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IND88's avatar
IND88
Member
11 years ago

Tamoxifen and HRT

Hi There

I am 12 months post surgery and 9 months post- radiotherapy.  My sister died unexpectedly just before I started taking tamoxifen and the hot flushes and lack of sleep it caused were doing my head in so I was advised to take a break from it.  Still having the hot flushes (6 months later).  My oncologist has advised me to consider restarting the Tamoxifen but to also go back onto HRT (I was on this for 3 years before the BC was first diagnosed).

Has anyone else done this?  How have you found it?

Cheers

 

hormone-therapy
radiotherapy
tamoxifen
  • IND88's avatar
    IND88
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Tonya

    I am sorry to hear you lost your mum.  I hope you are managing without her although I know that these losses are not something we ever really get over.  I have tried sleeping medications and anti-depressants but the hot flushess till make sleep difficult and I get to the end of my working week feeling exhausted so my weekends are spent playing catch up.  Take care of you, Beth xx

  • IND88's avatar
    IND88
    Member
    11 years ago

    Thanks Robyn.

     I always thought HRT was out once you've had breast cancer too, but my oncologist says he is treating a small group of women with both HRT and Tamoxifen and I was hoping to find one of them on line.  Take care on your journey - it's a crazy ride isn't it?  Bethxx

  • IND88's avatar
    IND88
    Member
    11 years ago

    Thanks Robyn.  I always thought HRT was out once you've had breast cancer too, but my oncologist says he is treating a small group of women with both HRT and Tamoxifen and I was hoping to find one of them on line.  Take care on your journey - it's a crazy ride isn't it?  Bethxx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    11 years ago
    So sorry to hear about your sister.My mum died earlier this year and I took a break from Tamoxifen too.So I totally understand your need for a decent sleep.Although taking HRT is not recommended when you've had bc, it can be taken if your oncologist thinks it's really necessary.(heard this at a lecture).Have you tried alternatives yet?I take a small dose antidepressant called Endep(10mg).It really helped with sleep/hot flushes and didn't give me any side effects at such a low dose.Keep researching until you can make a comfortable decision. Tonya xx
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    11 years ago
    So sorry to hear about your sister.My mum died earlier this year and I took a break from Tamoxifen too.So I totally understand your need for a decent sleep.Although taking HRT is not recommended when you've had bc, it can be taken if your oncologist thinks it's really necessary.(heard this at a lecture).Have you tried alternatives yet?I take a small dose antidepressant called Endep(10mg).It really helped with sleep/hot flushes and didn't give me any side effects at such a low dose.Keep researching until you can make a comfortable decision. Tonya xx
  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    11 years ago
    I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your sister,and especially at such a difficult time for you.I have been on Tamoxifen for about 9 months now.I still get hot flushes,but in the last couple of months,they have definitely lessened.They were relentless in the beginning.Please excuse my ignorance,but I thought that HRT was something that should be avoided with Breast cancer.I hope that someone else will come on here who has actual experience of what you are talking about.Take care.xxxRobyn