Tamoxifen: to take or not to take?

My cancer was highly eostrogen +ve.My oncologist says Tamoxifen will give me the best cover and wants me to stay on it for at least 5 years.I have now been on it for 3 years and here's what I've found. It definitely cranked up the hot flushes,made me a little irritable and interfered with sleep.To counteract all that I take Endep 10mg and now have to have caterpress as well for elevated blood pressure(which I didn't have before starting Tamoxifen).I am reasonably stable with this cocktail.Now,after 3 years,I'm finding my hair is thinning abit and I have changes in the lining of my uterus ie.I have cysts all through the lining which,my oncologist says,is perfectly normal with Tamoxifen and is not a precurser to uterine cancer.When the hot weather hits,I do find it harder to cope with the hot flushes.So what I do(and this is naughty!) is give myself a Tamoxifen break for a month or so.I also stop it if I'm going on a long flight even though my onc said there was no need to.I just don't want to risk a DVT.  I figure the only way I'm going to take this drug for 5 years is to have a break from it now and again. I'm just being totally honest with you Louie as to how this drug effects me personally and how I deal with it. I do not recommend my rebel ways to anyone!I have a girlfriend who had no side effects at all from Tamoxifen. It is a tough decision for you and I think you could ask your oncologist what percentage benefit will it give you.Do you have to take it for 5 years- is there a compromise? Can you have a few months break after Hercepton before taking it?Good luck with your research-hopefully others will jump on here and give you their views. love,Tonya xx