Just started Tamoxifen....so when exactly should I be prepared for side effects to kick in?

Going through breast cancer treatment Hormone therapy
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Hello all.  Popping over from the May Radiotherapy thread as all done and dusted with that.  I started taking my Tamoxifen about 3 days ago and I just wanted to get a sense check as to when i might start to get any side effects?  Is it immediate?  Or does it take a while to start cumulating?   

 

So far, aside from some flushes (which to be honest I was getting anyway before any of this cancer malarkey kicked off), the only think ive experienced is being woken up each night - I’m taking it before bed time - about an 80 mins post taking with with a racing heartbeat!  Settles straightway though and actually didnt happen last night that I remember.

 

Anyway, for anyone who is a bit further along on their 5 or 10 years of Tamoxifen journey, I’d appreciate some guidance so that I can start prearing myself…:-) 

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Handbagaddict

 

I have been on it now for about 20 months now.  In the early days I did experience a few weeks where I was very emotional but it passed.  I take mine at 9am in the morning, I get a wonderful!! flush about an hour after I take it, apart from some occasional aches, which could also be my age, and occasional cramp at the front of my right leg I have been fine. 

 

The thing is that they have to tell you all the potential side effects just in case, but it does not mean that you will get any or all of them xx

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Hi Handbagaddict

 

It’s Emily here from Breast Cancer Care.

 

While you’re waiting for responses on here, I just thought I’d let you know that we’ve got a couple of email volunteers who have had Tamoxifen for many few years. You’d be very welcome to contact them to ask them to share their experiences.

 

**Gwen **completed her course of Tamoxifen a few years ago: gwen@breastcancercare.org.uk

Claire has been on Tamoxifen for around 3 years: claire@breastcancercare.org.uk

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best wishes

Emily at Breast Cancer Care

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Thanks Emily and thank you Helena for both your responses.  Helpful contacts should i need them in the future.  I’m a week in now and the racing heartbeat no longer happens and I’m not suffering from anything else so far.  So aside from keeping my diary just so that i can track anything that seems ‘new’, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things remain as is.