Tomaxafin and the Fun Beginning

TKMomma
TKMomma Member Posts: 54
in Breast Cancer #1
Soon to begin Tamoxafin and reading alot of the side affects, etc. and getting nervous. Do they run frequent blood test on you to evaluate your blood for clotting, Do they run any tests in your pelvic area to see what's happening down there. I've read alot on line and these chats and it seems alot of ladies end up having hysterectomies or other surgeries in that area after they start tomaxafin. Is that recommended or required. Are there any steps to monitor all of this stuff frequently so you know what's going on with your body. Any insight you could provide would be appreciated

Comments

  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #2
    If on tamoxifen you should
    If on tamoxifen you should see your obgyn yearly or sooner if you are spotting or having irregularities.
  • mollieb
    mollieb Member Posts: 148
    #3
    Tamoxifen Side Effects
    I agree with Marcia -- see your ob/gyne yearly and make an appointment right away if you have bleeding. But don't worry yourself sick about uterine cancer -- yes, the incidence increases with Tamoxifen but it's still very small.

    I actually had a blood clot with Tamoxifen, and another one since. There is no way to do a blood test for it. When you go to bed at night, look at your lower legs and ankles. If one is noticeably bigger than the other, get to the doctor right away. Insist on an ultrasound. Both times they thought I was a hypochondriac; both times I had a DVT. I think the best way to avoid DVT is to remain active -- walking for fifteen minutes, twice a day, is good, if that is the minimum you can do. They can do a genetic test for clotting predisposition, but it's expensive and won't actually predict a clot, so they probably won't do the test unless you actually get one.

    I also had terrible, terrible hot flashes. They went away after about six months. I don''t know whether that is because they just go away after six months or because I started taking 75 mg of Effexor every night. If you get the hot flashes, ask your doc for Effexor right away.

    Don't worry too much about side effects. Overall, my five years on Tamoxifen were not bad. Glad it's available!
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #4
    Side Effects
    Hi

    I've been on Tamox for about 5 weeks so far and really the biggest side effect has been hot fashes. I was really concerned about taking it and worried about the side effects but when I brought it up to my MO she told me not to get too worried, just be watchful.
    She said the incidence of serious side effects compares to the rate of serious side effects for the birth control pill...made me feel better anyway.

    I try to look at it as one more arrow in the quiver, and since I'm not good at archery I need all the ammo I can get to shoot the beast.

    Good luck,

    Jennifer
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #5
    from my experience..I get
    from my experience..I get blood work every 3 mths..while on tamoxifen I take a baby asprin daily. AT my oncologist request my gyno gave me internal ultrasound @ 6mths followed by
    D & C due to thickening of uterus.

    I did not have any side effects until thickening (inless then a year) and then after 4 yrs post menopause I started bleeding. I just had 6 wks ago..a complete hysterctomy. I am not back on tamoxifen as of this week.
    (I was taken off it for 3 mths prior to surgery to see if symptoms got better-obviously they did not get better)

    Denise

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