Tamoxifen side affects?

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Tue, November 27, 2007

My name is Lynn and today I am 45 and just finished treatment for Breast Cancer (chemo and radiation) Tomorrow I see my family doctor to get a prescription for Tamoxifen. I understand that this is a safe drug. I don't know how this will affect me with menopausal symptoms. My periods have stopped since June. Just curious to read from others how they went through this. Also, my veins in my arm (from chemo) are still really tight and are really noticeable. Is there anything I can do to get them back to normal?

Does anyone take herbal supplements along with Tamoxifen?

Any help with these questions would be great! I am feeling great and hoping the Tamoxifen side affects won't bother me too much. My mother was on Tamoxifen as well but was finally taken off of it after she suffered through 3 dnc's. I am hoping that being more "pre-menopausal" I won't have to go through that kind of ordeal.

thanks!

Lynn Logan

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Maria Gifford

11/27/07 11:27pm

Hello, Lynn. Good to hear from you.

Here's some information on Tamoxifen for you:

Tamoxifen Oral - Precautions and Side Effects

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/find-drug-146231-73.html

Side Effects Force Women Off 'Safe' Cancer Pills

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/news-159680-66.html

More on Aromatase Inhibitors and Tamoxifen: Highlights from a Brand New Breast Cancer Symposium

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/14084/brand-cancer/2/

I hope this is helpful to you. You'll likely hear more from our seasoned breast cancer expert patients.

Write again soon to keep us posted on how things are going for you.

Best,

Maria

Melanie

6/22/09 6:32pm

I participated in the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial that tested Tamoxifen to see if it prevented healthy women from developing breast cancer. I'd lost all 3 of my sisters to breast and ovarian cancer within a 3 year period. They were 48, 46 and 34 yrs. old so my odds of avoiding BC didn't look good. I started Tamoxifen at age 43 and stayed on it until I was 48. Hot flashes started within 3 weeks and were miserable the whole 5 years. I had some aches and pains, but I also developed Fibromyalgia about the same time so I can't really say it was because of Tamoxifen. Just after I finished the 5 year course I had a hysterectomy for enormous fibroid tumors. They may or may not have been related to Tamoxifen use. At any rate, it was probably a good thing I had the hysterectomy including my ovaries out. That and the Tamoxifen likely gave me 15 extra years until Aug 2007 when a routine mammogram found a 1cm stage 1 breast cancer... small but very aggressive. Genetic tests (which were not available when my sisters were ill) proved positive for BRCA1 gene mutation. My chances of getting BC were 87% so my number was up. I feel so fortunate to have taken Tamoxifen which got me to this point in time when diagnostics and treatments are so much better than what was available to Barbara, Bonnie and Brenna.

Hang in there, Lynn... every day may not be a picnic, but you are being proactive in preventing BC from coming back and spreading. It is worth it!

Melanie

6/22/09 6:40pm

I did have some bone loss from the Tamoxifen so I've been on Fosamax for 6 years. Now that I've finished chemo I'm on Arimidex which also causes bone loss. I've been on Fosamax for so long that my oncologist wants me to quit because there is a concern of developing jawbone problems (won't heal if extensive dental work is needed). Not quite sure what to do about that... lots of milk and Vit D I guess. Anyway, thought you should know and ask about a baseline Dexascan to measure against future scans.

PJ Hamel

6/22/09 8:33pm

Good advice, Melanie. There are so many sside effects of these life-saving drugs... It's good to be alerted to them, so thanks- PJH

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