Has anyone had gastritis since taking Tamoxifen?

Options
julieeee
julieeee Member Posts: 18
edited October 2021 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I've been on Tamoxifen for 2 years. I've always had problems with GERD through the years, but it got much worse after I started the tamoxifen. I've tried all sorts of things--increasing the prilosec, zantac, aloe vera juice, tums, not to mention adjusting my diet every way possible. My medical oncologist says gastritis isn't a typical side effect, but I do see it mentioned on quite a few websites. I'm scared that I'll end up with stomach cancer as I'm trying to fight a breast cancer reoccurence. I'm getting an endoscopy again next week and have been trying to research tamoxifen alternatives. Has anyone else had this problem?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited July 2012

    INteresting.  In last few months I've had a number of acid reflux/heartburn episodes.  This is not normal for me and I've been wondering if it could be the Tamoxifen (been on it 1 1/ 2 years). 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • raffomimi
    raffomimi Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2012

    I hear ya! Have had heart burn for a few days and as usual any symptoms of anything and I blame the Tamoxifen!!

     I have not been eating ANY high fat foods as to cause it and I have been swallowing Gaviscon and proton pump inhibitors.

    I'll solider on for a while then off to the doc for them to note this symptom(of course the mind races and thinks gastrointestional cancer as I have ILC and it has a tendency to met there!!),  but realistically it's hghly unlikely 7 months out from chemo, but then so is being dx with breast cancer @ 38!!

    Hugs to everyone

    Blessings

    Maria. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2021

    YES!! As soon as I started Tamoxifen my acid reflex got worse. Now they say gastritis. Lots of info out there but Oncologists won't admit it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited October 2021

    Yes, as soon as I started Tamoxifen my stomach issues got worse. I'm already on the maximum dose of Protonics, I've altered my diet and eat mostly very bland food, make sure there is food in my stomach when I take the pill, and stay upright. I've got 2 1/2 years to go and worry about burning a hole in my stomach. My MO believes me but doesn't have any answers. A couple of days I skipped taking it but not very many. I wish there was an alternative like a patch or injection besides swallowing a pill daily that irritates my stomach.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited October 2021

    I actually think it is pretty common for Tamoxifen to irritate your digestion system. I really struggled with it (and at times still do if I eat something too spicy) but I cannot take any of the PPIs as I am an intermediate metabolizer of Tamoxifen and all the PPi's use the same metabolic pathway. So my Oncologist says no to them. What I have found that is helping me is a good half to full teaspoon of cinnamon in my morning oatmeal and a calcium tablet (organic version of tums) at night.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories