Hi everybody, I am coming to the end of my chemo for HER2+ and ER+ (47yo) and currently have had 3 doses of zoladex. I haven’t had any side effects on zoladex and I am terrified of the side effects of tamoxifen and exemestane that I will be starting (one of!) I have found very few positive stories on here so was wondering if you could share your positive stories? I would consider myself fit and healthy (bar the cancer!!) and when I get back to work I will be doing lots of walking and my work as a teacher means I rarely sit down at work, hoping exercise will help a lot.
Thank you for reading xx
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Hi @whippetlove
I can’t comment on exemestane, but I can share my experience of tamoxifen. I’m also 47 and been taking it for about 8 months. When I first started taking it I had a few days where I struggled to focus and couldn’t seem to get the right word out and a couple of slightly warmer nights. Since then nothing. I have also had six different brands and not noticed any difference between them at all. I’m convinced daily exercise and not drinking alcohol are why I don’t have any issues. Of course that may be completely wrong, but this belief keeps me motivated and makes me feel in control.
There are so many worrying stories about this medication that it can seem it is a certainty it will be horrible. No wonder people are scared about taking it, I know I was. But, in my experience, apart from the daily alarm on my phone and actually taking the tablet, it has no impact on my life at all.
Best of luck with everything. x
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Hi @whippetlove there are a few threads on here which have positive reviews of the various endocrine suppression drugs but generally people post on the forum to ask questions or download their issues and thereby get support and/or advice. If you search hard enough you will also find threads in which multiple women bemoan the fact that they aren’t allowed to continue with Tamoxifen or an AI at the end of their 5 or 10 year plan, as they feel safe when taking the drug. The fact is that there are tens of thousands of people who take endocrine treatment and have little or no side effects but they are just going about their lives with no need to come on to the forum. So there is no guarantee that you will get SE and, if you do, there are generally ways of mitigating the impact. All you can really do is try them and see and try to not worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. If it becomes unsupportable for you then a conversation will need to be had with your oncologist but cross that bridge if and when you come to it. Good luck with the next stage of your recovery.
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My experience of tamoxifen has been fairly similar to @southwest123 but there was one brand that I did not get on with. Pretty much daily headaches for the month I was taking that brand, but other than that it’s been fine. I also don’t drink and do daily exercise, so maybe there’s something to that? 
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I was 36 when I started tamoxifen. I had the odd night sweat which was helped by increasing exercise. I had no real problems and felt a great loss when I had to stop it. It was my comfort blanket. I am very fit and healthy, still here 19 years later.
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Yes i also struggle with words on tamoxifen… 6mths in now and still having hot flushes and insomnia…
Im going to try a non hormonal hot flush med soon. And i just manage insomnia with otc sleep assist pills which are actually antihistamines. I only take 1/2 or 1/4. I tried stopping but just stay awake all night. I spoke to bc nurse and said the box said nit to keep on them but she said just do it… sleep so important 
… if you get side effects just ask about managing them. I find med oncol doesnt offer, but bc nurse better to discussthis with…
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Hi. Tamoxifen has been fine for me. I started on Zoladex and Letrozole and struggled with those side-effects. I am now tamoxifen only and the side effects are much more manageable.
All the best x
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Thank you for replying, I needed to hear that. I wish you all the best xx
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Hi
I have been on Tamoxifen for nearly 10 years (stop it this year), and have had no side effects beyond a few hot flushes for the first year or two. Everyone’s body is different and it is hard to predict how any medication will be tolerated by yours. People use this website for help and support so it is usually only those who have issues that post. There are probably more people out there without any symptoms, or only mild ones, than there are who suffer. Good luck with your journey whatever you decide.
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Hello. I’ve been on Tamoxifen for about 6 weeks and aside from a couple of mild headaches and feeling hot on a couple of occasions I’ve been fine. I’ve been making sure I eat well and get out each day with the dog to get exercise and fresh air. It has made me feel better overall especially with the emotional toll starting to become more apparent now I’ve finished treatment. I’m 44 and work full time, so doing everything I can to get some kind of normality back and physically be in the best place in case of any side effects.
If I’m being honest, I think as the side effects are talked about so much I’ve probably been hyper aware of them and might not of even noticed them had it not been knowing I was taking the tablets! I’ve had a couple of days of dizziness but I finished radiotherapy this week so I’m more inclined to think it’s down to that rather than the Tamoxifen. I would echo what @Tigress said regarding the likelihood of there being tons and tons of people managing fine outwith the forum-sometimes it’s hard to read all the horror stories as some people really really suffer on the different hormones (and I might at some point be one of them) so it’s difficult not to go down a rabbit hole and think you’ll automatically be the same. Whatever you choose I wish you well and tons of luck xx
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Hello whippetlove
I read that you are taking examistane and zoladex. I was on tamoxifen for five years. It never bothered me at all. Then I was put on letrozole. I have been taking letrozole for 4 or 5 years now. The side effect are not very pleasant. Lots of side affects. I was told by my nurse that existence does not have as many side effects. Letrozole is a bit stronger than exemistane.