SE of Tamoxifen..

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Lynette
Lynette Member Posts: 167
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

If Tamoxifen has the potential to cause blood clots and endometrial cancer, how often should I be assessed for either of these? Are other assessed or monitored on a regular basis? I'm becoming a bit paranoid thinking that every twinge is either one or the other!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

     blood clots and endometrial cancer are very rare SEs of tamoxifen, occuring at less than 1%, usually in those that are sedentary or smokers. Having a yearly transvaginal ultrasound to monitor the uterine lining and the ovaries is a good idea while on tamoxifen; if there is an issue, an endometrial biopsy can always be done. The symptoms of a DVT (blood clot in the lower leg) are pain, redness, warmth and swelling--that can be checked by doppler ultrasound if a clot is suspected. But generally tamox is well tolerated by most with the most common SE being hot flashes.

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  • Lynette
    Lynette Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2009

    Thank you awb,

    I feel a bit more reassured. I panic so much sometimes that I make myself have palpitations. I think I need to go back on tranquilisers,

    Regards

    Lynnette 

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  • bre
    bre Member Posts: 89
    edited March 2009

    Lynette,  if you have any unexpected vaginal bleeding, contact your ob/gyn immediately and they will check you for endometrial cancer. 

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  • Journey
    Journey Member Posts: 905
    edited March 2009

    Can I jump in here?  Does urinary track infections go along with Tamox SEs?  I have now had 2 episodes in 3 months.  Prior to that only had it once of twice over 25 years ago.  What the heck? My general doctor is the one I have been going to (don't have a gyno yet) and he does not think it is related but can't give me a reason that make sense.

    Lynette - I understand what you mean.  It does make you feel very venerable.

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  • PT63
    PT63 Member Posts: 329
    edited March 2009

    Hope you don't mind if I jump in here.  I agree with awb's post.  I have been on Tamox. since Feb. of 2007 and I have tolerated it very well.  But, I would recommend at least a baseline Transvag. sonogram just so your uterine lining can be monitored.  I had no outward SE of Tamox. -not even hot flashes - but it did make my uterine fibroids grow rapidly which was found via repeat sonogram.  The risks of blood clots and uterine cancer are very low on tamox and it adds a slight benefit for maintaining bone density.

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  • Tamara67646
    Tamara67646 Member Posts: 293
    edited March 2009

    Journey,

    I have the same questions about UTI's - I have only been on tamox for 2 months and am on my 2nd UTI.   If the antibotics don't clear it up this time, my gyno wants to see me.

     I don't think it is that the Tamox causes the UTI but the menapausal changes can make your urinary track more prone to infection and/or the lack of estrogen causes your bladder to lose some of its elasticity which causes urine to "pool" and creates a place for bacteria to grow.

    Tamara

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  • Journey
    Journey Member Posts: 905
    edited March 2009

    Tamara - oh yuck!  So what to do?  I have just called the gyno / oncologist to see if I can get an appointment.  Waiting...

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  • byzalot
    byzalot Member Posts: 24
    edited April 2009

    Interesting that it made uterine fibroids grow, I was told that fibroids are usually estrogen fed and since tamoxifen blocks estrogen, I would have thought that they would shrink. I will have to ask my oncologist about it. I will be starting tamoxifen in a few weeks.

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