tamoxifen

side effects
Hi Teresa,
I have been on Tamoxifen for a month. Side effects? Of course there are side effects! Everything we put into our bodies affects us. Chemo, for example. Those women I read about going through chemo on this site are my heros. I don't think I could drip poison into my veins and stay sane.

But here I am taking Tamoxifen. My medical oncologist said it would reduce the chance of recurrance from 14% to 8%, maybe more. (There are so many factors that affect this issue.) I don't like to take aspirin unless I have exhausted other possiblities. I didn't take vitamins before my cancer diagnosis, because it's just too easy to upset your body's natural balance of things that way. But here I am taking Tamoxifen.

I rejected taking it, or any other hormone thereapy, at my first visit to the medical oncologist. He was very careful to not push me one way or the other, except that he wanted me to take it! (sarcasm) I told him the improvement of the recurrance odds was too small to risk the possible side effects, and off I went. Then, I did some more research. Probably the fact that my tumor cells were aggressively growing (grade 3, "bad boys" the surgeon said) made me reconsider.

So here I am taking Tamoxifen. I can stop and throw the pills away anytime I want. Looking at taking these for five years seemed like too much of a commitment for me, but you don't have to. The studies researching the effectiveness of Tamoxifen were done, for the most part, for five years. That's how they came up with that number.

Now that I'm one month into taking Tamoxifen, here are my side effects: the hot flashes that I have lived with since the quick onset of menopause 10 years ago when I was 47, are still here. Same strength, same frequency. My 'feminine areas' are a little drier now so I am using an approved moisturizer for that area daily. That's it so far. Blood clots could be down the road. Or uterine cancer. Or a new breast cancer. Apparently I grow really good ones on what ever estrogen I still produce. So it makes sense to reduce its effects even more. So here I am taking Tamoxifen.

I hate losing any more qualities that make a woman alluringly feminine, but I think it's the better choice. Sigh. Hope this helps and doesn't scare you away. I wanted to be honest, not just supportive. The tough part is, everyone reacts differently, so what you read here, may not happen to you! Good luck, dearie.

crselby said:

side effects
Hi Teresa,
I have been on Tamoxifen for a month. Side effects? Of course there are side effects! Everything we put into our bodies affects us. Chemo, for example. Those women I read about going through chemo on this site are my heros. I don't think I could drip poison into my veins and stay sane.

But here I am taking Tamoxifen. My medical oncologist said it would reduce the chance of recurrance from 14% to 8%, maybe more. (There are so many factors that affect this issue.) I don't like to take aspirin unless I have exhausted other possiblities. I didn't take vitamins before my cancer diagnosis, because it's just too easy to upset your body's natural balance of things that way. But here I am taking Tamoxifen.

I rejected taking it, or any other hormone thereapy, at my first visit to the medical oncologist. He was very careful to not push me one way or the other, except that he wanted me to take it! (sarcasm) I told him the improvement of the recurrance odds was too small to risk the possible side effects, and off I went. Then, I did some more research. Probably the fact that my tumor cells were aggressively growing (grade 3, "bad boys" the surgeon said) made me reconsider.

So here I am taking Tamoxifen. I can stop and throw the pills away anytime I want. Looking at taking these for five years seemed like too much of a commitment for me, but you don't have to. The studies researching the effectiveness of Tamoxifen were done, for the most part, for five years. That's how they came up with that number.

Now that I'm one month into taking Tamoxifen, here are my side effects: the hot flashes that I have lived with since the quick onset of menopause 10 years ago when I was 47, are still here. Same strength, same frequency. My 'feminine areas' are a little drier now so I am using an approved moisturizer for that area daily. That's it so far. Blood clots could be down the road. Or uterine cancer. Or a new breast cancer. Apparently I grow really good ones on what ever estrogen I still produce. So it makes sense to reduce its effects even more. So here I am taking Tamoxifen.

I hate losing any more qualities that make a woman alluringly feminine, but I think it's the better choice. Sigh. Hope this helps and doesn't scare you away. I wanted to be honest, not just supportive. The tough part is, everyone reacts differently, so what you read here, may not happen to you! Good luck, dearie.

Hey Teresa,
Ive been on
Hey Teresa,
Ive been on tamoxifen for 3 months I haven't had any side effects to speak of I take mine 2 10mg at night right before I go to bed mainly because they do make me a little naseuted sp and headaches but nothing else to speak of, good luck
Kim

I started tamoxiphen on May
I started tamoxiphen on May 1st of this year, and I'm not having any problems. The summer here in Texas was really hot, and I thought I might be hotter than normal. But nothing like what others describe as a hot flash. And now that it's cold here, I'm bundled up and cold, just like I have been every winter of my life.

I went through a month or so when I was having trouble sleeping, but we had my daughter-in-law and grandson move in with us about that same time for a month visit. I was just back to work full-time for a couple of weeks, so while the visit was great, it was stressful. (not the tamoxiphen, huh?)

I've had a two bouts with cacker sores, maybe 4-5 at the same time. I've never heard of that as a side effect, but I've never had more than one at a time, so I'm blaming it on the tamoxiphen. (Darn, I forgot to ask when I was in for a check up in November, out of mouth, out of mind!)

I take 10mg am and 10 mg pm, which I've heard makes things go easier. (The doc I met with recently said I could take both at the same time, go figure.)

Lisa

tamoxifen and effexor
I have been taking tamoxifen since April 2008 and besides the hot flashes, really no other side effects, the effexor does help with them though I still sleep with the fan on every night. I used to always be cold, not any more new internal heating system. Just dress in layers.

Good Luck
Keri

Taina said:

1 week on
I started 5 days ago...
The 1st day i took it before going to bed...
big mistake, i couldn't sleep and got hot...
next day i took it during the day since i wanted to sleep.
get headaches, migraines, nausea, gets hot...
i will see my oncologist in 3 wks...
good luck....

Hi Teresa
Just want to wish you good luck on tamox Teresa!

Hugs, Diane ♥

jennytwist said:

No choice
My Dr told me I HAD to take the tamoxifen. My story is similar to many of the other "sisters" I started the tam in late Sept. I was terrified after doing some research. And after alot of whining to my Dr about it he said I didn't have a choice if I wanted to prevent a recurrance. I, too had grade 3 tumors - . I had a breast removed, then chemo - no rads. I also started on the effexor about 2 weeks before beginning the tam. The chemo put me into menopause (I'm 55) & I'm not sure the hot flashes are from that or the tam. I asked the Dr and he said "one hot flash is the same an another" in other words I'm hot flashing from both - otherwise the tam. seems OK - I'm a little stiff when I'm sitting or lying down for too long. I worry about the s.e. but must trust I'm doing what I can, right now to keep bc from coming back.
We all react differently - as my Dr said, "at least, give it a try" With no other options at this point for me, I'm trying - I'm determinded to do whatever I can!
much love,
Jenny

Tamox
I am still on the fence about tamoxifen. But, you can always start it and if you can't tolerate it for some reason, you could stop taking it. Good luck!

Leeza