tamoxifen vaginal discharge

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nlgain1
nlgain1 Member Posts: 1
edited October 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

hi I know I am fortunate.  My Tx is to take tamoxifen for 5 years.  the vaginal discharge is getting me down.  when I leave the house I muust wear a big thick pad and then it often leaks a makes it appear as through I have urinated and wet my pants.  If I wear the pad all the time my vaginal area is always moist and gets irratated an itches If I go without the pad it  runs all over a must clean my floors daily and the they will only be clean once a day.  I am afraid if I put in a tampon the fluid will back up inside of me.  Has anyone coped with this?

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited October 2012

    Sorry you're going through this. I'm not having this particular SE, but have you mentioned it to your MO and/or GYNO? It may be common, but my MO said she likes to have any unusual gyno symptoms checked out right away. i.e.  better safe than sorry.

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  • jwilco
    jwilco Member Posts: 486
    edited October 2012

    I would talk to my gyno about your symptom.  I've had more discharge and it does cause itching at times, but it isn't nearly as bad as what you describe.  There might be some other reason or they might be able to help you.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2012

    While you are waiting for more members to respond you may want to check out the main breastcancer.org on treatment induced vaginal discharge.

    We hope this helps!

    The Mods

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  • kle
    kle Member Posts: 317
    edited October 2012

    The Tamoxifen for me caused large polyps to grow.   Before I figured out what was causing it, I was spotting, leaking, needing to pee, right after I went..I Went to the Gyn, who spotted the polyps and we did a D & C which eleminated that issue.

    kle     

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  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited October 2012

    nlgain, this was a commonly occurring symptom for me when I was on tamoxifen for 3 years.  It would come for weeks at a time and then sometimes disappear for a few weeks.  It was annoying, sometimes my panties would get all stained almost as a bad as a light period, but whitish in color.  And I had the same problem with wearing minipads, the moisture would cause an irritated feeling.  I was always sticking tissues in there when it happened at work, then I'd remove them throughout the day.  The only solution unfortunately was to use the minipads during times when the discharge was heavy.  

    Unfortunately, this is a very common side effect of tamoxifen and I do know what you are going through!

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  • noraLCIStoILC
    noraLCIStoILC Member Posts: 57
    edited October 2012

    I'm not having this SE (yet?) - however, I can offer suggestions re: irritation from wearing a pad so much... (1) change your pantishield every time you go to the bathroom and (2) use diaper rash cream [I like Burt's Bees because of the odor and it sticks really well]. I've had a problem for quite a while with irritation from moisture...

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  • Eileenohio
    Eileenohio Member Posts: 460
    edited October 2012

    I started Tamoxifen August 1.2012.  My vaginal discharge began after one week. It is not constant but it is frequent. I have to wear a panty liner at all times. Does anyone know if this SE eventually stops or will it continue for 5 years.I did go for a GYN exam just to be checked.. 

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  • noraLCIStoILC
    noraLCIStoILC Member Posts: 57
    edited October 2012

    Not from my personal experience -- have a close friend who took Tamoxifen for five years (she's over 8 years out now) -- she had a lot of vaginal discharge, she said that it tapered off at some point.

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  • Eileenohio
    Eileenohio Member Posts: 460
    edited October 2012

    Nora,  Thank you.. That is not what I wanted to hear,however I can live with it. I have been lucky so far this is the only side effect I have had.  I had no side effects from chemo,herceptin or radiation.

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  • comingtoterms
    comingtoterms Member Posts: 421
    edited October 2012

    Hi, nigain1!  For me, the Tamoxifen caused a couple of pretty unpleasant bacterial vaginal infections which I had never had before. Frown The area was always sore and irritated and I had a lot of discharge.  I believe these are pretty common SEs.  Tammy

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  • bexb
    bexb Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2013

    I strongly recommend cloth pantyliners (you can get them online from Etsy). They do the job perfectly  (much better than you'd probably expect of cloth) and are much more comfortable than plastic backed liners. Plus, they come in fun colors.

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  • Barbi811
    Barbi811 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2013

    Hi ladies

    I am on Tamoxifen for 11 days now..I started to have Vaginal Discharge..First watery one or two days maybe once or twice a day..Now it looks a little white discharge..Ironically it has been 23yrs since my hysterectomy and 23yrs since my last vaginal discharge..This is odd...I will mention this to the Oncologist the end of month...

    This is my only SE so I wont complain..This I can handle..

    Please post with more info ladies..

    Thank You

    Barbi 811

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  • Barbi811
    Barbi811 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2013

    This is a normal SE from what I understand?

    Thank You

    Barbi811

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  • Eileenohio
    Eileenohio Member Posts: 460
    edited July 2013

    Barbie,  I have been on tamoxifen since August 2012.  I too have a vaginal discharge. Have been to GYN twice. She said it is vaginal secreations a side effect from the tamoxifen. I have to wear a panty liner all the time.  My GYN said that there is nothing she can give me to stop it, she is not sure if it will eventually stop,however so far I still have it. This is my only side effect so I too am not complaining. It is just annoying but I can live with it.. BTW I wil be 75yrs old in October..

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited July 2013

    Been on Tamoxifen for two years now and note the discharge tends to come and go. It is a common side effect but not constant....

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  • Hope1953
    Hope1953 Member Posts: 30
    edited August 2013

    odie16,

    Don't mean to be peronal but the disharge does it come out of vagina or wher you pee. I have both and I am wondering if I'm incontinant. Yo can answer in personal messages if you want. my name is hope

    Thank you,

    It is annoying,

    HUGS,

    hope

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  • Eileenohio
    Eileenohio Member Posts: 460
    edited August 2013

    It is a vaginal discharge-  I wear a panty liner at all times.. I have not noticed anything when I urinate. I have been on Tamoxifen exactly one year.  Have seen my GYN twice. She said it is a side effect and that there is nothing she can  give me. It really is no problem just very annoying..

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  • Ashweb901
    Ashweb901 Member Posts: 67
    edited October 2018

    I need to know WHY this is a side effect? My vagina is typically a desert now that I can’t use estrogen patches.....so is this a thick yeasty discharge? Or a thin discharge in which case why is it there - (vaginal lubrication is wasted on the young!)

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