tamoxifen scared stiff

i have had my prescription to start taking this for a few weeks and have kept it in my purse. i know im being naughtry but admit im scared. im 43 and just dont want to feel like an old ladt. any tips please

I really think you should ring your bc nurse up, you need to take them, not everyone has bad side effects on them, in fact, most people find them fine to take, has the oncologist explained to you why you need to take them? please at least ring someone, the helpline on here is very good. hope you get sorted soon

Alisonxxxx

What is the prescription for? Please don’t be put off by some of what you read on this site. Some people like to dwell on the negatives! Yes, I know BC and all that goes with it is s**t but life goes on!

Margaret x

hi there,

i was like you, i didnt take it for about a week after but i was worrying for nothing, this little beauty is going to help me in the long run and ive had no side effects except a little hot flush every now and again, im 37 and didnt want to be a big hairy old woman either. All you can do is try it and then deal with the symptoms if any as they come along, you probably wont get any.

love

Tracey

Hi

Have you had chemo ? I had chemo and my hot flushes started with a vengence during it. I was 42 at the time and premenopausal. When I started taking tamoxifen at the end of chemo ( 14 months ago) my hot flushes did not worsen on it . The only problem with it is weight gain - I have to live on a diet to maintain my weight . However unfortunately its a price I have to pay in keeping this C*ap disease at bay. If you don’t take it you will only worry about that !!!

Good Luck

Alise x

Hiya,

I’m watching this post with interest as I started a similar thread a few days ago. I am 35, have my prescription which I’ve been told to get as and when. Am due to start at the beginning of Nov when I have rads. Soooooo nervous, only 35 and can’t bear the thought of experiencing menopausal symptoms right now!

Kelly
-x-

Don’t be nervous. I believe that any treatment is better than a risk of a recurrence. Focus on the positives in your life and think of it as just a tablet. Please!!

Margaret x

Its real easy…glass of water in one hand…pill in the other…swallow and jobs done. Yes you might get side effects…but you might not…or if you do get them they might only be little ones…hot flushes etc annoying…but liveable with.
Take the pills chica…

My complaint with tamoxifen is that it doesnt have the days of the week on them like the contraceptive pill…so I really have to think hard come the afternoon if I remembered to take it that morning.

From someone who’s been on Tamoxifen for over 3 years, it ain’t so bad and to be honest I’m dreading coming off them because I look upon them as my “insurance policy” and after 5 years I don’t know what I’ll do. So from me, just go for it, everyone is different and give it a go.

Hazel

Hi Buttons 500

Like you I could not remember sometimes if I had taken the tablet in the morning.
I bought one of the pill boxes with the days of the week on it and find that helps.

Don’t know if it is chemo brain or old age!

I have also been taking Tamoxifen with hardly any side effects. I am post menopausal but think it is worth taking one little pill a day if it keeps this this disease at bay.

Take care and love
Thistle

I have taken it for 20 months now, with no side effects whatsoever! Granted I am postmenopausal, which probably makes a slight difference. Taking this little pill may save your life!

Mcgle

Have been taking Tamox for 10 days now. Although I am 60 was on HRT until May this year when I asked Doctor to take me off as I read the scare re Ovarian Cancer! I was waiting for the side effects of coming off HRT when I was diagnosed with BC.
As I was still having periods on the HRT don’t know if I had the menopause or not, but having no periods now Had no side effects so far except the night sweats. I don’t know if its phsycological but I find they are not as bad if I sleep with two pillows! I just know they are a life saver and pop mine each night with a glass of milk cos I did read it was the best way to do it but I’m only going from my own experience. If popping a pill keeps the little B****R at bay then its a small price for us to pay.

Good luck

I’ve been taking it for 11 days now - so far no side effects at all. Had my prescription for 2 months before I started taking it, for exactly the same reasons as you. I decided if I hated it, I would stop. So there!

Hope it goes well,

Sally Lou xx

HI girls,

im on my second month of tamoxifin age 30 premenopausal and have no side affects apart from little anke soreness in the nights and i think its a a small price to pay if it keeps the cancer away, i also think thay should be days on them i keep forgetting if iv taken them or not gonna get a pill box good advice thistle

take care
breda xx

I started taking tamoxifen in February this year just as I was finishing my rads. I was 47, 48 in May and premenopausal. My periods stopped after my 4th cycle of chemo. I take a generic tamoxifen as the local PCT will only allow GPs to prescribe generic drugs as they are cheaper. I was dreading any possible side effects as I feel I’ve already lost so much to this disease however I knew that not everyone has them. I’ve had no problems at all, no flushes, no weight gain, no aches and pains, no loss of sex drive, no hair thinning, nothing. It is very effective at preventing recurrence so very definitely worth taking.
Geraldine