Tamoxifen side effects

I have exactly the same thing-  I think estrogen must be a "lubricant" in our bodies- without we get dry everywhere-   including our throats.  I have a dry cough almost all the time - it started when I started taking tamoxifen.  Tami

Bono, I get a very mild dry cough thing sometimes too, It comes and goes.  It feels like I can't completely clear my throat sometimes, almost like my lungs don't have enough oomph to cough it up.  I get lots of other things that come and go too, like chest tightness that can go on for a few weeks at a time and aches that come and go. 

Idaho, tamox doesn't take away estrogen from everywhere, is supposed to just block it from the breast cancer cells.  However, having said that, I also think that it must be blocking it from other areas too, so many women get the dry vagina and the bone aches.  I used to have vaginal dryness, but when I started on tamoxifen, also started taking flaxseeds around the same time for the Omega 3s, and the tamoxifen gave me vag discharge, so with that combo, no more dryness there.

  I'm very concerned about keeping my skin and hair looking good, will not allow a medication to rob me of that, so I will keep taking plenty of fruits and veggies and anything with omega 3s and beneficial oils, as well as a multivitamin that's good for hair, skin, and nails.  And so far, so good, haven't seen any skin or hair changes,.

Rgiuff- I can't seem to get a straight answer on this..Tamoxifen and flaxseed are ok together?

kle

Lynnez - I haven't put on any weight at all from Tamoxifen (just over 4 months now) however do carry my weight differently.  I still don't blame tamoxifen as I think this is because of what I have been through the last 9 months or so (3 surgeries and recovery time) that my lifestyle has changed dramatically since b4 bc.  I don't take any supplements at all but just try and eat well and when I am able to run again then keep up the exercise.  Exercise is such a good "upper" for mental health.

Hope you have a smooth ride with Tamoxifen.

KLE,  I too have read many conflicting things about flaxseed, but would have to say much more good than bad things regarding estrogen + breast cancer., and my Onc said it was fine, but advised me to go lightly on the soy, which I've also read good and bad about.   At a conference I went to where Natural and Alternative therapies were discussed, they stated that flax is  beneficial because, being an Omega 3 fat,  it crowds out the bad fats and also the fact that it's a plant estrogen, these are good, because they crowd out the bad estrogens in our blood.  I know that this view is very controversial however.

  In any case, flax is a great source of fiber, which is needed to bind to the estrogen in our intestines to get it out of our bodies, as well as of Omega 3, good for the cardiovascular system, hair, and skin, and I believe also helps keep the vagina lubricated, so for me, I can't see it as something to stay away from..

Heart disease and strokes run in my family, so I have to think about these too, not just about breast cancer reoccurring.   To me, any of these happening would be worse.

Hi Talia - the purpose of hormone therapy is to get any of the cancer cells which may have made their way into your system - lung, brain, bone etc.  I too was node negative and have a good prognosis but thought I would give Tamoxifen a try as its proven record for beating recurrence is very good and especially as I did not do chemo or radiation as well.  As far as side fx goes well I'm posting because I am one of those who has virtually no side fx, just a bit of anxiety (but I had PMS pre bc) and dry eyes.  No hot flashes, no joint pain, no night sweats, no sleep deprivation.  As for bone loss and fertility - tamoxifen actually is a promoter of good bone density and it is also a fertility drug.  You aren't supposed to fall pregnant on it however so you need to speak to your Oncologist about that.

I have only been taking it for 5 months but so far so good.  I also have a friend who had no trouble for the entire 5 years and another lady (who is taking it post menopausal) who has no side fx except for a little weight gain. 

Everyone is different and sure there are a lot of women posting here with problems but that's what people come here for, empathy, ideas, cyber hugs, a safe whinge and also hope. Give it a try, you might be pleasantly suprised like me. 

big hugs

Helena

Helena and Rose

 THANK YOU SO very much for the input! I feel quite a bit more at ease as I have been trying to find someone who has been on it. I would have to go off birth control, but I can live w/ that. I have just been researching the med for awhile and it has been confusing on what to believe. I am very open-minded to taking it, if I don't like it, I am more than happy to state so. It just really helps to hear, from someone who is taking the treatment, something positive. I am heading back in to my Onco to discuss this with her.

The risk would be reduced by 6% by taking Tamoxifen - so I am not sure it is worth it for 5 years. I forgot all my "other stats", but my numbers when discussing chemo were really good when they needed and low when they needed.

 Again, thank you both so very much for the input! It definitely puts a different view of it and something to counter balance w/ studies, etc.

I hope you both are doing so very well and it is wonderful to "meet" you.

Live well!

Natalie

Hi,

 I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months.  The pain in my left hip, the side I sleep on, is so intense that it wakes me at night.  Has anyone heard of this symptom?  I have dealt with the hot flashes, sweats, etc. but this one is new to me.

Thank you for your input.

Bwinn, I did 7 months of tamoxifen also, with aches that seemed to travel around my body, always in a new location where they would stay for a few weeks then move on.  The latest for me was also a deep ache in my right hip, kind of like what I had while I was pregnant with my 3rd child.  It was really getting annoying too.  I continuously have had joint pain to my right knee and my neck always aches. 

I've been off the tamoxifen for about a month now, taking a break from it, and the pains have all diminished, except for the right knee, guess that's permanent arthritis maybe.  The hot flashes, which really were getting unbearable to me in this summer heat,  have also diminished and some of the sex drive has come back, so I know now for sure what was caused by tamoxifen and what was probably occuring anyway with or without it.  I'm now trying to decide whether to go back on it or not. 

I have been on Tamoxifen since April.  I didn't really have any side effects beside the occasional hot flash until this past month.  Has anyone experienced pain in there feet? Someone told me it may be the drug and others told me it may be a lasting se from chemo. When I get up after sitting or even before I get up I get some shooting pain in my feet.  It is not constant and sometimes it goes away as fast as hit comes.  But yesterday it was really bad and much better today.  Please let me know.

Thanks,

Colleen

I have been taking Tamoxifen since 2013 and for over a year now I have had this dry cough where I cannot clear it and it has worried me. Now that I have seen these posts I will let my oncologist know. The cough is so bad it keeps me awake at night, its like a tickle in my throat.

Hi. I am new to this group. I started Tamoxifen 3 days ago. Today i have a really bad shooting headache on one side of the head. Can it be from it? Also I am so terrified of weight gain.. I eat right and exersise. I even lost my last extra 5lbs after chemo. All due to diet change after diagnosis. I just hope it will not come back.

As for lock of libido and vaginal dryness is there any way to avoid it... I am so not ready for menapause...

Adoxa- I started on tamoxifen about the same time as you, after DCing exemestane due to side effects. I also developed the dry cough about a week ago and was concerned; glad to read the responses here that it may just be normal! I'll still bring it up to my onc if it's still around when I see him in a couple of weeks; he's been very responsive.