I have been taking Tamoxifen since end of Feb 07 and apart from dreadful night sweats and hot flushes I have been OK. However, over the past few weeks I have started to feel really low and tearful - I am usually a very positive person and the tearfulness is not from the cancer or the fear of it returning but of a poor self image!! I find myself comparing myself to others in an unfavourable light and cannot shake off this feeling - I am so cross with myself for feeling like this, and know that it is ludicrous to feel this way after breast cancer - I was wondering if any one else felt like this either through side effects of the drug or bought on by an early menopause - If I thought this was normal I could cope, otherwise I am going to go insane.
Hi I know exactly how you’re feeling at the moment. I started tamoxifen in January and finished radiotherapy in April. For a good couple of months after that I was very fragile emotionally. It’s only in the last few weeks that I feel I’m coming out of it and I can now say I feel much more like my normal self. I’m sure we must be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Like you I have terrible hot flushes. What with that, only having 1 boob, hating my brutally short hair (which is just growing far too slowly for my liking!) and putting on loads of weight, I’ve had a very negative self-image for the last few months.
I keep telling myself I should just be grateful that I’m still here and have recovered well physically from all the gruelling treatment, but it’s hard not to feel sorry for yourself at times isn’t it?
Still, as I said I’m definitely feeling better mentally now, so perhaps it’s not just the tamoxifen making you feel as you do. It could just be that you need to give yourself more time to come to terms with what you’ve been through.
Hi Susieh, thank you for your comments. You are absolutely right, I am so grateful to be here and that is why I feel such an idiot for even letting these thoughts get through. You mentioned being fragile and thats exactly how it is - I think that I am trying too hard to get back to my life before breast cancer and I need to take my time.
I am glad that you are feeling better mentally and I hope that your hair picks up speed soon!
Sounds like I have been lucky. I started the tamoxifen in February, and apart from the hot flushes and night sweats, I have been fine.
Hi Morgana, Having read some of the other comments on the forum I think that the low mood maybe due to my menopause caused by the chemo and the whole cancer shock rather than the Tamoxifen. Now I understand that I already feel better. I am pleased that you are OK on Tamoxifen - the hot flushes and night sweats are a pain but can be dealt with (even if I slide out of bed on a few occasions!)
Know what you mean by the sliding!
Glad to hear you are feeling more positive. My husband reckons he would never notice the differnce to mood swings anyway!!!
hi, i agree with what others have said. i finished all my treatment last june and i was very emotional for a while, now i only get like it if i am tired.
i am back at work and getting on with things.
there is light at the end of the tunnel.
also… tamoxifen, i have had several different types…
aps
sandoz
generics
cp pharmeceuticals
the latter one seems to suit me best.