Tamoxifen and Sage

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Tamoxifen and Sage

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Tamoxifen and Sage I am on Tamoxifen following two WLEs and radiotherapy about 18 months ago. I had a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed 5 weeks ago and since then I have experienced a huge increase in hot flushes and night sweats. My sister in law swears by sage but I am sure I read somewhere that it should not be taken in conjunction with tamoxifen. I now can’t find any reference to this so would be interested to know if my memory is correct. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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I just looked this up on a useful site for herbals information

mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm and got this information .

“Sage, kudzu, red clover, licorice, and black cohosh may have estrogenic effects. They can potentially interfere with action of tamoxifen and other products containing estrogen.”

I’m on arimidex and will also stay clear of herbs with estrogenic effects, though luckily I don’t suffer from hot flushes. Others can probably help with another solution to your problems (I’ve heard that acupuncture can be helpful with this).

Roberta
xx

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yes i have heard the same. have also heard on the 1 hand not to take evening primrose and someone said their onc said it was ok to take???
sharon. x

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Sharon,
just looked up evening primose and it says.

'To relieve menopausal symptoms:
One clinical trial found that evening primrose oil was no better than placebo at relieving menopausal hot flashes. No other scientific evidence ’

But also says this:

Thirty-eight breast cancer patients participated in a study testing the effectiveness of GLA in conjunction with the chemotherapy drug, Tamoxifen. Each patient received GLA along with Tamoxifen for six months. Results were compared with a seperate group of forty-seven patients who had received Tamoxifen alone. Results showed that the patients taking GLA in addition to Tamoxifen had a significantly faster response to the treatment than those on the chemotherapy agent alone. This change in response was noticed as early as six weeks into the course of treatment.

Think I might just add this to my pill taking!

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chillow helps Am also having wicked hot sweats day and night since on tamoxifen-my Breast nurse suggested buying a chillow-you sleep on it and it really seems to help me feel cooler during the night.Found it by going to Google and searching chillow.very helpful site and had mine next day delivery.At £24.99 it is expensive but am very glad l got one.

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thanks roberta, will continue with confidence.
sharon. x

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lots of water! Read with interest your post. I too had ovaries out in September and am having awful flushes all night. I have also read about sage and to be cautious. In desperation I have been reading aout the menopause and read that if you drink 2 litres of water aday this should relieve hot flushes. This I am trialing this week, its alot of water to get down in the cold weather but i must say my nights have been alot better with only 1or 2 flushes that had not got the usual intesity. Its maybe worth a try!!! do you feel more tired since your ovary op, as I do and am wondering what is wrong with me!!!

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Chillow… Can anybody else recommend the chillow? I have been on the site and it does sound good but it is a lot to spend if it isn’t going to work.
marg

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night sweats and alcohol From experience, but confirmed by my occ health doctor, I would have to say that night sweats are a lot less of a problem if I don’t drink alcohol !!! Talk about being kicked when you’re down.

So… if night sweats are a big problem for any of you and you’re used to having a couple of glasses of wine of an e evening it might just be worth seeing what effect no alcohol has.

I now only drink if I’m going out for a meal, and sometimes at weekends. I’m hoping I might lose some weight too, but so far I haven’t (probably due to all the cake I stuff in instead).

Happy dreams to you all

Kate

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Evening Primrose Oil and Starflower Oil Sorry, haven’t posted for a while…

I take Evening Primrose and Starflower Oil and find I don’t get hot flushes when I take the tablets. One of my friends who’s also had bc said that her Onc at the Marsden said it was fine to take them.

Anne
xx

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Thanks for suggestions Thank you to everyone for their suggestions. I already take Evening Primrose but will try Starflower too.

I was advised after the hysterectomy to drink lots of water - but since going back to work it is not so easy - I am sure it does help though.

I fear that not drinking alcohol in the evening also makes a difference so I may have to try and limit my alcohol consumption a bit!

I do feel tired at the moment but can’t honestly say that it is down to the lack of ovaries - I am not quite 6 weeks post hysterectomy and went back to work this week so I think that explains the tiredness. Also I am waking up a lot at night besause of the sweats so that doesn’t help.