Tamoxifen, what should I expect?

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I am 41 and have been taking Tamoxifen since last May when I had a mammoplasty and radiotherapy.

 

I have continued to have a menstrual cycle of sorts albeit a lot lighter and shorter than before and I have experienced night sweats and difficulty sleeping some nights.

 

I have noticed that over the past 6 weeks my ‘body thermostat’ is definitely getting more wonky and I have days where the flushing is happening throughout the day with more frequency than before.

 

I was told I would be on Tamoxifen for 5 years and typically the side effects are menopause type symptoms but no one has explained what I should expect over 5 years I.e. Will my menstrual cycle stop altogether, will I go into menopause and what happens when you come off the drug at 46 will my menstrual cycle go back to normal and then I have the menopause to face for real whenever that was going to hit anyway?

 

Can others explain their experience?

 

Thanks

 

 

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Hi duncmarv, 

I am sure some of our users will be along to share their stories, support and advice soon.

I have moved your post to ourhormone therapy board in order to give users more of a chance to respond.

If you would like to talk through what you are experiencing you can call our helpline at 0808 800 6000 who will be able to help answer your questions and offer a friendly ear.

The helpline is open:

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Late opening Monday and Wednesday 5pm-7pm,
Saturday, 9am-1pm

Easter opening hours:

Thursday 24 March, open 9am-5pm
Friday 25 March - 28th March - closed

Best wishes, 

Lizzy 

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I’ve been on Tamoxifen since the beginning of Nov. 2015.  Lots of hot flashes.  I’ve always blushed easily, but now just the least nervousness, excitement, or even just rushing upstairs will set my face, neck, and chest on fire.  I turn beet red.  I have some muscle aches, but I’m not sure if it’s from Tamoxifen or Herceptin.  The hot flashes are mostly at night.  My husband just puts his hand on me sometimes and it triggers one. They wake me up at night sweating, then a little later I’m freezing.  I had a lot of vaginal dryness, but I’m not sure if it’s the Tamoxifen is prolonging it or if it’s still from the chemo which I finished 5 mos. ago.  Replens vaginal moisturizer helps with that.  It’s hard to tell what is a side effect of Tamoxifen or just menopause since that’s the whole reason for the drug.

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Hello,

 

I think it varies enormously from woman to woman.  I was 44 at diagnosis, my periods stopped during chemo.  I then had five years of tamoxifen, suffered badly

with hot flushes all the way through.  Three months after stopping tamoxifen my periods returned (I was 50, could have knocked me down with a feather).  I had irregular periods for 12 month, then nothing.  I have since gone back on tamoxifen (due to the new guidelines of 10 years being better than 5) and am still having regular hot flushes, but they are not as bad as before - I wonder if that is because I have really gone through the menopause now?