Fear of tamoxifen

Jbakerwebb

About to finish radiation and the dialogue with my onc is that I'll be on tamoxifen (starting w tamoxifen only because I have osteoporosis for 5-10 years. She said if you were only given one choice for treatment (chemo, rad or hormone therapy) that hormone therapy would be the one I'd have. It's that important. My dilemma: I'm so afraid of extreme hot flashes (already have huge flashes) & then add the loss of any estrogen my body can produce.....I see myself turning into an old, frumpy, unhealthy Lady. Let's face it quality of life mean SOMETHING! I've already gained 10-12 lbs from the dang steroids and aged so much as a result of these toxins in my bod!

Anyone have these fears and if so how did/are you handling???

farmerlucy

Hey Jackie - Nice to meet you. I'm an Okie sister, too, in Norman. I'm 34 months in for HT, but who's counting?

I started with Tamoxifen, two years later had an ooph, tried Femara and Arimidex, and now I'm back on Tamoxifen. It is the most tolerable for me. I've had tsunami hot flashes since the ooph, and I take 75 mg of Effexor to combat those and to even out my mood. I really like it.

This hasn't been an easy road for me but I'm doing it. I need to know I'm doing everything I can to prevent recurrence. The rest is out of my hands. Take care!

Yaguarete

Hello Jackie. I started taking tamoxifen 2 months ago (plus monthly shots for ovarian suppression) and never had a hot flash. Nevertheless, each body reacts differently...

You said that tamoxifen will cause "loss of any estrogen my body can produce", but that is not so: it blocks the effect of estrogen on breast cancer cells. You can read more here:

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms

Good luck with your treatment!

Lvbugs

So many of us are so scared of what SE we are going to get that we get real anxious before even taking the Tamoxifen. I was one that thought everything was going to be so horrible after reading these boards. There are many that have little or no horrible SE. I am one of the lucky ones to not have a problem with it. Even lost weight. Give it a shot and if something should come up you can discuss with your doctor. Good luck

Blahndie74

I also worried myself sick over SE's I'd read about. Two months in and so far it's nothing I can't tolerate. Couple of hot flashes a day. I seem to have more COLD flashes though. No weight gain. My taste buds have changed and I find I have to make myself eat more often than not. This coming from a sweet/junk food junkie. I wish you the best on your jouney!

pupmom

The worst SE is death from cancer. I was switched from Aromasin to Tamoxifen 2 years ago and am doing fine. I did have some pretty intense hot flashes after starting Tamox, but they have now significantly diminished.

BrooksideVT

Tamoxifen may or may not magnify your hot flashes--responses to this drug are very individual. It does not affect the estrogen in your body; it simply blocks the ability of cancer cells to utilize the hormone. Chances are you'll feel fine on the drug, but, if you have any issues, do not hesitate to tell your onc, who has the experience to sort out what is happening why, and what can be done about it.