Since starting on Tamoxifen a month ago Ive been experiencing really bad night sweats/flushes, and the occassional daytime flush or two. However alongside this Im having what I can only describe as chills, usually in the evening.The chills run up and down my body, and my hands get really cold, the only thing that helps is a hot bath which tips me over into hot flush mode. Im worried because I read somewhere, (Cant remember where) that chills were associated with liver cancer. Please can anyone who has had similar symptoms let me know, so that I can establish if its the norm. Really want to continue with Tamoxifen as am aware of advantages, but feeling uncomfortable a lot of the time. Does anybody know if it gets better,? Ive heard that sometimes symptoms settle in a few monthes. Really would appreciate anyone elses experiences
Love Hollyx
Hi All
I have posted this on behalf of Terry
Regards
Katie
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
My wife is on Femara, she was on Tamoxifen for 5 years but it came back big time 8 years later. When she was on tamoxifen she had flushes but no chills.
Now she has liver cancer but has no chills ( just flushes ) so I do not think your chills are the sign of that at this stage.
Take Care
Hi Holly
I have been on Tamoxifen almost a year and after suffering hot flushes almost constantly for a few months, I am freezing cold today and feel like I have chills and am coming down with something but I know I am not as I have had this feeling before. Don’t know if this is the same as you but it sounds it. Also, my iregular periods are due sometime soon and I am always cold before. Could this be the same as you? I am sure you are fine
Love
Debbie
xx
Hi - I’ve been on tamoxifen for nearly a year now, and I too have hot flushes and chills. Going to see GP next week about side effects ie. flushes, terrible weight gain and joint pains. Don’t want to stop taking it though as I do think it goes a long way to prevent recurrences. Not heard that chills are associated with liver cancer - something else to worry about now!! It never ends does it? Hope you feel better soon. Take care.
Jean xx
Hiya,
I read ‘somewhere’ (Tamoxifen Brain!) recently that women going through the menopause can experience chills. Tamoxifen mimics menopausal symptoms so I’m sure what you’re experiencing is normal. But do check with your doctor if you’re worried.
love,
Jacki xx
Hi
I have been taking tamoxifen since the end of April and although I don’t get what I would call hot flushes or chills, I do find that most of the time I am either too hot or too cold and sometimes both within a short space of time. I find that I will get so cold that I need to put a jumper on and then just a little while later I will go to the other extreme and be so hot I have to take itoff again!! This is becoming quite irritating and I mentioned it to my breast care nurse last week. She said it is a hormone related problem and therefore it is down to tamoxifen.
Lollie x
Hi
I’m not on tamoxifen but chemo put me into an early menopause - my treatment finished a year ago and I’m still having hot flushs and chills and they are making my life a misery.
Hi Holly,
I’ve also been on Tamoxifen for just over a month now and i’m exactly the same as you, night sweats/flushes, couple during the day and very bad chills start mid afternoon-the only way to get warm is a hot bath but, like you say this sets off the flushes again! It’s like being on a bloomin rollercoaster isn’t it?
I hope this all is normal and is just side effects of Tamoxifen and nothing more sinister!
Good luck to you
Tracy xx
The first year i was on Tam i would often get ‘chills’ and feel ‘fluey’ but coming up to one and half years there are bigger times in between each bout and only get them once every 2 or 3 months now. Sometimes i get flushes often then afew weeks of not often.
Hi
I’ve been on Tamoxifen for a year next month - I too have had night sweats/flushes from first taking it, and suffer from chills, especially in the late afternoon, when I also get tired from lack of sleep. I have found the night sweats get worse with alcohol (especially red wine) and caffeine, so I am a caffeine free teetotaller now! I wake up once or twice a night now instead of every hour. ‘Pineapple’ has given me hope that the flushes can phase out in time.
Janet x
Just want to add that my onc told me the best time to take the atmoxifen was in the evening after my meal.I am in France and they normally eat alot later here, but we normally eat around 7pm, i take it with a glass of milk around 8.30 or 9 - dont normally clock watch and if i go out then it would be about 11. He said it doesnt matter if the hour differs as long as its in the evening. You dont say what time of the day you take your but its not in the evening you could give this a try.
I have been on sleeping tabs for just over a year and although i only take half a tab i sleep great. I have tried coming off them but it didnt work and used to spend the day worrying about how i was going to sleep that night so gave up in the end and just except i will be on them for a long time yet! who cares! I dont.
Hope this helps
Thanks Pineapple. Unfortunately I started by taking the Tamoxifen in the evenings, and changed to mornings because of the nightsweats (as suggested by my breast care nurse and GP). I always eat breakfast before I take it though. Sleeping tablets are beginning to sound like a good idea.
Janet x