Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

With me the diuretic took off a couple of pounds, however you can't do alot on  it because you are constantly needing to use the lady's room,  so if your at  work,baseball, soccer or shopping it can be problematic.  like everything else with bc.

During, four months of chemo. (TAC), I lost 35lbs, and now have gained back 5lbs. I'm on my second bottle o tamox. and have a problem keeping my weight on. My work is very physical and I walk my dog, every day, but I really have to eat a lot of small meals.  My biggest problem, is with pain in my shoulders and ribs, probably from radiation. Half way through, my day I'm just in agony.  For the last month, I've been on Celexa(FDA warning list) for depression, and have been taking, Ibupr.for the pain, and now heard from the chemo. pharmacist that I should, have a liver test if I'm taking Ibupr.with Celexa. Geeze does it ever end.....test begets test and one pill leads to another.    

I am 50 and have been on "the train" for nine months.  I have gained 10 pounds, fighting it all the way.  I work out five days a week, and eat as I always have, but it happened anyway.  I am under 5 feet tall, so it really makes a difference on my little frame.  I don't feel like I am retaining water.  I am not any hungrier than before, in fact, I feel less hungry.  So, I believe that the weight gain is because my metabolism is just slowed way down.

Regarding the fish oil... the one I get doesn't have any soy in it.  My cancer was estrogen receptor positive, so I am not supposed to have soy, although my onc says a little is OK.  For anyone out there with estrogen negative breast cancer, all the research I have read says that soy actually prevents cancer in your case.

So good to hear from Murphmort and Sue-I can Do It.  Yes, we have moved on and don't check in here so much anymore.  We have hair again!  Hope you are well. 

I've been on it for 7 months.  Yes estrogen keeps us young.  I am 43 and found that my skin is a bit dryer, but nothing major.  I also take flax seed, which is a phytoestrogen so perhaps that's helping my skin.  I also take fish oil.

Took my first tamoxifen last night. No change so far! I plan to maintain that "no effect" throughout the next five years. There is something to be said for wishful thinkng, right? Or is it head in the sand? I hate cancer. OK. Rant's over. Thanks for listening.

Flax is a phytoestrogen, but it has a postive effect on the receptors, unlike soy.  If you are interested in it, there are several threads here on Flax.  I spoke to my onc about it and she said it was fine.  It is extremely healthy. 

Happy Saturday to you all.

I have been on Tamoxifen for about a month and have had no major s/e.  I get a few hot flashes but nothing big.  I get warm for a few and then it passes.  I had them since chemo.  I know a few ladies that have been on the pill and they had no or very lil s/e!  I hope to be like them.

Hi ladies, I finished chemo in March and took my 1st Tamoxifen pill last night at bedtime, so far, so good.  This has probably been answered somewhere, but can it take a while before se's kick in?  Is it usually pretty soon that you would see the side effects, if you were to have any. 

Makraz-I have heard many good things about flaxseed, so i will ask the onc.

Traveler56-Is the South Beach Diet a high protein diet? I've done the high protein in the past, but now that I get regular blood work done, I'm scared all that protein will screw something up.

With the Effexor my SE's have been minimal. I have actually lost 3 lbs, they wieghed me at radiation every week. I have not had an appetite, so I guess that helps. Also being tired at the end of the day and too tired to snack helps too. I use lotion all over my body and drink alot of water to help keep my skin from drying out. I tyr to eat healthy, but lets face it with a hectic life and three kids it is hard to eat the right things all the time. Dinner consists of a lean protien, a stacrch and a double serving of veggies.

I have been on it for 3 wks so far.  No really big issues YET.  Man I hate the waiting game.lol  waiting if you get this or that...  I did that with chemo...and for me i had no major problems with chemo.  But I still  wonder when the s/e will hit.  I have hot flashes but had then during chemo.  Tick tock tick tock...lol!

Hi Ladies!SUNSHINE:  Exciting news!  My Onc. prescribed VENLAFAXINE for my night sweats, I was up every hour on the hour soaking wet!  I now have NOT had one night of hot sweats since I started taking this pill!  It is my miracle drug, I now look forward to going to bed! Don't suffer with night sweats, make sure to talk to your onc. for meds that are right for you.  Gentle hugs, jeanie

Yes Effexor/Venlavaxine, has really helped minimize my s/e from tamoxifen. I do not feel as irritable and angry all the time. I hope all continues well for those of you who have little or no S/E's. Good Luck ladies.

Thanks for all your replies on the vitamins. Feel like I am alot older than what

I am. Legs aching alot. The hot flushes are still happening to. Hot and cold alot to.

Am waiting on results from my 2D6 test which I did through DNA Direct. Didn't bother

asking the doctors here. Am still trying to get them to do CA153 and CA 125 test on me

and they come up with all the excuses not to do it. I see DNA Direct does the hereditary

breast cancer test as well. I will think about that one.

I enjoy a beer or 2 a couple of times a week. I hope that doesn't hurt me .

Breast cancer sucks.

Take care everyone, will let you know what my results are when I get them.