on a laptop and not used to it. Took a while to reload all the programs on other computer and still working on connecting the internet. To answer you Tamoxifen questions... I am not thrilled with it either but have been on it one year since 2/14/02. For the first few years, if you are ER+ it fills the estrogen receptor sites and doesn't allow the estrogen to establish which could feed the type of cancer dcis you said you were dx with. The Indole 3 Carbinol is a cruciferous supplement from broccoli,brussel sprouts etc but since it is in capsule form concentrated. Usually the dosage is two capsules daily. It enhances what Tamoxifen is suppose to be doing. It is also suppose to be 90% effective whereas the Tamoxifen is 60% effective. Look up www.lef.org this is a non-profit organization that can give you the research info your doc will want to see. I joinned since the $75 is a tax write off and you can purchase supplements that are consistent in there contents, plus with multiple purchases they discount. Eg. four bottles are less than just one bottle, and ten are even better. You still need to comparison shop. They have a wealth of information to offer.
To get back to topic. Tamoxifen has its side effects and it took a long time before my body settled down ...less mood swings, controlling hot flashes that were making me sopping wet 17 - 20 times daily, couldn't sleep, mild down moods (considering what could be). This is suppose to give me another 5 to 7% protection against microscopic cancerous cells from taking hold. I'll continue with Tamoxifen for two years, but then switch to the Indole 3 Carbinol which has a better effectiveness rating and costs $27 a bottle for the month as opposed to $150 to $175 for Tamoxifen. If I bought ten IC3 bottles the cost goes down to $17 a bottle. Everyone is different, and you have to check this out for you. I didn't have any lymph node involvement, all my margins were clear, right side had invasive lobular, ductal and left they found a ductal carcinoma. None of this showed on mamms or ultrasounds. I chose bilateral and they found the ductal cancers upon pathology. Total wt was 2.4 so I did four sessions chemo and did not require radiation. So far I am clean, my energy has returned and I am building back my clientele base for massage therapies. While this is happening, I am instructing a Potters wheel class for two hrs on Fri for 5th graders in an afternoon program. I paint, write, designing logo for a wellness center that is just being created, and sculpt. I've been reconstructed and "the Girls" are looking great and very natural. I've opted for saline implants, used my own skin in the area for nipples and just had the color done via tattooing which matches the tones of my lips which are deep in color (I'm a brunette). I have full use of both arms and am flexible. I found the seated yoga or gentle yoga was most helpful in relieving some of the pain from my expanders and gave me back a sense of wellness.
Hope this helps you. Sorry for the delay.
Hugs, light, love
Iris

Annpez

Hi Iris my name is Ann Marie your story sounds like mine. I have been on tamoxifen for almost two years. You sound like you know alot about it. I had same surgery as you, no lymps involved, same thing as far as chemo,and reconstruction goes I had the same thing I had both breasts removed cause I had problems in both. But I was wondering is there any natural product for the hot flashes and night sweats thats whats really killing me at night I can't sleep well. You know the doctors sometimes, I think they feel it's a small price to pay and it is, but boy am I uncomfortable. Any ideas Thank You P.S. I do take vitamins multi, C, E, and B complex

priscilla

It will hurt your legs but you must be strong and it will be over soon God Bless you

Coolerlady

Annpez said:

Hi Iris my name is Ann Marie your story sounds like mine. I have been on tamoxifen for almost two years. You sound like you know alot about it. I had same surgery as you, no lymps involved, same thing as far as chemo,and reconstruction goes I had the same thing I had both breasts removed cause I had problems in both. But I was wondering is there any natural product for the hot flashes and night sweats thats whats really killing me at night I can't sleep well. You know the doctors sometimes, I think they feel it's a small price to pay and it is, but boy am I uncomfortable. Any ideas Thank You P.S. I do take vitamins multi, C, E, and B complex

I have been reading your comments on tamoxifen! I am at my wits end. I am getting very little sleep and at least one hot flash an hour, sometimes two. My doctor says I have to stay on it till 2005. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help me get some relief? Sometimes I think I can't make it through another day or night! Thanks, Coolerlady

Dodi

Iris48,
I am new to this site, and read the information you had on tamoxifen. You seem to be pretty educated on the subject, and I was wondering if you have ever heard of tubal like almost pain while taking it. I have been experiencing this for quite sometime now. At my last physical, I brought it up to my Dr., and he felt it could be a side effect of the tamoxifen. I just refilled my prescription today, and also looked on the net, and no where does this subject come up. I am very concerned now, because, as I am sure you know, anything new is cancer right? I would appreciate any information you may have concerning this. Thanks

KatieGirl924

priscilla said:

It will hurt your legs but you must be strong and it will be over soon God Bless you

Does the leg pain I have, mostly at nite come from the Tamoxifen. Stopped my Zocor as my Dr suggested for a month with out relief. I think it's the Tamoxifen.