Are you 55 or younger on Tamoxifen, & having NEW joint pain?

Tangandchris,

You may want to hold on to the Rx paperwork that lists joint pain as an SE. Take it to your next onc appointment and show it to doc. Hope your pain can somehow become more manageable. I managed mine by quitting tamoxifen. 

My mom's best friend is now taking this and she is also suffering from joint pain. She is around 53 years of age and was in good health before breast cancer. I think you're onto something...

You may find this page on our site interesting: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/se...

Medicines to avoid while taking tamoxifen

In the list below, the medications under the headings “Strong Inhibitors” and “Moderate Inhibitors” can inhibit CYP2D6 and interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen. The medications under the heading “Not Inhibitors” do not block the CYP2D6 enzyme and will not interfere with tamoxifen treatment.

This list is incomplete and subject to change over time. Use it as a starting place and ask your doctor if any medications you are taking or that are recommended to you are compatible with tamoxifen.

Source: Flockhart DA. ©2008. Consortium on Breast Cancer Pharmacogenomics. Indiana University School of Medicine.

Side effects of tamoxifen

Tamoxifen's selective estrogen activation effects can cause some serious side effects, including blood clots, stroke, and endometrial cancer. If you and your doctor are considering tamoxifen as part of your treatment plan, tell your doctor if you smoke or have a history of blood clots or heart attack. If you're taking tamoxifen, call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
• pain or pressure in the pelvis
• leg swelling or tenderness
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• weakness, tingling, or numbness in your face, arm, or leg
• difficulty speaking or understanding
• vision problems
• dizziness
• sudden severe headache

The most common side effects of tamoxifen are:

• increased tumor or bone pain
• hot flashes
• nausea
• fatigue
• mood swings
• depression
• headache
• hair thinning
• constipation
• dry skin
• loss of libido

Hot flashes or night sweats from taking tamoxifen can be troubling. But a 2008 British study suggests that women who experienced hot flashes and night sweats while taking hormonal therapy medicine were less likely to have the breast cancer come back (recur). Knowing that this side effect might indicate a reduced risk of the cancer coming back may help some people stick with treatment despite the side effects.

Some women on tamoxifen have reported memory problems while taking the medicine. While no definitive results are available yet, the ongoing Co-STAR (Cognition in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) trial is looking at the effects tamoxifen and Evista (chemical name: raloxifene), another SERM, have on memory and thinking.

I'd been taking Tamoxifen since 2012, and like someone else mentioned - it was like the SE's from Neulasta for me. I played the off/on for a bit, stopped it before participating in DirtyGirl Mud Run so I'd have even a small chance of completing it. My MO strongly felt the Tamoxifen was causing my hip and leg pain. I had a hard time even walking up stairs. I've been off of it now for about 7 months for blood clotting related issues, and though the pain has not gone completely away, most of it has. Hang in there!

Bratscher

Have you tried supplements ?

I too have joint issues from the Tamoxafin that have subsided over time but the vitamins have helped the most.

Here is what I take:

Glucosmaine

Bromelin

Omega 3

Vit d.

They take a while to kick in but they do work!

Good luck

i started on arimidex and after three days couldnt pick a kettle up was on so much pain I stick it for two years then exemerstane not much different then letrozole took me to my five years I've wished them away hoping it would all stop eventually my onc discharged me eleven days ago and said now they have decided we have to carry on for another five years and sent me out on tamoxifen now on top of all the pain im having bad headaches and dizziness going to see gp tom as the hospital don't want to know now sandy