Tamoxifen - why?

I recently had a WLE and SNB. The results show that all is clear which is great news. I will have radiotherapy soon and have been given tamoxifen. I don’t want to take the tamoxifen, I’m very upset about possible weight gain ( I already have 6 stones to lose). If the results show the cancer is gone why do I need to take tamoxifen? and what are the consequences of not taking it?

Hi gilly,

I had just the same as you.
The tamoxifen stops the oestrogen from being produce from the overies and therefore stops feeding of any other potential tumours you may have around. It’s found to be the most effective treatment of preventing a reccurence. I now take it every day on the advice of my oncologist and GP. I have not gained any weight as I keep up my usual activity, so try and look at this as prevention.

Many women I know, have lost weight while taking it.

Go for it and don’t be scared.

Good luck.

Hi gilly

You might find it useful to have a look at the BCC fact sheet on tamoxifen, it can be found by following the link below:-

breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/tamoxifen__november_06_0.pdf

I hope you find this helpful.

Kind regards
Sam (BCC Facilitator)

Gilly - I think it rather depends on what brand of tamoxifen you are put on. Check out the side effects of Nolvadex-d. I actually have lost 2 kilos since being on this since September! Don’t tell everyone or they’ll all want it!

Seriously though, I take it at night and have had very few side effects, few hot flushes and generally feel as though I’m not taking it - - bonus is no periods though!

All the best
Sue xx

I have been on tamoxifen since Feb 2008 and have not had any weight gain. I’ve not had many hot flushes either - about 5 in the whole time I’ve been on it. Periods continued and there was talk some while back about adding a monthly injection to ‘shut down my ovaries’ however this was deemed unneccesary. I was advised that tamoxifen works not by stopping the production of oestrogen but by creating a barrier between the oestrogen produced and any cancer cells present, thus starving the cells.