Forum Discussion

Witchywoman's avatar
Witchywoman
Member
14 years ago

Tamoxifen Hell

So I thought I would join and blog to see if I can get some feedback about tamoxifen. I have been on it since March after finishing chemo in Feb.

I have gone through a period of adjustment. It started with Thrush and hot flushes and extremely dry skin. I have accepted all these side efffects, but lately I have become aware that my moods are all over the place. I am up, I am down. I am crying at every little thing that goes wrong. I have now registered how bad my mood swings are and am not sure this is a side effect I can live with.

I am 37 and mum to an 11 yr old girl. I don't want to be depressed one minute and fine the next. After Chemo I felt very good, positive and happy. There were ups and downs and I am seeing a psychologist, but over all I felt pretty normal.

Now I am thinking my emotions are not normal, or tempered and am thinking going off Tamoxifen.

Thoughts................?

6 Replies

  • Janet_Plummer's avatar
    Janet_Plummer
    Member
    14 years ago

    I'm nearing the end of my chemo and will have to take Tamoxifen too after six weeks of radiontherapy. I've a read a lot about the bad symptoms and I am apprehensive about that. But on the other hand I have also read that it is higly effective in preventing the spread of hormone-related breast cancer. Apparently it also controls cholesterol levels and helps with bone density - no osteoporosis.

     I'm 46 so menopause is not far away for me anyway. At 37 it must be a bit harder to face those sort of symptoms. But from what I've read being younger also means you've got more estrogen circulating in your body, you're therefore more at risk of the cancer using that eostrogen to regrow.

    If I were you I would hang in there with the Tamoxifen. As some of the other women have suggested, talk to your oncologist about the mood swings. When I raised my fears about Tamoxifen with my oncologist she  also said there are low dose anti-depressents that are very effective in conrolling the symptoms. And if you can manage to fit it in, regular exercise might help too. Good luck. I hope you can find a solution that works for you. Janet.

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    After being on Tamoxifen for 4 months I was like a mad woman living in hot flush city! My oncologist put me on low dose(10mg)Endep and after a few weeks I was soooo much better. It helps with mood,hot flushes and sleep.It hasen't any side effects either.Don't suffer,you've already done enough of that- talk to your doctor.

                                             Tonya xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    After being on Tamoxifen for 4 months I was like a mad woman living in hot flush city! My oncologist put me on low dose(10mg)Endep and after a few weeks I was soooo much better. It helps with mood,hot flushes and sleep.It hasen't any side effects either.Don't suffer,you've already done enough of that- talk to your doctor.

                                             Tonya xx

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi girls

    I started my very first Tamoxifen last night. Sounds like I have a lot to look forward to NOT!!!!!  :-)

    Good luck to you

    Mich xo

  • adean's avatar
    adean
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi girls Im 51 havent even started on my tamoxifen yet and I have all those symptoms already peri meno  welcome to menopausel symptons I even know when Im being a cow I actually know Im doing it scary hay. Ive only got to look at my girls and I cry I cry at adds on telly cause they are lovely Just try and manage the ride Life is worth living.

  • Samhutto's avatar
    Samhutto
    Member
    14 years ago
    Hi there, I'm also 37 (9,6 &4 yr olds) and have been on tamoxifen since November. I think it definitely affects my moods too, but I am too scared to go off it! I don't want to get secondaries (of course no one does), and for me I don't know how I would live with myself if I didn't do all that I can to stay healthy. In saying that, I still haven't changed my diet dramatically or started running marathons! I guess you need to consider how much better your life will be if you go off it, and whether you are prepared to risk it (only improves our stats slightly I think). Maybe you could talk to your psychologist about it as they may be able to help give you a more balanced opinion. I didn't have chemo or radiation therapy after my mastectomy and so had a very short treatment period. I felt very emotional and abandoned when I wasn't seeing my breast surgeon anymore, but I have felt better emotionally as time goes on despite the tamoxifen. Its a tough drug to take for some more so than others, and remember I'm pretty sure there are other drug options if the side effects get too bad. Talk to your onco too at your next appointment if it's not too far away. Good luck, and lots of love to you, Sam xxx