tamoxifen + zoladex and joint pain
tamoxifen + zoladex and joint pain Hi girls
I have been on tamoxifen and monthly zoladex injections since december. As well as the usual menopausal symptons I also suffer with a generally very achy body. My elbow joints are so painfull. I have recently have returned to work part time but just dont seem to have any stamina or energy, and continually feel run down. Is this normal? i keep thinking i should be starting to feel more like my old self as time goes on but cant seem to shake oo this fatigue, I worry in case my body is still fighting cancer!!! Any one else getting these side effects or am I expecting too much too soon?
Love this website
Gracie
Not just you I’ve been taking Tamoxifen for about the same length of time as you and my joint pains are far worse than they were before, especially first thing in the morning. I find it an effort to motivate myself to do most things, like you have lack of energy. I also feel cold most of the time, still in winter jumpers.
Oh well only four and a half years to go, not much consolation is it?
Best wishes.
Jan
Hi I have been on Tamaoxifen for only 3 months and this last few days have been feeling pains in my joints and it almost feels like my bones. I thought I was coming down with flu as keep feeling hot etc, but now I have read this post I am thinking it might be the Tamoxifen
Suex
Joint pain! Thank goodness,
I thought that I was the only one. I have just started Zoladex (1) next one due this week, and have gone onto Arimadex. This week I did just a few exercises and I have had as aching neck and back ache, in the morning I have to go slowly down the stairs as my knees ache and if I get down onto the floor I find it hard to get up, Im only 46 and I feel like a much older woman!! I am 5 weeks out of chemo and I have been trying to walk 2 miles a day, and I have just started a new job (15 hours a week) I hope that I soon start to get some energy back!
Debbie x
Thanks for replies Debbie I too feel about 90. Most of the time i get on with things but sometimes get so fed up that I cant do what i used to. I am having My ovaries out soon so will not have to take Zoladex, i am hoping that i will get my old body back!!! I must say i have had more aches since i went back to work a month ago. Only do 17 hours a week but that is enough by friday i am worn out!!!
take care every one X
Me too This morning I put a posting up in the Men Diagnosed with breast cancer forum where one of the men had started a thread about how he felt on tamoxifen.
I feel YUK ALL THE TIME on tamoxifen.
I can’t do a fraction of what I used to do and it all contributes to making me feel low.
My heartfelt sympathy to everyone who this drug effects in this way.
Love
bjj xx
Zoladex Hi Gracie
Have only just heard about Zoladex. Do you have any info on it? I am interested to find out whether it would help me or not. I am taking Tamoxifen and Herceptin.
Trudi
you’re not alone Hi Gracie
Like you I have a really painful elbow, luckily for me only one. Doctors thought it was tennis elbow, but I certainly haven’t been playing tennis or anything else while on chemo. . I’ve had it now for 4 months, but the good news is, I couldn’t actually bend it at all for 2 months, and now it seems much better, I can almost touch my head. So hang in there, your body will likely heal itself.
I’ve been off chemo now for 5 months, and on Tamoxifen for that time, and like you, felt really tired and stressed out at the least little thing, my husband thinks I’ve turned paranoic. How quickly they forget - everyone seems to think the minute you stop chemo, you’re back to normal.
My doc has just moved me to Arimidex, says it has better results, and I feel a little less weepy. Can’t seem to shake the huge amount of weight that piled on from Tamoxifen though. Has your doctor offered you the chance to move onto Arimidex? NICE seems to have approved it for everyone.
Can you tell me what Zoladex is for? I wasn’t offered it.
Take care
Jan
Hi girlies,
I was put on Zoladex after radiotherapy. For those who don’t know about it, it’s a monthly injection into your tummy. The injection contains an implant which helps to basically shut down the ovaries which inturn will stop you producing oestrogen. If your tumour was grown by oestrogen initially and you’ve continued to have periods after or during chemo then they may consider putting you on Zoladex for up to 2 years. It’s also used for women who don’t have breast cancer but have endometriosis or heavy,painful periods as they subsequently stop having them with Zoladex. Men are also given Zoladex as treatment for prostate cancer.
It’s effects are temporary and periods usually restart after 6 months of finishing it.
Some Oncologists are now starting women on Zoladex routinely during chemo to protect the ovaries at that time, and then stop it afterwards to let the ovaries start working again ( and allow women to start a family eventually )
It’s VERY common to feel achey and stiff on Tamoxifen and Zoladex after chemo. I was very achey and could hardly get up off the floor at times.
I was sent for a DEXA scan ( bone scan ) a few months ago and was found to have early bone thinning caused by the various treatments. I’d stopped Zoladex a few months previously as I found 13 months on it more than enough and found the side effects hard to deal with when coupled with Tamoxifen.
I am now on Calcium supplements and have started walking daily. I’ve lost 9 lbs so far and feel better than I have since treatment started just over 2 years ago.
If you can, I’d recommend starting calcium supplemments while on Zoladex and weight bearing exercise as shutting down your ovaries puts you into early menopause which inturn can create early bone thinning ( like me! ) which you really want to avoid if you can.
Hope this has helped explain some of your questions.
*pearly*
Hello Gracie Hi,
I have had some joint pain for the past 20 months .Mostly in elbow of unaffected arm and lower back pain.
I have been taking tamox now since sept 04 and Zoladex too. Actually coming to the end of the injections and have recently seen the Gynae about an Oopherectomy, which is booked for end of June.
I would of happily continued with the Zoladex (in USA take Zoladex for 5 yrs) It did take at least a year for me to get use to them.
I do believe it is true when they say it can take up to 3 yrs to feel ‘normal’ again. I suppose when you consider what our bodies have endured, the likelihood of aches and pains and the general of feeling under the weather are pretty high.
Maybe, Gracie, you are expecting too much too soon.
I found after the 1st yr post treatmernt that i still felt sluggish, physically tired after simple day to day chores.I spent so much time at and after diagnosis, down playing the whole thing,trying to make it easier on my family.I think i actually started to believe that now i had had all the treatment i would bounce back within months. I am 2 1/2 yrs post DX
and starting to feel ’ normal ’ again.
The posting about taking calcium supplements is a very good recommendation, i was advised my Onc Doc to take ‘Sandocal 400 Effervescent tablets’ , from boots.I recently had a bone scan and was told my bone density was normal.
After everything we have been through it is very easy to believe the cancer hasn’t gone, something we probably all feel from time to time.Hopefully with time and the body healing, we will again feel totally well and full of energy.
sumo
Hi ladies I am unsure if i should have Zoladex or not I have been reading your posts and just wondered how old most of you are I am 25 and wanted to know if any of you with joint paints are also young as maybe this will help me with my dessicion.
Love Clairemm
YOUNG ONES Hi Claire, i am 36 yrs old , started taking Zoladex at 34 yrs old. Am afraid Claire, i only have lower back and elbow pain. Not really joint pain.
If you had ER+ cancer and pre menopausal, then i think you should be having the injections to reduce your Oestragen build up for 2 yrs following treatment…
sumo