Hiya, just finished my radiotherapy 2 days ago, feeling really sore and itchy, but told this would be normal, and have started Tamoxifen today. I am really concerned about side effects such as end. cancer, and my already existing fibriods. I tried discussing this with my GP, but he was more concerned about writing out my prescription and sending me on my way. Are there any ladies out there taking Tamoxifen who have seen changes in their fibriod growths??? I have been told that the occurance of end. cancer is only likely to increase after more than 5 years of use, does anyone have any info regarding this??? All the best to everyone.
hi, I am sure that someone will come along with the statistics. All i know is that whenever I have managed to find statistics on tomoxifen side effects the patients in the studies were given 30-40grams whereas the modern dose is 20grams, and the studies did say the side effects are dose related.
Everyone agrees that there is a slight risk of getting end cancer if you take tamoxifen but if you are watching, for unusual bleeding it will be caught early and can be treated. and I understand it is outweighed by the reduction of risk of getting BC again. trouble with just reading the extracts of reports it generalises over all age groups, and i am sure i read somewhere that the risk changes with age.
Now again, I am not expert but I thought tamoxifen affect the surface of the uterus and fibroids were underneath the surface so I thought it did not affect them.
I would ring the helpline up–or go back to your breast nurse to get the hard facts. To be quite hones I bet the reason your GP appeared not interested would be because he would not know the answer. He is not a cancer expert. Just a general practicioner who know a bit about everything.
Hi Liz
I was diagnosed with fibroids and cysts on ovaries in 2009, Breast cancer diagnosed in 2010,had mastectomy but no chemo or radiotherapy just tamoxifen. After a blood test I went to get ovaries removed but the fibroids had grown much bigger so i had to have a hysterectomy this year. i dont know if tamoxifen caused them to grow or if they would have grown anyway.
As oldandlumpy says your Breast nurse or the helpline should be able to give you some advice.
Jennifer
Dont have fibroids (that I know of) but 4 years into Tam’n. My surgeon told me about the risk of ent cancer. He said small risk but massively outweighed by the impact of the drug on stopping BC returning - quoted dropped risk of reoccurance by 50% over the 5 years.
Hope this is of some help.
Have gone through periods of flushes/night sweats then nothing for a few months… no periods for 11 months then 2 in 3 then none again for 7?
Love and empathy
Blessing
Hi Liz
I too have fibroids (very big, 12 cm each)and have been on Tamoxifen since March. So far so good. I was very concerned at first because of my fibroids, and the Onc did say that Tamoxifen could make it worse, but as I said so far I have had no symptoms at all, except for very mild period pains every now and then (and hot flushes lol).
Hope this helps. The only thing is I get sent for regular pelvic US to see how they are behaving, hopefully I won’t need to have an hysterectomy…
tc