Question about Tamoxifen

They would still want you to take the AI's then. They will want you to take some sort of endocrine therapy. Whether your are menopausal or not decides which one they give you.basically.

Oh and as long as you keep your ovaries and are producing estrogen you have to take the tamoxifen whether you have a uterus or not.

And the AI's have their own list of nasty side effects too.

You never know until you try them. I stayed on Tamoxifen after my full hysterectomy because I was doing "fine" on it and have some osteopenia and Tamoxifen helps build bone (only IF you are in menopause).

Remember that people tend to post when there's a problem. I've found tamoxifen manageable thus far.

I was diagnosed at stage IV a year ago, and was told there is no cure for me, and the focus would be palliative. My MO put me on Tamoxifen as my only anti-cancer drug (and I get a monthly shot of goserelin, which shuts down my ovaries). Within three months my primary tumor was reduced by 50% and the tumor that was hanging out on my lung had disappeared. It is a wonder drug for some of us, and I am grateful that something so simple and well-tolerated is helping to keep me stable. No obvious side-effects for me, except occasional warm flushes.

I've wondered, though, about the women who get side effects from it. I never had bad periods; not much cramping or headaches, nausea, all that. Would women with painful, difficult menstruation have more difficulty with Tamoxifen, or less? Or would there be no correlation? Just something I'm curious about.

I was started in tamoxifen after radiation even though a I had a complete hysterectomy (and ovaries removed). I couldn't deal with the SEs so I am on a break and start an AI after thanksgiving.

As others have said, doctors are going to suggest some sort of endocrine therapy - if not tamoxifen then an AI. I've been on tamoxifen for a month now and find it completely tolerable. I worked myself into a tizzy after reading about the SEs some people experienced, but I haven't found it to be bad.

I have been taking tamoxifen since April and have had no side effects other than the occasional hot flash which are also probably happening because of chemopause. My MO says that only a handful of women in her practice have severe SEs from Tamoxifen. Don't fear the tamoxifen!

Just wondering if the side effects are more/less severe for pre-menopausal women? Anybody know if that makes a difference?

I'm almost 3 years from UMX (2 more weeks!) and have been on Tamoxifen for 2 months short of that. I do very well on it. I was premeno when I started in 2013. Then in 2014 after requesting a baseline TVUS found that I had thickened lining, fibroids and cysts. I'd never really had bad periods till starting tamoxifen, then they just became heavy. In Jan of this year I had a total hysterectomy after much deliberation with my MO and GYN. I'm now about 11 months out and I feel great! At my last MO appt in Sept, he mentioned swapping me to an AI but after some discussion and googling, decided that I would just stay on Tamoxifen since I do pretty well on it. I have joint pain which is helped with turmeric and ginger and magnesium. I had alot of hot flashes just after my hysterectomy but take Peridin-C and iCool and usually have only 2 or 3 a day and they are very mild and quick. I've asked all my docs if they think I should try an AI to get that reduced risk of recurrence and all have said it would only be a percentage point or so and not worth the side effects of an AI. I do know I'm expected to do 10 years on something so after 5 years I may change my mind, but for now I'm sticking with tamoxifen.

Also, my hysterectomy was so easy. I had everything taken including cervix and ovaries. Spent one night in hospital, was off pain meds by day 3, driving by day 6. I felt like I could do anything by day 10 but made sure I followed my gyn's advice and walked alot and otherwise took it easy. I feel soooo much better!

NineTwelve, that is so good to hear that tamoxifen has been so beneficial for you. Are they now considering other treatments instead of just palliative care? Best wishes to you.

I had very painful periods prior to being diagnosed with BC. I went to the doctors and was told my pelvic exam was normal 6 months before my visit and was prescribed Ibuprofin. Then a month later was diagnosed with BC. Dealing with that the painful periods took a back seat and then I went into chemopause. Two months after chemo, my period came back for three weeks and was extremely heavy. I had a VUS which showed large fibroids and a cyst on my ovary. I had a TAH LSO on November 9th and recovering well. I kept my right ovary to help not going into surgical menapause and I am feeling great. I am ER/PR positive but I am 45 and both my MO and Gyn said QOL would be better if I kept the ovary and doing ovary suppression wouldn't reduce risk of recurrance as if I were younger. I'm not sure if the Tamoxifen contributed to the fibroids as I was only on it for seven weeks before my VUS. Otherwise I have no other SE and will will continue taking the Tamoxifen

I've been on Tamoxifen for 3 years and my fibroids have not grown either. I have a yearly Trans-vaginal exam and everything is fine no problems relating to Tamoxifen.