Hot Flushes and Tamoxifen

Public Archive
1

Help
Does anyone have any tips on how to ease the sweats???
Sleeping is a nightmare.
x

2

Try a ladycare magnet. I’m on Tamoxifen and I use one. I haven’t suffered with flushes and you will find a lot of ladies on here swear by it.
You can get them from Boots or Lloyds and it costs just under £20. It fits on your underclothes next to your skin and doesn’t show. I forget I’m wearing it to be honest and it seems to combat most of the horrible sided effects from Tamoxifen.
Good luck
Val

3

Hi, you don’t say how long you have been on tamox, but I can honestly say the first 3 months for me was hell! My Onc did say give it 3 months and since the 3 month mark, they have settled down much more to only 2 a night (it was around 4/5 an hour!!!). I use a chillow which helps, but I still have to turn it to get a cool bit. Not sure about the lady magnet thing, mentioned it to my ONC and he poo poo it as no research has been carried out. I would certainly check first. Best of luck and I really hope they settle down like mine have done.
PS - I am also taking clonidine (4 a day so maybe these are helping too).
xx

4

Thanks for that at least you have given me hope! Ive been on it for 6 weeks so fingers crossed xx

5

Hi
I find the ‘chillow’ brilliant- an amazing invention. I got mine from Amazon. Its like using a soft ice pack without the problems of condensation- I use it inside a pillow case.
Best wishes

6

Hi Imc

In addition to the helpful posts you have here, BCC have published a booklet about menopausal symptoms caused by breast cancer treatments which you may find useful, you can read or order a copy via this link:

breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/17/

Best wishes
Lucy

7

Hi Ladies
I’ve been taking Tamoxifen for nearly four weeks now and i was preparing for the hot flushes but dont seem to get many at all. I’m worried its not working.

Lesleyxx

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My hot flushed started on chemo and were severe then stoped a little. They then came back again when I started on Tamoxifen so I tried the ladycare magnet (just started using it withing last couple of weeks) with amazing results!! Do give it a go. x x

9

lmc - Have you tried Evening Primrose Oil or Starflower Oil? I take EPO and just have ‘warm flushes’, not sweats.

Ann x

10

Ladycare magnet works for me too! Started Tamoxifen in January had awful side effects. Took advice from ladies on forum and got a Ladycare magnet - oncologist told me a few ladies had mentioned magnet to her and although not tried and tested if it works its ok to use.
Good luck
Kyra
x

11

Thanks for all the help ladies. Will let you know how it goes x

12

Hi Ladies so glad I spotted this thread. I have back to back hot flushes at times. No night sweats but the flushes do wake me up.I am have just finished 6 chemos and am sure the flushes have got worse as the time has gone on. Have very strong ER and PR +ve BC so will be having Tamoxifen eventually. Will try the ladycare magnet.Thanks LOL Jackie

13

Hope it works for you ladies too…Let us know how you get on.
Lots of Love
Kyra
x

14

No-one knows how the ladycare magnet works. The only theory I have seen is that it affects the way hormones circulate in the body, possibly increasing their effect. So for me, being hormone positive, I am not prepared to take the risk of trying it (and I suffer a lot from hot flushes and have tried all sorts of things).

15

Food for thought Road Runner.
Thanx alot x

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Mm I agree food for thought LOL Jackie

17

Hi ladies,
I finished chemo in Dec 08 and have been on tamoxifen for just over a year now. Over time I have found that the only thing that really works is to eat a light meal in the evening and nothing at all for at least 3 hours before bedtime. Then I only get 2 flushes a night and I usually fall asleep pretty quickly after them. If I eat any later then I can be up several times and take ages to get back to sleep.
It’s also good for weight control. I’m wearing the same jeans I had before diagnosis.
My worst night was New Years Eve when I spent the evening on Bailey’s and chocolate. I was up for hours, but it was worth it!!
Keep going, ladies, and take one day at a time.

Valentine

18

I have every confidence and faith in my Oncologist and if she says the Ladycare magnet is okay to use then I do believe her. I want the protection Tamoxifen can give me but I not sure I could have preserved using Tamoxifen without some help with the awful side effects. I don’t know how it works – maybe it’s just the “placebo effect” but it’s a risk I am willing to take. However, I totally understand and respect others who do not think its a good idea to use.
Kyra

19

Hi all

had awful flushes with chemo, they died down after two months then came back with a vengeance on tamoxifen. Tried ladycare - did nothing for me, neither did venlofaxine, evening primrose oil, sage, or anything else considered safe to use. Don’t get on with my chillow - too cold for my head! However, the flushes do seem to have settled down again - after two months or so of tamoxifen. Here’s hoping they won’t come back.

Some hope for all you ladies out there, they can just go away on their own, which is what has happened to me. Hope they do for you too!

Helen.

20

I totally empathise with all of you. My hot flushes have got more intense as time has gone on - I’ve now been on tamoxifen for 6 months. They also make me feel very thirsty.

Anything that makes me hot seems to trigger them like cooking or my cat coming to sit on my lap. I don’t want to take anymore tablets or use anything else so I’m living with it.
Cutting out coffee and chocolate has made the biggest difference. I had to do this for another health problem and it’s reduced the number of hot flushes I get.

Odd thing is that I always wake up in the morning feeling really cold which I never used to!

My oncologist said that anecdotally acupuncture is good. It isn’t available on the NHS though and it’s pricey. I may give it a go if they get any worse.

Elinda x