Tamoxifen & side effects

@SueF Lucky you!

I've been on Letrozole (Femara) for 14mths now. Very few side effects other than osteoperosis now. A little bit of aching in my knees, but that's all for me. Good luck!!

After a few years on Tamoxifen I still have, I won't say hot flushes as its more than that, I have hot and cold flushes. It seems my body has gone back to baby stage and I have coat on coat off at any time of the day or night. I have learned to live with it so no biggie.
My hands and toes are red and if I have my big toes in the sun too much the nail beds start to recede like I am back in chemo. I avoid being out in the sun unprotected during high solar hours.
I do live life lethargic and it is purely from Tamoxifen. Many side effects get blamed on Tamoxifen and it is only menopause or past chemo treatments but the tiredness is pure Tamoxifen as I went off of it for a month and it was bliss!
See a good eye specialist regularly. I was having burst blood vessels in my eyes. Once a year for a year or two but since I have developed SVT (probably from chemo) the beta blockers for that seem to be helping the eyes so my optometrist is happy.
I also get hard little sebum pimples mostly on my chin. During my month off of Tamoxifen, most of them went away but now they are back so thats a Tamoxfen side effect of mine. No amount of facial scrubs can get rid of the hard little pimples so I live with it for now.
Next month I think my oncologist will be starting me on Femara so I will be after tips from you on side effects then.
I had achy stiff joints and bone aches for ages but most of that seems to have passed now.

Oh that's bad luck @Mimsy68. I hope it passes. K xox

I’ve been 3 months on Tamoxifen. Just started getting hot flushes and bloating/constipation. In fairness, I blame pretty much every dodgy physical symptom on Tamoxifen! Better than cancer, though, so I’ll deal with it!

Thanks so much for your comment.

I went back to Tamoxifen 2 years ago, after 3 years of Letrozole impacted my bone density and I'm much happier on Tamoxifen. I have more energy, no vaginal dryness and feel better in myself. Hope it's a positive change for you too!

@"Sue F" 

BCNA website has some information that may help you better understand Hormone Therapy.
https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy/

As you read through the forum you will come to see that the side effects may also depend on where your body is at pre, peri or post menopausal. 

For me it was Tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years and ended up with tamoxifen induced gynaecology problems and now I am on Femara (Letrozole) for the past few months where the body is still adjusting.

Personally it is about routine, in time of taking medication and what I can and can't do physically and allowing the body to adjust.

Oh and yes like others mentioned above, the feet tingle!!

There's no right or wrong in all this and we are guided by our Oncologists with their years of experience.

Best wishes, take care

Hi @SueF.

If I got out the list of possible  side effects from Tamoxifen I could tick each and every box and then add a few more.  As you can see though, everybody is different and a lot of people don't have any/many issues,  
@Mira, I get tingly feet about an hour after I take it as well,

The good thing is I guess, my bones are fine, I have lost weight and my cholesterol has halved.  

xoxoxoxo

I've found the side effects depend on the brand of tablets I get.  I take mine at night and mostly I've had no side effects, but some brands do cause me to go hot for a bit just after I take them, until I fall asleep and the next day no problems.  I'm getting tingly feet for the past few months but we're not sure if its Tamoxifen or something else causing it.