Are there any food stuffs and supplements that we cant have whilst taking Tamoxifen. A friend told me not to eat too many carrots?? I cannot believe carrots can interfere with anything but it did make me wonder about any supplements. I know Tamoxifen is receptor based but does anyone have any more information on this?
Hi Daisy,
I asked my onc that question and he was delightfully vague! The only thing he was definite about avoiding was the remedy St John’s Wort, although he suggested that if I wanted to take anything in particular it would be worth asking my bcn first. I think that the BCC leaflet on tamoxifen also suggests being careful with any herbal supplement to relieve the menopausal symptoms, so I guess it would make sense to get them specifically checked if you wanted to take them.
I haven’t heard the carrot one!
Eliza xx
Phytoestrogens, sometimes called “dietary estrogens”, are a diverse group of naturally occurring non steroidal plant compounds that, because of their structural similarity with estradiol (17-β-estradiol), have the ability to cause estrogenic or/and antiestrogenic effects. Could this interfere with Tamoxifen sufficiently to disturb it - cant think so.
so it goes… more comprehensive list of foods known to contain phytoestrogens includes: soy beans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax), sesame seeds, wheat, berries, oats, barley, dried beans, lentils, yams, rice, alfalfa, mung beans, apples, carrots, pomegranates,[13] wheat germ, ricebran, soy linseed bread, ginseng, bourbon and beer[14] fennel and anise.[15]
The doctors would have told us if there was anything to stay away from and it would certainly be in leaflets so now I am so bored looking this up that I just think that a little carrot or pomegranates (good for skin) cant hurt surely and also if there was anything it would be barred for us.
Its the Flake ice cream I am having trouble with - especially at 3am!
Daisy
I think you’re right - we’d have been told about any food that we had to avoid, especially something as common in the diet as carrot.
Flake ice-cream, now there’s a thought …
Eliza how right you are - just bought some flake ice cream - Tescos are selling it for £2.00. Got a couple just in case!
Daisy
Agree they will tell you if there is something you shouldnt eat.
When I was on a trial drug told not to eat grapefruit, which was no hardship as I hate the stuff.
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