tamoxifen
i have just started treatment on tamoxifen tablets 20mg has anybody alse been put on these if so any side effects
Forum Discussion
30 Replies
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/9/5/1877
Cyclin D1 Overexpression Sensitizes Breast Cancer Cells to Fenretinide
and on Tamoxifen side effect
I'm having my first oncologist appointment at 17 Jan. I was told that most likely I have to take Tamoxifen. I am not keen because of the rare but increased risk of womb cancer is a known side effect of taking tamoxifen and a high chance of bringing in monopause. But I feel I have no other choice.
There seem to be better drug Estriol and Frenretinide but compare to Tamoxifen they are very new and not being use for breast cancer hormonal therapy.
I wish I have the choice to take them instead!!!! :(
hi there thanks for the reply i think thats so true what you said about feeling abit safer taking them because they are meant to be affective at keeping the hormone related bc away . I had grade 2 ductal carcinoma i had a wide local excision breast concerving surgery they took a lymph node biopsy wich i was told came back negative then i was told by oncology that there was a muck up with my test with the dye or with the machine overheating and they pushed to make me have an axillary clearance wich my surgeon refused to do because he said it was not needed so here i am after all that stress waiting for my radiation wich i was told was going to start in 8 weeks but its over that now rang them up and the put me across to another centre wich is going to see me on the 1st may so hope it gets going soon im so scard that it wont be affective if i leave it to long anyway thanks again for the reply
Thanks adaen for the reply im not looking forward to increase in facial hair need to stock up on wax strips but hope i do get a bit of a loss of appetite need that since all the surgery just been relaxing a bit to much thanks again for the reply
thanks for the link it was very good lots of imformation more things to think about though thanks again
- Yes, there is so much written about tamoxifen and some people do suffer quite bad side effects so it is scary when you start taking it. But I try to remind myself that it is also very effective at keeping hormone related BC away. While I don't like taking a drug everyday for 5 years, I'm kind of grateful that it's available. It makes me feel a bit safer, a bit less likely to get cancer again.I'm sure your radiotherapy will be still be effective even after a bit of a wait. I had a break of about two months between finishing chemo (not sure if you've had that) and starting radiotherapy. If you've had chemo, I think the break gives your body a chance to recover a little before they hit you with the next treatment. Although radiation is not nearly as bad as chemo.
thanks janet for letting me know how you went on tamoxifen so far i havent had any side effects that im aware of but you hear so many things that other people say so i have been worried. I am also waiting on radiotheraphy its been 2 months im scared if i wait to long it wont be as affective would you know if this is to long to wait thanks again for your help
- I started taking 20mg tamoxifen three months ago. It's still early days but I don't think I am experiencing any major side-effects. I did take a half dose for 4 weeks prior to that as I read somewhere it may help minimise side effects (although my oncologist didn't agree). Anyway the only side effects I have that I think are definitely related to tamoxifen are mild hot flushes and I think it is inhibiting my periods. I did get one in between chemo finishing and starting tamoxifen and I still get abdominal cramps sometimes like a period pain but no period. I'm 47 so the chemo wasn't quite enough to push me into menopause but I guess I'm not far off it.I am pretty careful with my diet and exercise 3-4 times a week. I do find if I relax a bit on those fronts me weight starts to creep up but that has always been the case. I don't think it's any harder to maintain my weight now than it was before tamoxifen. I do also wake up very early somtimes (around 5 or even earlier) and can't get back to sleep. But again, I've had sleeping issues in the past so I'm not sure that it's any worse now. Just one other thing, I do find the sleeping problems and hot flushes are worse if I drink alcohol. Otherwise tamoxifen hasn't been too bad for me, thank goodness. I hope it is okay for you too. Good luck. Janet
