My fingers and ancles started to swell about 13 months ago. At the time I just had 2 rounds of chemo left. I was hoping that once chemo was finished they would go back to norman. No luck! I started Tamoxifen in January and since then have actually lost about 10 lbs. All done to hard work and exercise, but my fingers and ancles are still swollen. I would like to wear my rings again.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Anybody got any suggestion?
Have a good day
Valentine
Sorry you’re having problems, Valentine. I don’t know the answer but I am sure someone will, or you could ring the helpline.
Ann x
I started Tamoxifen in June following mx and one of the side effects is swollen hands and ankles. My gp put me on a water tablet but another GP took me off it and sent me to hospital for blood test for kidney function???. I cant wear my rings and my ankles really ache all the time and its worse at night - I am like a 70 year old in the morning instead of 52 and I have to ease into walking.
Good news is that I have managed to get a job recently and changed taking the tablet of tam in the evening and this has helped.
Try to rest your ankles and legs as must as you can. When it was bad I spent two days in bed and then on the third day all ache was gone! It did come back but now I rest as much as I can and take a joint supplement daily.
I think you really need this investigated by the GP. They do acknowledge this as a side effect but do remember not all GPs (like mine) know enough about breast cancer, the treatment and all that goes with it, to make a good assessment. Hope you have a good gp that is able to help.
Good luck and stick with it- it does get better over time.
God bless x
Valentine,
You said you were still having chemo when the swelling started. Were you having Taxotere?
All of my joints are painful and swollen and it started just after I finished chemo. My onc has told me that it’s caused by Taxotere which makes the muscles surrounding the joints swell. He says it has been known to take up to 18 months to go but it will improve.
Don’t know if yours is the same but if you had Taxotere it’s something to consider.
Jan xxx
I had FEC, not Taxotere. My GP seemed to think it was due to the weight I gained during chemo and advised me that once I had lost the extra weight my fingers would be slimmer. Well, I have lost all that weight but my fingers and ancles are still bigger than they once were. Not very helpful but I suppose as side effects go I’ve got off very lightly. No mood swings, no weight gain, just hot flushes and fat fingers!
Hi Valentine
My ankles and fingers started to swell when I started on Tamoxifen in April. It only lasted for about four months and then overnight it just cleared up. I hope you have the same luck soon. It is so frustrating when you can’t get your rings on, and the tightness round your ankles is very uncomfortable. Mine were so painful to touch, I found myself trying to skirt round people all the time to avoid a knock on them.
Take care
Jackie x