tamoxofin side effects

By LKB653 Tuesday, December 18, 2007

- A
- A
- A

I had a mastectomy in April 2004. Since that time, I have been on Arimidex, Femara or Tamoxafin for varying amounts of time due to the side effects of the drugs. I have been on Tamoxafin for the last year. I developed several side effects (severe fatigue, back pain, sore throat, shortness of breath, one side weakness) and it took several trips to prompt care to figure out what was causing it. I went off Tamox. for 3 weeks and started to feel much better after 1 week. I started taking it yesterday and am feeling tired already. Is it possible that you can have the side effects that quickly?

Comments (5) | Add comment

Maria Gifford, Editor

12/19/07 5:18pm

Hello and welcome to our community.

I'm not sure about how fast or how soon tamoxifen side effects can kick in. However, please see this related post from a fellow community member:

Tamoxifen side effects

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/9933/16968/comments/

I'm hoping you'll hear from other women who've taken tamoxifen and who can possibly shed more light on this for you. Stay tuned.

If I can help you find more information, please let me know.

Best to you,

Maria

LKB653

12/20/07 5:05pm

Hi Maria -

Thank you for your support!

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

12/19/07 6:53pm

Hi - With so many millions of women taking or having taken tamoxifen, I think I can safely say someone, somewhere has had just about every side effect you could imagine. Sounds like you've been hit hard. I don't know if 1 day on tamoxifen could rpoduce side effects; but as I said upabove, they're so very personal, there's really no "norm." If I were you, I'd havbe a good sit-down with the oncologist, and really look hard at the recurrence statistics for your particular kind of cancer: recurrence without drugs, vs. with tamoxifen, vs. with an aromatase inhibitor (Arimidex, Femara). Then I'd assess my own side effects with each, and how much they affect my life. And then - I'd make the hard decision: am I willing to put up with X side effects for an x% reduction in risk recurrence... or not? There's no right or wrong here; it's a purely personal decision, and no one but YOU can make it. Do what feels best to you - don't try to please anyone else. Because you're the one who'll be living with this decision. Best of luck - PJH

LKB653

12/20/07 5:04pm

You are right. I know of other women who have taken one or more of these drugs and not had any problem. My next appt. with my oncologist is not until March. I wil keep trying this one until then. Thanks for the reply!

Are you or have you taken any of these medications? Do you have hot flashes? I think those are about the worst part of this whole thing. It's pretty tough to date when your face turns beet red and you start sweating constantly! Furious

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

12/20/07 6:52pm

LB, that's the PERFECT icon for hot flashes! Yes, I've taken tamoxifen, and now am taking Arimidex. I started with the hot flashes as soon as chemo put me into menopause; I still get them, 6 years later, but not as frequently; only a few times a day, usually at night. Ask you regular doctor if there's anything you can do about them - there are certain things that work for some women (vitamin E, St. John's Wort, some antidepressants); it's worth a try. As for dating, I think you should tell the person right up front what's going on; it's a good thing to laugh over, after all. Maybe it can be an icebreaker? Come up with a good line about it? Hey, anyone out there have any good ideas about explaining hot flashes to a date? - PJH

tamoxofin side effects

Ask a Question