I have been taking Tamoxifin for 2.5 years. My legs started to ache, (especially at night), then I started to feel stiff and now I have trouble walking. I have been told I need to have both hips replaced as I have oesteoarthristis.
I have been told this has nothing to do with my cancer treatment or the tamoxifin but it has happened so quickly and I do wonder.
Has anyone else had this experience? Thanks
Hi Caleho,
Reading your post with great interest, before diagnosis I had been told I had a small patch of oesteoarthritis in my hip, just over a year ago I started to have great pain in my feet, ankles and elbows and after scans etc I have now been told I have arthritis in both feet, both ankles, spine, both elbows and still the small patch in the one hip. My foot has twisted so badly I am due to have an op in the next couple of weeks. The pain basically came on overnight and regardless of what everyone is telling me I am not convinced it is not tamoxifen related. I was also amazed at the speed it all occured, am almost 2 years taking tamoxifen. Everyone medical has told me it’s not related, I just feel it’s all such a co incidence, would this all have occured anyway?? I don’t know. Will be very interesting to see if anyone else has the same issues. Do you have a date for your ops? xx
Thanks for responding Katy. I have an x- ray from 2009 which shows I had minor oestoarthristis but it wasn’t bad enough for them to tell me or treat me. I have now been told thiat I have the worst case they have seen in someone my age. It does not run in my family. I cannot help but think it has to be connected to tamoxifin or radiotherapy.
I understand that for many, tamoxifin is life saving and I do not want to deter from use of it but I have gone from being fit and supple to barely being able to walk up a flight of stairs and it has happened so quickly.
With the way they are promoting use of tamoxifin for those at risk of BC and extending the length of use to those are already taking it, makes me think they will be wary of negative press. I just want others to be monitored so they have choices if they are at risk of ending up immobile.
I am sorry you too are suffering. I do not yet have a date for my ops, am still waiting to hear.
I hope your operation is successful. Please let me know.
Carrie x