Nervous about starting Tamoxifen

Thanks Alsopt,

I just put my big girl pants on and took my first pill !

Fingers crossed I won't get many side effects.

xx

Hi Sandy I'm about to start Femara and I understand your fears.  I got the script filled 3 days ago still looking at that box of pills.  I had lots of treatment and some drugs just wipe me so I'm scared I'm putting on my big gal pants tomorrow and swallowing that pill funny how BC changes us big hugs I figure if I have side effects too big I'll revisit for another drug and go from there welcome to the group you will find support here 

Sorry to hear of your bc Margie. Good wishes to you as you have your surgery next week. The mastectomy does take some getting used to. I thought it was just removing the floppy thing but they also delete the muscle under it and with the drains they put in it sucks down really flat and bony like a boys chest. It does eventually flesh out a bit but takes ages so be patient. At least being a nurse you know what pain meds to yell out for. Tip- if you hang your bath sheet high in the bathroom, opt for a lighter towel and hang it on the lower rack.

Hi Margie,

Welcome to the Online Network. I am glad you have decided to join the group as you will find the support from the members is just wonderful here. Let me know if you need any help with anything.

~Ann-Marie

Hi Samdra, I have mobstarted Tamoxifen yet (starting Chemo.last week) but might help shed some.light why some are being told 5 and other 10 years on it these days.

My Oncologist told me I will go on it and that standard practice is 10 years but more and more research is showing that 5 ywars has just as strong results so that at this stage we know 5 for sure and by the time 5 years are up tteatment guidelines may have changed seeing that new research and mew results will have come in by then.

Also, age would have some.impact as it is given to women not having been through menopause predominantly so if likely to have been through menopause in the early years of Tamoxi they may be considering a different treatment after 5 years...

Hi there

so this is my first post. I'm not a fan usually of social network but have decided to join this group as an extra support network. I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and core biopsy last week and Friday was told that I have breast cancer. I am ER+ PR-HER2- so far that's all I know and am researching this. I had the choice to have conservative surgery and radiation or a total left side mastectomy which I've decided to do.

I've always had a few cysts in my left breast, and also have a fibroadenoma which is a benign thing too and have yearly scans for this reason but this outcome has blown me away as I didn't even notice it. I'm 43 and have no family history of breast cancer either. So I'm praying this is early stage apparently wont know that until I have my boob removed and the usual pathology so am waiting anxiously for my surgery next week. I am a nurse also which I'm thinking now is not a good thing as you can know too much, and I have also nursed some really lovely women post operatively in the medical centre where I work. So here's to us all having a good recovery. Looking forward to hearing from you all. Margie.  

Hi sandra

my story is very similar to yours. I started tamoxifen in March'16 and the only side effects I've experienced so far is a little nauseous and a feeling of being full all the time which means I can't eat as much. So my appetite is low. This hasn't been an issue because I wanted to loose some weight I hav lost 3-4 kilos since I started taking it. I have been taking magmin blackmores as I read others had found that this helps with aches and pains. So far I haven't had hot flushes but am waiting for them to start. I'm 46 turning 47 this year. Up until now my period has been regular but on tamoxifen it's stopped. We are all so different but I hope my experience helps you in some way. I figure that sooner or later we all experience menopause and the effects of that us women on tamoxifen just get it a little earlier. Hoping you manage ok. 

Kind regards 

Kerri 

Hi, I've been on tamoxifen for 5 weeks and so far, okay. I was getting hot flushes during chemo...so I still get those every so often but they are a lot less severe and frequent than when I was doing chemo. I'm doing radio at the moment (as well as taking tamoxifen).

As you can see with other comments, its completely normal to be anxious about starting new treatments. The literature on side effects is scary! But I'm sure that's just a warning on all the possibilities. I'm sure you would have had lots of warnings of side effects when doing radio too.

Remember if you start on it and have some weird side effects, am sure your oncologist/dr can modify or arrange something else.

Hi Jandy23,

Thank you for sharing your story. So good to hear that you haven't had many side effects on Tamoxifen. I plan to start exercising regularly and eating healthy so fingers crossed I have the same result.

xx

Thanks for your message Brenda5,Good to know you are doing ok on Tamoxifen.

xx