Hi, first time ever posting on a forum! I’m 35 had invasive lobular cancer last year (lumpectomy, rads/tamoxifen).
I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced crazy weight gain (I’ve gained over 2 stone!) on tamoxifen. I’m struggling a bit as I don’t feel like I look like me or feel like me.
I’m also struggling with heavy periods (do have endometriosis) although a year into tamoxifen they are spreading out a bit but now have ovarian cysts, I’m worried these will just keep getting worse and turn cancerous. I know that’s probably silly, just worried and don’t know if I should be.
PMS doesn’t help, which is another thing Im finding worse on tamoxifen.
Hi cat1231
Sorry you are suffering. I was dreading tamoxifen due to hearing stories about weight gain. Been taking it for 1.5 years. Luckily my weight has been fine. I am 54 and perimenopausal so periods come and go a bit. Did have a heavy one in June though and nothing since. Dont know if it is tamoxifen or just my stage in life. Hope things settle down for you. Take care x
I gained weight from the steroids used with chemotherapy & then tamoxifen. I’m finding it very difficult to lose this weight & find it equally frustrating. My oncologist said that tamoxifen slows down the metabolism & increases your appetite!! So, I try not to be too hard on myself & just control my portion size. I’ve found swimming is the only exercise i can do at the moment due to bone/joint pains (also caused by tamoxifen! ) but I have lost a little weight & it makes me feel good. All the best to you. X
Hi @cat1231,
I’m sorry you’re going through this and yes, I’m afraid I can totally relate on the weight front. I had a mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction in May and am on Tamoxifen. I’ve put on over half a stone and can’t shift it. I was hoping it was post-surgery swelling, but I think now it’s probably the Tamoxifen. I’m exercising and walking 10,000 steps every day and have stopped drinking (where I was previously drinking wine almost every day), so feel like I should have lost weight if anything! It definitely doesn’t help at a time when, as you said, you’re already feeling like your body has changed so much. I am trying to be positive, and have been so far, but the weight issue is getting me down, and I wanted you to know you’re not alone in how you’re feeling. And don’t even get me started on the psychological impact of the Tamoxifen (Unless you do actually want to talk about that, in which case, obviously just say!)
Re the cysts, I’m assuming they’re monitoring that? It’s totally natural to worry about things developing after what we’ve been through, but I’m sure there’s no need to be concerned. Sending positivity and strength x
Sorry to hear that you’ve all had a rough time on tamoxifen too, so many side affects it really is a rollercoaster and you’re right the emotional side of it is full on x
) but I have lost a little weight & it makes me feel good. All the best to you. X
It definitely doesn’t help at a time when, as you said, you’re already feeling like your body has changed so much. I am trying to be positive, and have been so far, but the weight issue is getting me down, and I wanted you to know you’re not alone in how you’re feeling. And don’t even get me started on the psychological impact of the Tamoxifen 
(Unless you do actually want to talk about that, in which case, obviously just say!)
it really is a rollercoaster and you’re right the emotional side of it is full on 
x
x