Hello everyone
Just to say I have finished my treatment and do feel very good except for the side effects of the tamoxifen. Flushes and night sweats my doctor has recommended St. Johns Wort, started yesterday and will let you know.
Has anyone experienced the growth of facial hair and hair growing on the neck. I have been on tamoxifen for nearly four weeks
Kind Regards
Jane
Hiya Jane - SNAP!!!
I have also been taking them for 4 weeks and have facial hair on the side of my cheeks - thanks goodness they’re very light in colour but they are longer than the hairs on my head - its so unfair!!! At this rate I reckon after 5 years I will be sporting a full beard and moustache. I was going to shave them on Monday as they looked so bad after showering (appear more when damp) but thought they’d only come back thicker and darker so I’m trying to leave well alone
It’s hard to say if the ‘fuzz’ is a result of taking tamoxifen or not. I have wondered if it is caused by hormonal changes related to age - i.e. ladies of a certain age, or those who are er/pr positive having their status changed by chemotherapy or hormonal treatments. I am 62 now and have noticed it particularly over the past few years. My cancer has been hormone neg, although I was on tamoxifen about 10 yrs ago for 18mths. Over the past year I have used facial depilatory creams and the ‘fuzz’ is a lot better now.
dawnhc
Hi Jane
I would check with your bc nurse re St John’s Wort. I was told not to take it as it interferes with the tamoxifen. My lump was er +7/7. Sometimes doctors are not as clued up as they should be. If your lump was oestrogen positive, you should also avoid Soya and anything containg phytoestrogens.
Re facial hair. I have a very fine covering on my neck and chin with the occasional “straggler”.I can’t honestly say if Tamoxifen is the cause but I don’t remember seeing them before…Lol.
I too have hot flushes and night sweats. Get v funny looks walking the dog at night on the beach wearing a t shirt. I have been on Tam for a year and do find that the flushes etc come and go so try not to worry. Incidentally, mine are worse when I am stressed or upset.
Love
Debbie
Hi! Croft— I have just finished Chemo and facial hair is coming in faster
than the hair on my head, (like a little gosling.)You have just made me think
what I will look like when I start tamoxifen in a couple of weeks, hopefully it is the chemo
that causes it and not the tamoxifen. best wishes Jeanxx
Hi , I had my chemo 4 years ago and still remember the effects of tamoxifen, Yuck!, yes hot sweats, flushing , night sweats, they only lasted about a year for me, not much the last three years, just the occaisional very heavy period, Can’t wait to stop Tamoxifen next year, been told that my periods will probably start again. You just have to watch what you eat and cut out the things that make the flushing worse ( all the good things, wine, chocolate ,cream , coffee ) I felt like Teen Wolf when I finished my chemo, very fuzzy cheeks, but that went once you finish your treatment, I can remember having to use packing tape round my fingers to get all the little fuzzy hairs on my head that started to fall out when I had my radiotherapy. You save a fortune in shampoo at this time and it doesn’t take you that long to get ready in the morning. Can’t say that the facial hair was that bad on the tamoxifen, think the chemo was worse!, Take care x
Thanks for all your comments they are very much appreciated.
I have looked further on the internet and I have found one that facial down on the face is a rare side effect of Tamoxifen. Ho well.
I think you are right about the St. Johns Wort I have felt very tired since I started it and with no effect of the sweats so I shall not be taking it any more.
Thanks again for all your help.
Jane
Hi all,
I have been following this thread and would like to advise that Breast Cancer Care would say please do not take any form of herbal remedy unless this has been approved by your Oncologist/medical team first.
Kind regards,
Louise, Moderator
Hello,
Generally speaking we do not advise taking St.Johns Wort whilst on Tamoxifen as there is some clinical evidence to suggest that levels of tamoxifen circulating in the blood maybe lowered, therefore reducing its efficacy.
As said by Louise our moderator it is always a good idea to check with you oncologist or breast care nurse before starting any type of complementary treatment.
Many complementary therapies are very effective and safe to use whilst on treatments for breast cancer, however, your medical team will be able to advise you on what is most appropriate for you, and what will not interact negatively with any other treatment you are on.
Breast Cancer Care Nurse
HI
I have to say I agree with some of the posts, what I drink really does affect the night sweats, now that I’m on nolvadex d, i have very few night sweats but if i have 2 or 3 glasses of wine i do. shame!
claire
yes to more hair too, I used to get just bikini wax, now she does neck, moustache, big toes etc (hairy big toes are very savage aren’t they!) I keep thinking that next time I will just get waxed from head to toe as I add more and more bits…good job I like waxing…must be a masochist!
Hi everybody,
I was put on Tamoxifen last Wednesday and so have just been taking it for a few days. So far it has been OK with no side effects but it is probably too early to tell yet. I forgot to tell the Oncologist that I am taking Ferrous Sulphate twice a day for anaemia. Is this OK to take with Tamoxifen? I don’t think this is counted as herbal medication.
Sandra
I have the hairy face too but I take arimidex. I think it is the lack of female hormones rather than the drug itself that causes this increase in facial hair as was stated by dawnhc. So far done nothing about it but will ask at my next hosp app the cause, and how to remove it, (one for the BC nurse that one I think!)
Irene
So I have this to look forward to …mmm…it just gets better… LOL
I developed the werewolf look initially when put on tamoxifen, but the fluff pretty much disappeared after a few months.
I don’t know if it happens to everyone, but you never know your luck.
Regards, Lynn