Tamoxifen better for 10 years?

Hi everyone, I am 66 years old and after HER2 and oestrogen positive diagnosis in October 2012, I had a mastecomy, two lymph nodes removed, no cancer cells in them, 3 months of chemo and finished herceptin in January this year. My oncologist originally told me 5 years for Tamoxifen, but has since told me he wants me to stay on it for 10 as I have had a hysterectomy years ago, and I am a good candidate to take it for the long term. I am constantly feeling hot, to the extent my husband of 44 years, has moved to the spare room as I am throwing the bed clothes off me, onto him during the night. I have bad mood swings, even panic attacks, which I found meditation helps. Mostly, I seem to get confused easily, and find it hard to concentrate or focus on things for very long. I have always been an avid reader, but can't focus enough to pick up a book these days. Not sure whether the tamoxifen is to blame, or it is just the way I am feeling. Someone mentioned the lack of libido, and I know what she means.....what libido? Would be interested in hearing from others having similar problems, and what they do to ease them. I also get very itchy when I get hot, like prickly heat. Bye now Jill

Hi everyone, I am 66 years old and after HER2 and oestrogen positive diagnosis in October 2012, I had a mastecomy, two lymph nodes removed, no cancer cells in them, 3 months of chemo and finished herceptin in January this year. My oncologist originally told me 5 years for Tamoxifen, but has since told me he wants me to stay on it for 10 as I have had a hysterectomy years ago, and I am a good candidate to take it for the long term. I am constantly feeling hot, to the extent my husband of 44 years, has moved to the spare room as I am throwing the bed clothes off me, onto him during the night. I have bad mood swings, even panic attacks, which I found meditation helps. Mostly, I seem to get confused easily, and find it hard to concentrate or focus on things for very long. I have always been an avid reader, but can't focus enough to pick up a book these days. Not sure whether the tamoxifen is to blame, or it is just the way I am feeling. Someone mentioned the lack of libido, and I know what she means.....what libido? Would be interested in hearing from others having similar problems, and what they do to ease them. I also get very itchy when I get hot, like prickly heat. Bye now Jill

Hi everyone, I am 66 years old and after HER2 and oestrogen positive diagnosis in October 2012, I had a mastecomy, two lymph nodes removed, no cancer cells in them, 3 months of chemo and finished herceptin in January this year. My oncologist originally told me 5 years for Tamoxifen, but has since told me he wants me to stay on it for 10 as I have had a hysterectomy years ago, and I am a good candidate to take it for the long term. I am constantly feeling hot, to the extent my husband of 44 years, has moved to the spare room as I am throwing the bed clothes off me, onto him during the night. I have bad mood swings, even panic attacks, which I found meditation helps. Mostly, I seem to get confused easily, and find it hard to concentrate or focus on things for very long. I have always been an avid reader, but can't focus enough to pick up a book these days. Not sure whether the tamoxifen is to blame, or it is just the way I am feeling. Someone mentioned the lack of libido, and I know what she means.....what libido? Would be interested in hearing from others having similar problems, and what they do to ease them. I also get very itchy when I get hot, like prickly heat. Bye now Jill

I have to Take it for ten years too! Started in May, have been a bit irrational at times but that seems to be easing. I haven't had a period since October when I started chemo ( i was peri menopausal anyway and not regular )

Hi Anais, I am still going through chemo, but have been told I will have to take Tamoxifen for 10 years as well. I have also been considering having my ovaries removed as my oncologist has indicated that doing so may give me some other options besides Tamoxifen, but we haven't discussed this in detail as yet. I am 44 and have yet to go through menopause!

I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months now.The hot flushes that were so intense in the beginning have eased a bit. I really don't have any other side effects that I can truly attribute to tamoxifen .I was in menopause 7 years before I got BC so I am used to hot flushes! I will persevere with it for as long as my oncologist suggests. Cheers Robyn