Are there any other women out there who are starting to take Tamoxifen this month? I am due to take my first tablet tomorrow and I’m feeling slightly apprehensive about the side effects, and daunted about taking the drug for 10 years.
Any advice / warnings / reassurance gratefully received!
Amanda
Yes me!
I am also supposed to start tomorrow and reading horror stories on side effects so a bit worried now 
Hi Amanda,
I felt exactly the same as you a year ago when I first started tamoxifen, but as it turns out, I’ve been fine on it. Many of us are, so see how you go, it may well be all ok. Obviously, those with problems understandably will report it, so what you see here is not representative of all of us.
The list of side effects does look daunting, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get any or all of them & if you do, there are things that can help, so If it occurs, then deal with then.
I’m on it for 10 years & now it’s part of my daily routine.
Once I did take a double dose by mistake & boy, did I know about it later! so I now mark the blister pack with the days of the week with an indelible pen.
After overthinking it a lot before I started, I decided to start with taking it after breakfast as I felt I would be less likely to forget it at that time. For me, it also left me with the option of changing the time if it helped with any side effects, but this has not been necessary.
Wishing you well with it.
ann x
Ladies
I just wanted to echo ann’s comments, I have been on tamoxifen for 7 months now, apart from a lovely hot flush in the morning after I take the tablet and a bit of constipation which increased fibre intake has sorted I have been fine. Like everything you will always hear the bad things but at the end of the day taking this tablet for 5 years is a small price to pay to keep me safe.
Helena xxx
Good morning all,
Thank you so much for your comments and advice. I have taken the first tablet this morning after breakfast (and another sleepless night - not sure if it’s due to the hot weather or the cancer treatment!).
Good luck Hollis69 - let me know how you get on!
Love to all,
Amanda
Woop woop amanda63 well done 
Ok so I am freaking out about starting this week as have freinds driving down to see me and have a few drinks this weekend.
I am worried about mixing alchahol so going to chat to onchology first, I know seems silly but I have been looking forward to some support from my close freinds and they live far away so is really important to spend some quality time with them and need a blowout!
keep me posted on how you are
Amanda I started taking mine last week. I felt the same, so apprehensive. But I’m a week in and feel OK. Not sure if I’ve been having some hot flushes because of the tablets, or just because it’s been soooo hot and also got my period today. I take mine in the evening and so far, so good. Xx
Hi Amanda. I started my tamoxifen early June and was so upset on the first day, but…I can’t say I have experienced side effects other than an upset tummy. I’ve been awaiting hot flushes with dread but nothing so far! I’m beginning to get the hang of this thing - the treatments have not been as bad as I built them up in my head to be!!
Good luck and take care x
Hi Hollis,
Enjoy a glass of wine or two, you deserve it, I do - but not to excess of course!
ann x
Hi Ladies
I am getting my prescription today for Tamoxifen, not sure if to take it at night or on the morning so any advice on the best time of day would be brill.
Good luck to everyone else who is starting on it
Denise xx
Hi Den,
I decided to take tamox at the best time for me, when I would be least likely to forget it, which for me, was after my toast in the morning.
I then felt I would then have the option to change the timimg if I needed to later. As it turned out, this has worked out fine for me & I have not needed to change it.
ann x
Hello everyone,
So far so good with the Tamoxifen, although I realise it is very early days! If anything, I have felt a bit nauseous at times and I am having (very!) hot flushes early in the night.
Denise - I am taking my tablet in the morning after breakfast. At the moment I’m keeping the tablets next to the tea bags so I don’t forget!
Love to all,
Amanda
Hi all
I started Tanoxifen couple months ago , was not so good but here few tips that helped if you get side effects.
Breast care nurse sugests taking half morning and night always after food this helped so much to even out reactions.
I am 61 so post menopausal but did still have few hot flushes every day, they got suoer charged on Tam so I thought I would try out the LadyCare magnet and was totally surprised how much it helped.
I was getting nasty surges of dread and anxiety and the magent stopped all that too.
Some think its a placebo effect, so ruddy what! it worked!
I did get lot of nausea and indegestion, also sore mouth and lady bits. Aparently Tamixifen blocks estrogen to breasts but can increase to other parts of body, so can change ph of vagina, leading to thrush or irratation.
Wish I was warned about this. It seemed to get worse linger I was on drug.
Nausea and soreness got so bad by seventn week I got quite ill so told to have a break till after Radiotherapy settles and my body heals. But then I face Tamixifen or another hormone blocker in few weeks.
When faced wth side effects, if any, as so many seem to be ok, its worth checking how much benefit you will get from drug by using the NHS PREDICT online tool.
It tells you five year and ten year increase in life expectancy if on drug, you answer few questions re your cancer so its personalised.
I am releved to be off drug and am considering if its worth it or not but will discuss with oncologist in few weeks.
I hope all of you, like many, have no or minor side effects.
Hi all,
So after my weekend of fun and copius amounts of alcahol with my freinds down, I took my first pill on Monday night as decided I may sleep through any side effects.
I was so anxious I layed there waiting for a stroke, or to swell up and get clots and die during the night 
luckily I survived the night and woke up alive and fine, apart from being knackered!
I seem to be ok but had horrendous heartburn yesterday so will see if that happens again today.
Hope you are all doing well x x
Hi ladies,
I have been taking Tamoxifen since January and haven’t experienced any side effects other than night sweats, I’m having a course of acupuncture for this and so far it seems like a miracle cure and I’ve only had 2 sessions to date!
I also take in the morning, marking the strips with the day of the week. I put the box back in my bedside drawer once I’ve taken, then get it out as I go to bed. Seems to work for me.
Oh, just remembered I did have a slight change to my vision so needed new glasses, this can be a side effect so I made sure I mentioned my medication to my optician.
Love & light Donna.x
Hi, how are you all doing? Hot sweats have abated a bit, just feel shattered and occasionally a bit out of it. Otherwise so far,so good. Hope everyone is OK xx
Hi all
Now been taking Tamoxifen for 9 days and apart from hot flushes and a little tired haven’t had any side effets yet. How about everyone else?
xx
I’m 5 days in and feel a bit tired but that’s about it. Although I do feel a bit more bolshy as I’m situations I would normally hold my tongue…I now don’t ha ha x
Hello everyone,
How are you all doing? I have been taking Tamoxifen for two weeks now. The worst side effect is the hot flushes, and the warm weather isn’t helping with those! Apart from that I have occasional nausea and a feeling of lightheadedness.
Two women at my breast cancer support group today were saying that the Ladycare magnet is working for them. Have any of you tried it, or know anyone who has? The magnet is quite expensive and I’m not sure whether to invest in one or not.
Hugs to all,
Amanda
Hi Amanda, I have heard the magnets are good but if you look on Amazon and type in ladycare magnet it also brings up magnetic bracelets that are slightly cheaper with good reviews so maybe worth trying them. ?X