Side effects of Tamoxifen and how to cope
Just wondering if anyone has any advice of coping with the side effects of Tamoxifen? I started taking it on 1 November, straight after finishing radiation, and fortunately didn't experience the predi...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Lilania,
I had 2 years on Tamoxifen before having my ovaries removed and switching to Femara. I was 47 when I started Tamoxifen straight after radiation finished.
I was exhausted for quite some time but I think this was an accumulation of fatigue from chemo and radio and also the result of chemo induced menopause. Just the catch up shock of being diagnosed with cancer too!
Things that helped me were to do a little gentle exercise every day (I swam and also walked). I think I also needed to acknowledge that I had been through a lot and needed time to recover. I tried to do more of the things I enjoyed and less of the things that drained me. For quite some time I would get to a point most days where I just needed a power nap! Letting myself be ok about this, being kind to myself and taking the pressure off myself to 'get back to normal' helped.
Treatment to kill off those stray cancer cells is pretty harsh on the rest of our bodies too. Give yourself time and you will recover more quickly than putting yourself under pressure. As for the brain cells, time helps here too. I also use an app called Elevate. It is for brain training and I think it helps, especially with your concentration and memory!
As for the side effects of Tamoxifen, I had a few hot flushes which faded away pretty quickly, and a few mood swings, but that was about it thank goodness. I honestly think the fatigue was associated more with what else I had been through. Take care. Deanne xxx
I had 2 years on Tamoxifen before having my ovaries removed and switching to Femara. I was 47 when I started Tamoxifen straight after radiation finished.
I was exhausted for quite some time but I think this was an accumulation of fatigue from chemo and radio and also the result of chemo induced menopause. Just the catch up shock of being diagnosed with cancer too!
Things that helped me were to do a little gentle exercise every day (I swam and also walked). I think I also needed to acknowledge that I had been through a lot and needed time to recover. I tried to do more of the things I enjoyed and less of the things that drained me. For quite some time I would get to a point most days where I just needed a power nap! Letting myself be ok about this, being kind to myself and taking the pressure off myself to 'get back to normal' helped.
Treatment to kill off those stray cancer cells is pretty harsh on the rest of our bodies too. Give yourself time and you will recover more quickly than putting yourself under pressure. As for the brain cells, time helps here too. I also use an app called Elevate. It is for brain training and I think it helps, especially with your concentration and memory!
As for the side effects of Tamoxifen, I had a few hot flushes which faded away pretty quickly, and a few mood swings, but that was about it thank goodness. I honestly think the fatigue was associated more with what else I had been through. Take care. Deanne xxx