Tamoxifen side effects?

Thanks PA!  I've now been on Tamoxifen for 2 yrs and still feel great.  Good to hear that I'm not the only one :)

Hi Louise,

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your positive outlook and experience of tamoxifen. When I first found out I was to take the drug I searched online and the restults terrified me. The only positive post that I found was yours. Now, almost 2 months into taking tamoxifen, I'm feeling great and so glad to have had your positive outlook to give me hope. 

Thank you , and keep up the jogging! 

PA

http://pinkandapple.wordpress.com/

Hi Louise et al,

Thanks for starting this topic. I have followed it for the last few months as I struggled to make a decision to take Tamoxifen or not. I had meetings with both traditional oncologists and biological medicine doctors. I have stage 1 ER+. I had the 1.1cm removed, had 5 weeks radiation. I then went to the biological medical clinic and and had a myriad of tests. Then had a lovely 7 weeks holiday in Perth and tried to forget about it all for a little while.

When I returned to Switzerland I received the results of the tests and they showed a toxic metal overload, high levels of "Bad" eostrogens and generally a not very healthy internal environment. I had to ask the question....must I take Tamoxifen? The asnwer was, your internal environment is so unhealthy that the risks is too high so you should take Taxoxifen for at least 6 months till we restore your liver etc. to optimum health. I also discovered that I have the GSTM1 gene deleted which is possibly why I got cancer as this is one of the primary detoxification genes.

So off I went feeling very sad. The next day I took my first pill waiting for any side effects. What I did do though was to take it with a green juice....at least if I was taking poison I would counter that with a super healthy green shot!!!  I have continued to do this each morning and 3 weeks later the only effect I have is slightly worse hot sweats. But they are manageable. I have also upped my exercise regime (was already reasonably fit) dropped 6 kilos, have gone pretty well vegetarian and organic, reduced wine consumption to 3 glasses twice a week and take various supplements. Had my first coffee enema (I know too much data) but they help the liver the cleanse the blood so I am going to try and help my liver in any way I can. Feel great this morning, lighter and energetic.

So that is my story. Have another appointment with the biological medicine doc next week when I will have a Vitamin C infusion and also a check up with the dentist as I may need to have some root canals removed as they cause bacteria and are not good to have in the mouth poisoning the system.

I feel this is all a bit of an adventure, a kind of a gift to help me re-focus and prioritise what is important in my life. I have been a corporate high achiever most of my life and rarely slowed down for any thing. Now I am working 50%, will probably retire next year at 57. Maybe learn Naturopathy, work as a volunteer coach for others, who knows…. I feel healthy, positive and in charge of my health. I have removed non-generative relationships from my life, value my time and respect the fact that what I need is important ….reduced my stress levels, taken up knitting little jumpers for African AIDS babies so they have something warm to wear when they are born instead of newspaper.

 Am learning to meditate, and am doing a workshop next week in Scotland to learn more about how to change my DNA through the mind body connection. Amazing statistics on the placebo effect - how the mind can heal. If you would like to read more - Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton.....

 So Louise, thanks for your update I would love to join you on any runs you may be doing. I will be in Perth form July 5th for 6 months so will have time to have some healthy fun. City to surf in 2013 maybe??

 Love to all and all the best from a healthy sandgroper who is doing everything in her power and harnessing the power of the universe to stay that way!! Have to laugh at my works. 6 months ago I would have thought, what wacky tree hugging blah blah....

Helena

Hi Doot doot, good to hear that you are having less side effects this time around. Some women have recommended acupuncture or acupressure for reduction in hot flushes. 

Hi, I am on Tamoxifen and have been on it for only a month and already It is causing me feelings of anxiety, depression, (currently have begun taking anti depression pills) , fuzzy head lack of concentration, insomnia, I feel that I cannot tolerate this treatment anymore as I feel like I am losing myself. I have not looked into any other treatments but it good to read these blogs and get an idea of other options out there. I am really scared as I have three year old daughter and if I continue with this drug she is the one that cops all my frustrations and moodiness but If I stop it then I run the risk of developing cancer again. I have had a double mastectomy and finished chem a month ago and am now on herceptim. I have also gone back to work after taking 8 months off and the stress of work has had an effect on me too. I still have numbness in my fingers and toes which is annoying and these things just add to my moodiness and frustrations....... do I stop or not?

Doot-I have been on Tamoxifen just over a year and have put on 3kgs. Depressing when I eat well and go to the gym. From what I've read it seems that as you get older you just have to eat less and exercise more as our metabolisms slow down. We don't need as much food. This plus Tamoxifen doesn't help! Tamoxifen also stops oestrogen reaching our cells, so our body tries hard to hold on to fat reserves as oestrogen is also stored there. I blame this too. You have the right attitude. Stay informed so you can make the right choices. Your GP will guide. Cheers!