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jacquipp's avatar
jacquipp
Member
10 years ago

started Tamoxofin

Well I finally got an appt at Moorabbin hospital and they were fantastic. Saw Medical Oncologist and she read through and explained my surgery results. There were 3 tumours not just one. the other 3 are smaller so looking at 10mm, 3mm and 5mm. Still waiting on testing for the 2 smaller ones. Micro cells in one lymph node. No chemo at this stage... good. 

She started me on Tamoxofin straight away while I wait for radiotherapy to start. Saw radiotherapist and will have 4 weeks treatment. Have scan in next week or so and then start. 

This is really all over the place as my head is a blur. The hot flushes have started already and my head is pounding. She had to change my antidpressants as well as what I was on would have reacted negatively, so am on 2 new meds. Not sure which is causing what symptoms. Both make me groggy, anti-d makes me nauseous. From past experience the anti-d's take several weeks to settle. Do the side effects for Tamoxofin ease? How long are the hot flushes around for? I know everyone is different.

At least the inflammation in my boob is settling finally and it doesn't hurt to bend over or too much in the car. 

hot-flushes
side-effects
tamoxifen

6 Replies

  • jacquipp's avatar
    jacquipp
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thank you to everyone for your comments and support. Just like everything else I guess it is just take it one step at a time and just wait and see how it goes. I appreciate the time taken to give responses. It does help. 

    Hugs xx

  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hello:) I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 3 years.In the beginning,the hot flushes were RELENTLESS.I was getting them every 15 minutes,and during the night too.My oncologist told me that they would settle,and they did.I guess it took about 12 months,and now I have no side effects at all.Hang in there.Some of the things that helped me are: only have cold drinks,as they cool your core temp.NO COFFEE or TEA!!!!!! Wear thin cotton layers,so you can always remove a layer quickly.Off,on,off,on,it goes on all day!!! Lol .Sleep with a pedestal fan turning ,next to your bed.You can read back on my blog,as I wrote a post about this when things were really bad for me,and I got lots of answers.You might find them helpful.Cheers Robyn xox

  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    10 years ago

    Forgot to say I've been on Tamoxifen now for 11 months so I hope my experience gives you comfort. Flip side is 9 years and 1 month to go.

    Take care Christine xx 

  • Jennyho's avatar
    Jennyho
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Jacqui

    Glad you are moving on in treatmenta. All steps on the road onwards! As you have heard every one reacts to Tamoxifen differently. I did have a lot of hot flushes and night sweats which were really bad for a while but which seem to be disappearing. (1 year down the track). Whe I have to go off the Tamoxifen for a week or two every so often (because of further surgeries - gall bladder straight after my radiotherapy and hysterectomy in a couple of weeks) or long distance air travel) the symptons return for a bit and I get pretty moody and depressed. However they do settle down again.

    My breast continues to be painful and tender on the wound area but am assured by the oncologist and radio oncologist that is normal and may last for many years.

    Good luck with the medications settling to work with each other but I advise you to keep letting your doctors know how you are feeling so they can work on getting it right.

    Best wishes

    Jenny

     

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    Low blood pressure for me means I get head spins anyway. Since I went off the contraceptive pill in October last year I get hot flushes anyway. Since chemo my aching joints and bones ached anyway but those are getting better. I have been on Tamoxifen 11 days and I don't see any difference to me at all.

  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Jacqui  - good to hear that you're sorted with your treatment.  As you rightly say we all react differently.  I'm on Tamoxifen and my side effects are minimal and I am not sure which medication to attribute them to, Tamoxifen or Zoladex.  Aching bones and and slight nausea.  Body temperature wise I am hotter on the healthier side than the mastectomy side of the body, not sure why.  I recently had a lymphatic massage and the temperature on my mastectomy side seems to have improved slightly.  It takes time for the body to adjust and hopefully your discomfort is an adjustment your body makes as it gets used to the routine of the daily Tamoxifen as well as your other medication.

    Take care

    Christine xx