Starting tamoxifen

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
1
I was supposed to start tamoxifen this past Sat., but still can not bring myself to it. My onc. has already let me wait three extra weeks, because I'm also on herceptin.I really don't know why I really don't want to take it. Can those of you who have taken it let me know how it was? Are the hot flashes, weight gain, etc. really bad? I know I need to start as Aunt Flo has never skipped a beat , but once between AC-taxol. In fact I believe she's even more evil now.
Michelle

"There are two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."     -Albert Einstein

2
Hi Michelle,
I finished my 5 yrs of tamoxifen this year. I am sure everyone is different to some degree. I think there are some here who had no problems with it. I did gain weight and have hot flashes. I also contribute some bone pain to it and actually quit it for 3 months. I went back to taking it though as my family was not pleased. They were worried that I needed to do everthing possible to keep from having a reccurance so I went back on it. My daughter did work with a lady who had bc and kept forgetting to take her tamoxifen and ended up with a recurrance and then it was too late. She did pass away a short while later. So my opinion is DO take it and do all you can to help yourself. If it is too miserable for you, perhaps they could try Arimidex (sp). I would say at least give it a shot, but it is your decision. My best wishes to you and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} too.
L&H, Gail

 
"Inside this body lies that of a skinny lady.  But I can usually shut her up with chocolate.".

3
Michelle,
My 5 years is up in January. I didn't have any problems with tamoxifen that I know of. I didn't miss a single period. I didn't have hot flashes. I didn't gain weight. I'm one of those who is thankful everyday I take it that I have that as an option to continue fighting. You'll never know until you try it, but please don't assume it will be awful, because for some of us, it wasn't at all.
 
Good luck.
Julie

Do not go gentle into that goodnight,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
~Dylan Thomas

4
Michelle, Julie and I are like 2 peas in a pod on this issue....I took it from age 31 to 36. I had NO hot flashes, NO menstrual problems, NO mood changes, NO real side effects. Every one of is very different, but there is a good chance you will be very lucky. My periods were quite regular on Tamoxifen (more regular than before the Pill, but not as regular as on the Pill), and not heavy. Frankly, since finishing it in June, my periods have been much heavier, but that is my uterus trying to shed the thicker lining, and supposedly it should lessen over time.

I did gain weight slowly, but I cannot blame it on Tamoxifen alone, my diet is lousy. I felt no different on it or off of it.

My advice is to take it tomorrow and again the next day. Keep going...and if your side effects become intolerable, you can talk to the doc or d/c the tamoxifen...no one can force you to take it.

Please consider taking it...it is credited with reducing the recurrance rate and mortality rate in younger women with BC. If you hate it, then stop taking it...but if you don't take it, you'll always wonder...

Like Julie, I am so grateful that Tamoxifen was a weapon in the arsenal that I had available.

Hang in there!
Lori

5
I did tamoxifin for a year and a half.  I didn't have problems.  My hot flashes started with the chemo and didn't get better or worse on the Tamoxifen.  The AC-T ended my periods.  They never did start again.  Tamoxifen was fine.  No side effects. 
 
Just remember, you are MORE fertile on Tamoxifen so if you don't want to have more children, talk to your doc.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

Ellen

6
I've been taking it since August, I think.  I've had no problems so far.  My period stopped just after my 2nd round of chemo and the hot flashes began shortly afterward.  Since being off chemo, the flashes have gotten better, but are still here.  Tamoxifen hasn't worsened them.  I agree with the rest here, do ANYTHING you can to keep this monster from coming back. 

L & H,
Kathy

7

Hi Michelle! I can't take tamoxifin so I can't relate any of the side effects that might occur. None of us like to think about having to start a new regiment of treatment. It gets old. But, as the other gals have said, this drug is known to reduce the chance of recurrance. Look at it this way, it won't be as bad as the a/c. Please start it now and see what happens. You may do so well on it that you won't exprience any side effects. I went thru the change at age 31 (total hystr) and it wasn't fun but it wasn't something that I couldn't live w/. If you do have hot flashes, just think of the money that you will save this winter on heating bills! :)

Hugs and prayers...Deb

 

8
Thanks ladies- I did start the tamoxifen yesterday. I knew I needed to take it, but just kept stalling. Deb, your right its the whole starting a new tx thing. When your first dxed your waiting for the end of treatment, but now I realize there really is no end. I have done every treatment, and even went a step further with my chemo. That's why I could'nt understand why I was having such a problem with not wanting to take the tamoxifen. The weight gain really does worry me. I started this whole mess at 118, and now weigh a healthy 147. I know that pales in comparison in the big scheme of things, but geez- I just want to be normal again. I truly am greatful to have this drug, just having issue'd-LOL. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and enjoy's shopping Friday.
Michelle

"There are two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."     -Albert Einstein

9

Michelle: Congrats on having the courage to begin the Tam. WTG Girl!!!! I know how you feel about just wanting to be "normal" but that word takes on a different meaning for those of us w/ bc. I am on weekly chemo (have been for over 2 yrs now) and there are times that I get mad and frustrated and tired of the 30 mile drive, the aches and being tired. So, I call and tell them that I am NOT coming for that particular treatment. I want a week to just feel "normal". As for the weight issue. I know how you feel. At one point, thanks to the streiod pre-meds, I was over 180 lbs. Normally, there is that word again, I would weigh about 120. So this round of treatment, I refused the steriod premeds and my onco was ok w/ that. To bad if she wasn't. lol Hang in there sweetie. You will do fine on this med. Enjoy those "POWER SURGES" and use them to your advantage!

Hugs...Deb