Tamoxifen

Thankyou. It is always nice to have support at these times when you can feel so alone. As I mentioned I always would read others but never joined until now. Vera

Hi Gaynor, 

It is interesting to read when people commence with Tamoxifen. Mine did not start until after I had finished Radiation . Vera

Thank you Vera

I start radiotherapy on 23rd feb and will be having 30 sessions.. since reading all you comments and looking into Tamoxifen, i have decided i will take it, if i have the chance to stop breast cancer coming back, then i should take it, i would rather put up with some side effects than go through breast cancer again.. i am grateful that you all shared your stories and experiences with me.. i will start Tamoxifen this week and let you know how i go..

Gaynor x

Hi Vera,

Lovely of you to say hi :)

~ Ann-Marie

Hi Gaynor,

I saw your post , but I was always a reader of others ,but after reading your post I thought I would join and say Hi. I was diagnosed in June 2014 with a very similar story to you. Had surgery, radiation and I am on Tamoxifen. I can honestly say that apart from a initial bleed, I do get aching legs at night . I also get hot feet. HaHa.I feel great and living life to the fullest these days. I look forward to following your journey. Take care and most important be positive. Vera

Thank you Ann-Marie I have found the site so helpful, and don't feel so alone, even though all the ladies are going through there own BC journey's, they have still found the time to help me and share their own experiences, which has been so helpful ??

I hope one i can help someone from my experience one day x

Michelle thank you so much for sharing your story and experience, it is so nice to Not feel alone, and have so much support and advice x

Hi Gaynort,

Welcome to the Online Network.  My name is Ann-Marie and I am the Online Community Coordinator at BCNA.

As the ladies have mentioned ask lots of questions, and remember that everyone's situation is very different.  This group is here as well to answer any questions you have and provide as much support as you need.

If I can help in anyway just let me know.

~ Ann-Marie

Hi Gaynor,

The good thing about this network blog is that you will always find a lovely lady or 3 in a similar situation to your own... yes I too am 48 and was diagnosed with grade 2 high hormone receptive breast cancer last year in August...needless to say it has been a blurr since with 2 lesions, one invasive breast cancer and the other pre-cancerous. Lumpectomy two weeks later, positive outcome like yourself - clear nodes but margins not as clear as Surgeon would have hoped. He gave me two choices - left mastectomy and then hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) or more surgery then possibly chemo, definitely radiation and tamoxifen.  I had to decide quickly - before I left the consultation room - that was a hard ask. Anyway to cut a long story short - I elected to have my breast removed and then it was just to take a tablet everyday for 5 years.  I too was apprehensive as yes there are some unpleasant side effects, the hot flushes I have had have driven me to distraction.  I also have quite noticable bone and muscle pain especially to my forearms and elbow.  I have also stopped my period but I don't think it is natural menopause I have gone into but medication induced. With the hot flushes driving me nuts and causing night sweats which caused me some insomnia, my GP put me on a new anti-depressant called Pristiq (I had been on another for a very long time called Lexapro) and the so called beauty of this tablet was that it was going to ease my hot flushes and help me feel better about my whole situation. Well there is no pain without gain and yes nearly all medications have side effects.  Your Oncologist will know what is best for you and I would not recommend taking the Pristiq just to avoid a hot flush - it is a brutal drug.   But with perserverance am pleased to say that my hot flushes have settled, I was experiencing at least one every hour and a half  but now might only have 3 - 4 a day. They do eventually settle even without the extra meds (anti-depressant) I have been on tamoxifen for 3 months and although I am still quite concerned about the risk of stroke (yep that is another side effect) or uterine cancer (I have some gyno issues that need to be monitored regularly) the main advantage to taking tamoxifen is that hopefully (there is no guarantees) your BC will not come back to the same breast or the other, and also keep any other metastatic cancers at bay.   

Good luck with your research and weigh up all options with your Oncologist - keep a diary of any side effects that effect your well being and discuss with your GP or oncologist as soon as practical if really giving you grief. I say keep a diary as I found for myself this was helpful as you can also get a bit brain fuzzy, foggy - vague even along with the general tiredness we all feel with our BC journey...you might forget when you come to see the oncologist...I know - you always remember after you have left the building! Hope this helps a little and all the best Gaynor, 

Cheers,

Michelle T

Thank you Brenda, great advice x