Tamoxifen

varapappas

I'm still going through my treatment plan. Bilateral Mastectomy is going to happen in 3 weeks. They want to put me on Tamoxifen as I am Estrogen and Progesterone Positive. I AM 33. They told me this will put me into menopause.

How have you done on Tamoxifen? Will I age rapidly/prematurely? Will I still want/be able to have sex? Is this the end of my sex life?

I just started a relationship days before my diagnosis, and we are trying to determine if we can even stay together. I have no children, and have never been married. Being told that I will definitely never have children now, and have to deal with this when I'd like to marry one day is concerning me.

Englishmummy

Hi again, all valid questions! I have been on Tamoxifen since July last year and I am most certainly not in menopause. Tamoxifen blocks the cancer cells in the breast. I skipped 1 period when I started the T but since then back on track every 28 days. I have been told that Tamoxifen symptoms can be progressive but I don't have any to speak of and I am nearly 8 mths into it. Remember the views here may be slightly skewed because we rarely hear about those with no side effects. I feel great! Likewise, I have not noticed a drop in my(high) sex drive and neither has my hubby!! Things are good, very good in that department. Were you told no children by your oncologist? You're only 33. I have read that many women on here who are younger stop Tamoxifen to have a baby, either midway through or after 5 years, the begin the T again after baby. There is a special forum here called 'young with cancer ' and they discuss many of those fertility related issues....you might want to take a peek? Freezing eggs etc is a possibility for many younger women and there is financial assistance for that, I believe. As far as your relationship, I am not sure what to say...this is tough for established relationships but it doesn't mean you can't make it through, circumstances like this can push you apart or be the bind that ties. If he stays, you likely found yourself a keeper, if not - someone else is waiting. This changes your life but not all of it is negative. You may want to read the graphic novel 'Cancer Vixen' (on Amazon). It gives a wry perspective from another BC vixen, it may help you to change your way of thinking on this whole ordeal. Just a thought, you may want to update your profile (er+, grade, type etc. It can help others with the conversation.

labelle

From what I understand Tamoxifen does not generally put one into menopause. In fact, I've read that many of the younger ladies on these boards have been cautioned to be very careful about practicing birth control while taking tamoxifen because it does not prevent conception but does cause birth defects. Sometimes regular chemo causes menopause (chemopause) in younger women but even that is not always permanent especially in younger women (like under 40). Many young women treated for BC with tamoxifen do go on to have children in the future so I'm not sure where your doctor is coming from with this information. I would urge you to discuss this with your healthcare provider again. Unless you are in chemopause or had/having an oopherectomy, you will need to practice some form of birth control while taking tamoxifen-a non-hormonal method.

furiosa

I'm a little older than you (39), and tamoxifen is part of my treatment plan as well. I'm still doing chemo, then I'll have surgery, then radiation, so I won't start for a few months, but I had EXACTLY the same questions you do, and it was hard to talk to my (male, friendly, but a bit standoffish) oncologist about them.

But do it anyway! Make sure you're really clear on your various options and don't feel rushed to make large, difficult decisions. I'm 2/3rds of the way through chemo, and haven't hit chemopause, so even that isn't a given. However, if you'll want to have children in the future, do look into freezing your eggs, and make sure you understand the potential impact of treatment on your fertility.

I agree that anecdotal information tends to be negatively skewed, in other words, people who don't have problems aren't seeking help for them.

cathleen143

Hi, I also had a double mastectomy. I chose reconstruction. I am glad I did. It has helped me to feel better about myself. I was placed on Tamoxifen. Unfortunately for me I had a bad reaction, it's VERY RARE, instead of decreasing my estrogen levels they sky rocketed!

Because of this I had to have my ovaries removed for safety. So that caused me to go into menopause.

Depending on how long and the dose, will determine if you experience temporary or long term menopausal symptoms. Question your Doctors further. As long as you still have your ovaries and uterus there is a possibility of you having children in the future. So practice safe sex.

We are all individuals and so our experiences are also unique.

silviah

hi - I just started tamoxifen last week - I know that when you get chemo you are "supposed" to have your partner wear a condom..is that the same with tamoxifen??

SelenaWolf

I've been taking Tamoxifen for four years and have had very few problems with it. Since it's going so well, I'm thinking of staying on it for a full ten years. I haven't gained weight nor have I experienced any hair thinning/loss. I don't think it's aged me prematurely because people still think that I am younger than I am (I'm 55 years, but most people tag me in my mid-forties). However, even though my periods stopped, my oncologist insisted that I continue to practice birth control because tamoxifen can increase fertility with the added danger of a higher risk of birth defects. So... condoms it was for two years before I got the all-clear.

In the beginning, sex was an issue, but I think that it was more to do with chemotherapy slamming me into menopause after the very first round. As a result, I had issues with vaginal atrophy, but with a patient husband and a medical dilator, those issues have become minimal. My sex drive is lower now that I'm post-menopausal, but I have no problems once "jump started", so to speak .