A future of Tamoxifen

Hi Jenny,

i was on tamoxifen for 5 years and only had hot flushes . I had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance with radiation too and put up with it and now I'm on femara after getting breast cancer again, 9 years later and having a mastectomy this time. With this too , I have hot flushes but that's all, been on it 18 months. Wishing you well xx

Hi Jenny,

I had a lumpectomy earlier this year and have just finished 4 weeks of radiation, and started taking tamoxifen today.  It's been 2 hours and no bad side effects yet. :)

I read that taking it at night helps to decrease the side effects, so I'm taking it with dinner.  Hopefully with it being winter any hot flushes wont be so bad.

Good luck with it :)

cheers

Mira

I was on tamoxifen and then put onto femara, my hot flushes and leg pain were much worse on tamoxifen.  Adean 

Thanks Jane221 and everyone for your comments which are reassuring. I'm not looking forward to hit flushes but at the end of the day if that's the worst I'm dealing with then that's probably not so bad. My skin has been good only slight peeling and itchiness from radiation so again I think that's gone well. I'll let everyone know how I find the tamoxifen. Thanks again jenny 

Thanks Robyn I will remember the Panadol and magnesium when I get started next month. 

Thanks Rowdyfor your kind words. Yes I'm not up for calling it a journey although I suspect I am at the start of a long road. No the doctors have not mentioned hot flushes. I am not at menopause so was rather hoping this would be delayed!   (I'm 49). As to the libido, well I'll see how that one goes! I am a bit concerned about weight gain - has anyone found this a problem?

Hi Robyn, I'm actually finding it OK so far - don't want to jinx it - but have not had a rerun of the intense hot flushes or night sweats as I'd feared and the joint pain, which others have said is really dreadful on Arimidex, has not worsened thank goodness. I guess I've only been on it a month, but I'm hoping that this pretty smooth transition will continue! Jane xx

Jane can I ask you how you are finding arimidex compared to tamoxifen ? Thanks Robyn

Hi Jenny, anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer is immediately sent into a tailspin, with the accompanying worries about how it will affect them and their families, so please don't feel guilty about reaching out for support. As Rowdy says, we may be all on different trips but with any cancer diagnosis there is so much to understand and your questions and your observations are just as valid as any one else's. Your experiences down the track will also be valuable for others to hear about as we all have different challenges along the way, not necessarily tied into our treatment, but sometimes in the way we cope and the services we come across that have made a difference, so welcome!

I have just switched from Tamoxifen to Arimidex a month ago after 2.5 years on Tamoxifen. I had all the same symptoms as Rowdy, but the flushes and night sweats did eventually calm down and thanks to Robyn W (on this site), my joint pain was reduced with magnesium, and I also take Vitamin D every day and I believe this has helped too. Make sure you tell your doctor about any side effects as they may be able to offer further help. 

Well done on finishing your radiation treatment and glad to hear you've got through it fairly well - it is hard on your skin and it can make you feel very tired for quite a few weeks after, so take it easy.Best wishes, Jane xx

Hello, I am on it for 10 years too . I am at the 18 month mark now, and the hot flushes that were relentless in the beginning, have pretty much stopped. I have maybe 2 a day and none at night now:)I also take magnesium for some leg cramps at night and it works perfectly. My skin is dry, but so what, and that's about it for me! It is no different than taking a panadol and it gives me peace of mind:) Cheers Robyn