Starting 2015 with Tamoxifien

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC324575...

Another warrior had posted this. Very interesting, also keep being told to add prunes and a magnesium supplement ASAP so I will do that tomorrow.

Blownaway don't worry you won't be in pain at all. It was the second or third day when I noticed any discomfort but Advil controlled it- remember no Advil before- bleeding and all.

Cindy - why not just try it?

I've been on for 3 months now - no side effects whatsoever. Like zero. Maybe some hot flashes, but I think that's the chemopause. Maybe I am a little sleepier than usual, but am still recovering from chemo.

Mostly, I feel great. Thrilled to be done with chemo, and happy that this drug can help me so much and be so painless.

I know lots of women do have issues, but I also think plenty do not...we might just be quieter?

thank you that's a good point. I just get cautious of all the treatments that the cancer community gives us good and bad. When you hear alternative people talking about the money people make off of cancer treatments it makes you skeptical to be on the "cancer train" as I call it going full steam with only one way of looking at cures. Of course if I put my money where my mouth is I should be eating a raw vegan diet right?? I'm trying to approach this with some balance and not have the side effects and results be ( almost) as bad as the possibility of reoccurance. My younger sister who finished 5 years ago now has very bad osteoporosis. She had tremendous joint pain the entire time. She's also very fit and was only 45 at the time. And I realize it's not cancer, it's just a quality of life issue. Another acquaintance found out she now had uterine cancer after 2 years.i just want to hear from real women who are in the middle of it. Not statistics. Trying to make an educated choice, not being negative just want to hear what others are really feeling. Thanks for your input.

5 whole days on Tamoxifen and no side effects so far. Don't know how soon they are supposed to kick in if they're going to, but so far it's nothing to worry about.

I was on tamoxifen for three years, then switched to Femara.  I had no issues with the tamoxifen.  I had major hot flashes when I was finishing up the chemotherapy, and lots of joint pain when I was about 3-4 months post-chemo.  Neither symptom became any worse when I started on tamoxifen - both actually improved.  Maybe things were due to start getting better around that time, regardless of the med.

The most bothersome symptom since I switched to Femara is vaginal dryness.  Never had that problem at all on Tamoxifen.

Hi Pattief and others -

I seem to be on the same timeline, plus or minus a few days and I just finished rads on 12/19/14. On this coming Thursday, I am supposed to be meeting with my medical oncologist to discuss taking the Tamoxifen. I have heard about some of the horror stories as well as some of the more positive reports to counterbalance it. Even so I have misgivings about it. With my track record, I had a reaction to the radiation that nobody had expected or even wanted to admit could happen at first - starting this oral chemotherapy can be a bit scary.

MarieBernice6234

Happy Sunday!! I'm happy to see many are not having many side effects. After much hesitation I took my first tamoxifen last night at 7 PM with dinner and felt great, even slept through to 6:30 this morning. I don't typically sleep well. That's when the fun began..woke up with heart racing, warm, shaking, slightly dizzy and very nauseous. I did not take my calcium channel blocker, verapamil last night as I fell asleep so that could be why but I did take it this morning. Heart is still racing. I will see how the day goes and take again tonight and hope for the best.

I am having complete hysterectomy due to the fact that I am BRCA2 positive and my grandmother and aunt both had ovarian cancer. Dr. didn't mention anything about having hysterectomy due to being Er+ but I have read that many women do remove ovaries or take another med to a shut down ovaries. It's a personal choice but with my family history and the Brca2 , I did not hesitate.

I will only be on tamoxifen until surgery and then switch to Anastrozole. Is that the same as Arimedex? I am dreading feeling this way for 5 or more years and I'm sure being forced into menopause will not help. Good thing is there are other medications to try if one doesn't work for us. Hoping that over time our bodies get used to these medications and SE we have are tolerable.

I look forward to hearing everyone's experience and what works for them to combat side effects

badhairday:So I have read that Tamoxifen SE (if any!) start at around the 3 week marker. I had a complete hysterectomy at 44 yr.....I am now 52 yr.

Pattief: Ask your MO about why she is recommending Arimidex instead Tamoxifen?

I am post menopausal (about 10 years) and have had a complete hysterectomy on top of that about (8 years ago). My onco prescribed Tamoxifen instead of Arimidex because of my osteoporosis.

Is everyone taking 20 mg a day like me?  I thought I saw someone post that she was taking that amount twice daily.

I have 10mg twice a day

20 mg 1xday here too

20 mg 1x day

Taking 20mg once a day. That's the standard from what I've read. I was told to take it at bedtime to ward off any possible nausea. Doesn't seem to interrupt my sleep- yet!

20 mg once a day and I take it about 8 pm, get in bed by 11- read an hour then sleep. Today was day 8. I am still sleeping fairly well- mild leg cramps and more restless if I didn't exercise. But when I do sleep I crash. I'm sure it's chemo and rad all having worn us down too. I'm on effexor 150mg in am, so far no serious hot flashes.