Tamoxifen

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amazinggrace
amazinggrace Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello to my friends out there! I was just wondering....I have finished my rads and have started taking Tamoxifen. I've been taking it for less than a week and wanted to ask those of you who experieced side effects - how long after starting to take the pill did the side effects start? I'm hoping I'm one of the lucky ones with no side effects, but don't want to get too excited yet. Thanks for any info you can give me.
Laurie

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  • Jim1947
    Jim1947 Member Posts: 2
    #2
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    Hi Laurie, This your new friend Jim1947. I was talking to a PHD in Pharmacy at a Major Drug Company and he mention the use of Arimadex
    instead of Tamoxifen. The side effects may be less. Check out this website..http://www.breastcancer.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Number=70470
    He Lives,
    Jim
  • timlou
    timlou Member Posts: 60
    #3
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    Laurie,
    My daughter age 33 has been on tamoxifen for just a year now. She has experienced, depression, hot flashes, mood swings, and HUGE personality changes. I was on tamoxifen in 1992 for 10 weeks had a blood clot and was taken off. It is definitely not for the weak and it does take a while for the side effects to show up. I didn't catch your age but for my daughter there is nothing else as she is pre menopausal. I am searching for some answers of my own about tamoxifen.
  • amazinggrace
    amazinggrace Member Posts: 8
    #4
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    timlou said:

    Laurie,
    My daughter age 33 has been on tamoxifen for just a year now. She has experienced, depression, hot flashes, mood swings, and HUGE personality changes. I was on tamoxifen in 1992 for 10 weeks had a blood clot and was taken off. It is definitely not for the weak and it does take a while for the side effects to show up. I didn't catch your age but for my daughter there is nothing else as she is pre menopausal. I am searching for some answers of my own about tamoxifen.

    Thanks for the reply Timlou! I am now 47 and perimenopausal with only one ovary. I was on Premarin for 6 yrs prior to dx. Went through a few weeks of hot flashes when I stopped taking them, and they stopped half way through rads. Been on Tamoxifen for almost a week now and the only noticeable change is that I actually get COLD now! That hasn't happened in years! I am also concerned about the side effects on the eyes. I have Fuchs' Dystrophy and am wondering if the pill can have any effects on the cornea.
    I feel for your daughter and pray they can come up with a different medicine for those that are premenopausal, to lessen the side effects.
    Keep up your search and if I find anything out, I'll let you know!
    Laurie
  • sdevilbiss
    sdevilbiss Member Posts: 41 Member
    #5
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    I was diagnosed with estrogen receptive brease ca. I had no lynmph node involvement. I was in an American Cancer Institute protocol (1989)for Tamoxifen only. Other protocols were Tamoxifen and chemo, Tamoxifen and radiation, and Tamoxifen, radiation and chemo. I took it for five years. At the end of the study I was sent a letter stating that there was not any difference in the survival rate for my group vs the other groups. The side effects took a while, I experienced hot flashes, weight gain and some depression. I do not know whether the depression can be contributed to the drug or the cancer itself. I am now a 16 year survivor and lead a relatively normal life. I had a modified radical mastectomy. The worst part is the nerve damage under my arm. As one of my support group ladies put it, it's like having a baseball tucked under your arm at all times. I have heard good and bad about Tamoxifen. Learn all you can and make an educated decision. Seek out the best breast oncologist that your area has to offer. There are other options. 16 years ago there was little literature and no internet. Now there is a wealth of information and support. Best of life to you!!
  • amazinggrace
    amazinggrace Member Posts: 8
    #6
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    sdevilbiss said:

    I was diagnosed with estrogen receptive brease ca. I had no lynmph node involvement. I was in an American Cancer Institute protocol (1989)for Tamoxifen only. Other protocols were Tamoxifen and chemo, Tamoxifen and radiation, and Tamoxifen, radiation and chemo. I took it for five years. At the end of the study I was sent a letter stating that there was not any difference in the survival rate for my group vs the other groups. The side effects took a while, I experienced hot flashes, weight gain and some depression. I do not know whether the depression can be contributed to the drug or the cancer itself. I am now a 16 year survivor and lead a relatively normal life. I had a modified radical mastectomy. The worst part is the nerve damage under my arm. As one of my support group ladies put it, it's like having a baseball tucked under your arm at all times. I have heard good and bad about Tamoxifen. Learn all you can and make an educated decision. Seek out the best breast oncologist that your area has to offer. There are other options. 16 years ago there was little literature and no internet. Now there is a wealth of information and support. Best of life to you!!

    Thanks for the reply! I have now been on Tamoxifen for almost a month.....Seems that the night sweats and hot flushs might be creeping up on me, but still nothing like before.
    Have a wonderful New Year!
    Laurie

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