Tamoxifen & Zolidex

Hi Annie,

I started taking tamoxifen 10 weeks ago (after radiation and chemo) and so far I am relieved to report that the only side effects I've experienced are mild hot flushes, mainly at night. I was extremely nervous about taking it as I've read so much about the weight gain, depression, insomnia etc. Even my oncologist said that most women gain about 5kg on it. I was and still am determined not to let that happen to me. So far, so good. I haven't gained any weight.

I am being pretty careful about my eating and trying to exercise 4-5 times a week but I don't think I am finding it any harder to maintain my weight than I did before tamoxifen. It is early days I suppose, but I am hoping that healthy diet and exercise will continue to pay off. (I would want to be doing that to minimise my BC recurrance risk anyway.)

I guess that's not really the advice you are looking for but there is so much bad press out there about tamoxifen, I just thought I would let you know that it isn't always as bad as we might fear. Good luck Annie and I'm sorry that you have to go through all this at such a young age. Janet.