Tamoxifen & taking "baby aspirin" (81mg)

MidLifeCrisis

WOW!! I came on here to ask a question re:Tamox and see a plethora of questions & concerns with the drug itself! I'm hesitant to read any of them! Ugh, I Soooooo dread the beginning of this long journey on tamox. 😁😕😜😟

Now, the reason I'm here ... My Onc suggested I take a baby aspirin now that I will be starting tamoxifen to reduce the risk of blood clots. She suggested it in a very matter of fact, no big deal, manner (after I raised my concerns for blood clots. I don't have any known risks for blood clots (other than starting this drug), heart issues are in my family, I'm 41. Has anyone else been given this recommendation? Researching baby-aspirin regimen has me concerned and I'm wondering if this is a standard recommendation and whether or not I'll be more worried about taking a daily dose of aspirin on top of the already worries of taking tamoxifen.

jwilco

My MO also has me taking the baby aspirin. I think she stated a study, but I can't remember the details. Regarding the Tamoxifen, I started in 2011 and have only mild side effects and some are probably also due to perimenopause. So don't let the horror stories scare you. Everyone is different.

inks

I was told to take aspirin while I was on Tamoxifen. Aspirin has many other beneficial effects besides reducing the risk of blood clots while taking Tamoxifen so I continued it even tho I switched to AI, I'm 38.

SweetThing

I was told by my GYN to take a daily low dose aspirin along with the Tamoxifen. I thought it was to reduce the risk of blood clots, but he said that studies have shown it reduces the reoccurrance of cancer. This was never mentioned by the MO, hmmm interesting.

Anonymous

Ironically, my doctors never told me to take any baby aspirin when I was on Tamoxifen until the last year I was on it. But then recommended it when I started taking evista, which has a lower risk of blood clots. When I asked about that, they said "well, that was because you turned the magic age of 50, when most people should take a baby aspirin anyway". I think they just forgot to put me on it in the beginning, and then used my age as the excuse. (I probably should've been on it, even at 46, due to the increased risk) I continue to take it with the evista (even though the risk of blood clots is very low, <1%,) it's comforting knowing that it helps to thin out the blood and prevent any clots.

SelenaWolf

I was also told that low-dose aspirin was advisable while taking tamoxifen; however, I do have a very strong family history of stroke and heart disease.

AlwaysSunny79

I was also advised to take low dose aspirin along with tamoxifen. I take both at the same time in the morning. I was also a smoker and have a family history of stroke and heart disease too.

hummingbirdlover

Yep, my MO recommended a baby aspirin a day too.

bailey1749

I'm not a doctor. I am a beast cancer patient. After taking tamoxifen for a little over 3 years in 2011, I developed a major DVT blood clot in my calf. I was 53 at the time. I had none of the risk factors. I was walking 4 to 5 miles a day and I was slim. I could have died from it. I was in the hospital for a week and I was on warfran, a blood thinner, for a year. My leg is permanently damaged from the clot. Once you have one, you are susceptible getting one again.

Marbie

I just started Tamoxifen two nights ago. My oncologist suggested I take the 81mg ASA daily to prevent blood clot. Today I have a subconjunctival hemorrhage. I'm prone to bruising. When I approached my oncologist with my concerns, she said, "It is exceedingly unlikely that the conjunctival hemorrhage has anything to do with the aspirin. As a precaution you could take every second day until it clears up." I have a feeling I'm going to be covered in bruises. (But it beats DVT.)

Moderators

Welcome, Marbie! We're so sorry to hear this, but we hope it doesn't become a recurring problem! And we hope you find this to be a supportive community as you continue with your treatment.

The Mods

beach2beach

My Onco did not mention a baby aspirin. I started to take one daily and noticed bruising on my legs..bad. so I cut back to every other day or at least 4x a week. Been good since then.

dtad

Bailey1749...so sorry you are going through this. I wish the docs would be more honest about the side effects of anti hormone therapy. Especially the serious ones. Just curious if doc had you taking baby aspirin with the Tamoxifen? We need to be our own advocates. Unfortunately we cannot always rely on docs to be open about possible problems while on these drugs. Good luck to you.