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hailey's avatar
hailey
Member
12 years ago

zoladex vs tamoxifen

Hi Ladies,

Hoping for some advise on zoladex vs tamoxifen... I have just finished chemo and am about to start radiotherapy next week.

My onco has given me the choice of taking tamoxifen for five to ten years or zoladex for two.  At 34yrs old, I am worried about the side effects of both and particularly how it will impact on when I can have a baby (we did an egg harvest before chemo).  I still have a foggy head from chemo which makes reading the brochures and making decisions more difficult than usual!

Hoping to get some advise from anyone who has been through anything similar 

2 Replies

  • chemical menopause means menopause due to chemicals, once you come off the drugs you should be fine to have babies and body return to pre-menopause status. however there is a small risk to both drugs that you may stay in menopause. 

    Hot flushes for chemo are way worse! (I think) 

    I take evening primrose oil tablets for my hot flushes and they are managable now. There are also anti depressents you can take to decrease hot flushes and mood swings and depression. i have declined this as I personally dont wanna go down the road of anti depressents. but it is an option. 

    I think everyones body is different and reacts differently to certain meds. Personally i dont think one is worse then the other. they both have very similiar side effects. i look at it as i cant have kids while taking tamoxifen so put me in menopause so i dont get my periods. lol.... gotta be a plus side. 

    My onc and fertility specialist still hope after all this treatment I can have kids. They did say because i have been on Zoladex I have a higher advantage over someone who hasnt had Zoladex. So I would definately ask this question. 

    Anyway I have to go. 

    Dinner's ready. 

    Email me and I'll be happy to run thru more with you and list all side effects etc etc.... As Im not on this site daily at the moment.

    sillysam83@hotmail.com

    Kind Regards, 

    Merylee Punchard

     

  • hi sillysam!

    thanks for your reply!  

    do you know much about the side effects of each?  I'm worried about the depression/anxiety increase and also the heat waves (some people call them hot flushes, but thats an understatement! those are bad enough now after chemo!)

    Obvious question - is one "worse" than the other?  also, does the chemical menopause mean that babies would not be possible in the future?  more questions for the onco I guess!