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SunnyNess77's avatar
SunnyNess77
Member
10 years ago

Nerve pain after surgery and tamoxifen

Hi Ladies, 

Its been one week now since I had my lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy and Ive been really lucky- cancer was still grade one and didn't spread to any lymph nodes.  My treatment is going to be radiation and tamoxifen.  Im seeing my radiation oncologist today and want to get it started as soon as possible.  The main thing I am really struggling with is nerve pain.  I have incredible numbness and tingling in the upper inside of my left arm, the arm pit and half of my left breast.  My tumour was at the 1pm position of my left breast and this pain is really quite unbearable at times- it almost feels like severe sunburn.  I know it is still early days, post op, but what has everyone else experienced in regards to nerve pain and did anything help to calm it?  

Im also really nervous about taking tamoxifen, mainly due to the side effects.  Im only just 38 and the idea of having menopause symptoms is almost as worse as the cancer diagnosis as well as what it may do to my fertility etc.  

Im reading lots of information about the drug and trying to work out how necessary it will be- has anyone else thought this way?

Of course Im not going to do anything that will greatly jeopardise my health, but I am just interested to hear other younger women's thoughts on this particular treatment.

I hope everyone is doing well and going to have a lovely festive season and even better 2016 xxxx

Ness x

tamoxifen

3 Replies

  • BecMellifont's avatar
    BecMellifont
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Ness

    Ive been on tamoxifen since mid November and found that apart from the hot flushes no other symptoms seem to have appeared. I make a point of trying to get up and exercise early in the day as I have read that it might help in reducing the severity and frequency of the flushes. 

    2 and a bit months in and exercise really does seem to help me. My flushes aren't as frequent nor as severe on the days that I exercise. Small price in time to pay in order to get relief for much of the day. I still get one or two that wake me overnight but that's reduced from 5 or 6 wake ups so I'm hoping it keeps improving. 

    Not sure about fertility - my period hasn't returned. I'm 41 so perhaps it won't!

    My nerve stuff settled about 3-6 months after my mastectomy. Barely notice it these days. Time can be a good healer - though I sometimes get annoyed because everything seems to 'take time'. 

    Cheers

    Bec

  • holly1981's avatar
    holly1981
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Ness

    I had similar surgery to you and I also had the terrible nerve pain early on. I used to put a cold pack under my armpit to ease the burning sensation and it does help some. I found also that taking your pain killers (paracetamol or whatever you take) with an anti-histamine type medication (I was prescribed Restavit) works really well also and can help you get some sleep to heal as an added bonus!

    Not sure if it's the same pain but I was also given 'endep' for the nerve pain I got during chemo and that also worked quite well.

    I sympathise with you on the worrying about Tamoxifen front, I am only 34 and am having the same internal battle about whether I want to take it. I am already suffering with menopause symptoms from my chemo and really don't want it to get any worse or prolonged by taking Tamoxifen. Night sweats and constant hot flushes are very unpleasant, the problem i'm having is sweating off all the creams I'm putting on to try protect my skin while going through radio! Very frustrating:(

    On the other hand I have a friend who is on Tamoxifen and she has had almost no side effects at all! So maybe you could start taking it and see what happens and re-assess if it is too bad?!?

    Good luck anyway gorgeous! Hope you get some relief from the nerve pain soon xxx 

  • emmyp's avatar
    emmyp
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Sunny,

    I'm 36 had a right Mastectomy, Chemo, Radiation and started Tamoxifen about 6 weeks ago.  I found I was quite nauseas for the first couple of weeks on Tamoxifen but this has gone away now.  I had already started having some hot flushes from the chemo and yes the Tamoxifen has made them worse especially at night time and I know how you feel at this age, I am 36 not 56!  I am hoping in time this will settle down.  My cancer had spread to the lymph nodes so there was never a question whether I would take it or not. 

    For the radiation I used Moo Goo (Skin Milk Udder Cream) three times a day which was suggested by a few lovely ladies on here and my skin held up really well.  Even the technicians were surprised as I am very light skinned and burn easily, so I recommend getting yourself a tube or two!

    Good Luck and ask all the questions you can think off.

    Big Hugs Emma