tamoxifen

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poppa
poppa Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Took my first dose today and got very neasous about 4 hours later, started eating small amounts to feel better, it does work but it was alot of food. No wonder the dr said you can gain 30 to 70 lbs! Has anybody found something to help with that. I had bilateral done few weeks ago with lat dorsi flap reconstruction and still have two drains that just can't get rid of! Have another surgery to go thru in a few weeks for a mass in sinus (they don't think its cancer) but something I have to have out. Oncologist and I still going back and forth about chemo, she can't give me a high enough benefit factor to take it (5%). Any other help other than eating small meals would be great. Trying to stay pretty positive :)

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  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
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    Time. (I know, not something you want to hear). Your body will adjust to no estrogen (the condition Tami causes) and it gets better.

    Actually, I only gained about 4 pounds with it....just lucky, I guess...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #3
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    Poppa you might try taking it at bedtime. Thats what I did and I didn't have any side effects.

    Try to think of chemo as your friend. Do anything you can to decrease your chances of reoccurance.

    You are indeed going through a rough time. Try to keep your eye on the light at the end of the tunnell. Things will get better and you will return to a new normal.
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #4
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    Hi Poppa:
    I've been on it since December and taking it 2x a day. I found it helped to take it after I ate. I take it after breakfast and after dinner. I haven't gained weight on it but I do have to say I watch very carefully what I eat because my friend gained 20 lbs on it. Eat healthy snacks until your body gets used to it. Unfortunately, it takes a little time. Hugs, Lili
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #5
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    I was never on that, but definitely ask your Dr. if there are antinausea meds he/she could prescribe...I had some and they were great when I needed them. Drink more water, and maybe eat even smaller amounts, if it seems like a lot. Also make sure that what you eat is as healthy as possible.
    Personally, I would do what I could to reduce the chance of recurrence as much as possible (I got a bilateral mastectomy instead of unilateral, even though Dr. said I am only at 10% chance of it travelling).

    It is all very personal and it is hard to make these decisions, especially because there are no absolute guarantees.

    Best wishes, seof
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
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    I have never gotten nauseus from it but I have gained a small roll around my middle that I can't get rid of--despite working out 5 days a week. Someone mentioned that tamoxifen removes estrogen but that is not how I understand it. It actually behaves like estrogen in that it fills the receptor in cancer cells before the actual estrogen can--thereby cutting off their food supply. Its the chemo-induced menopause(sometimes temp. depending on your age) that stops the ovaries from making the estrogen and causes hot flashes etc... Hang in there. I'm guessing that your system may eventually get used to the medication and you will be less bothered by it. Take care, Eil
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #7
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    My surgeon pointed out to me that tamoxifen is sold as a street drug to body builders who want to cut fat. Um, I didn't believe the guy, but as usual he was right. I got a journal and started writing down what I ate and managed to lose 17 pounds that I didn't need around my middle while I was on tamoxifen. I didn't have the problem of nausea, but I did get a headach the first few days. Fortunately, it left with a little help from some Tylenol for a night or two. I took my Tamoxifen at breakfast with food.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
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    I was searching the ACS "cancer Information' link above...searched on tamoxifen....good, descriptive article...

    mood swings, hot flashes, etc are 'normal', but if you should have bleeding, call your doctor...
    Thank you, I learned something...this is used for metastatic breast cancer as a treatment...not just, like me, a prevention from reoccurance!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • csanch
    csanch Member Posts: 1
    #9
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    I've been on tami for 1yr unfortunately I lost weight with it.Dr can't explain why i'm not gaining, what can i say i ain't complaining..I take it every morining with just a cup of coffee and water.Side effects will go away just not as quickly as u and i want it to. HUGS
  • LindaR48
    LindaR48 Member Posts: 26
    #10
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    When I first started on tomoxifen my stomach got queasy. I ate good healthy meals and drank lots of water. This lasted only a short time and now I have the hot flashes only I was told to drink at least 8 ounces of water with the pill. I hope this helps.
  • CindyPR
    CindyPR Member Posts: 36
    #11
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    Hi Cindy PR,
    I took tamoxifen for 5 years. Can imagine as always ate before taking it. Did not gain weight on it. Wish I could. poppa am here to help, as had breast cancer in both breasts, 35 treatments on each breast, radiation and chemo. Now I am a survivor any help am here. If you want to E-mail me here am here. My prayers and thoughts are with you, be positive.
    Cindy

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