Tamoxifen

Connect to people like me Younger women
1

Hello
I’m about to start Tamoxifen. I heard that hot flashes come more often at younger ages.
What is your experience? I’m 40
Thank you for sharing
Xx
Paula

2

Hi Paula

 

I started taking tamoxifen when I was 42 and Im not going to lie to you it was horrid !  Mainly because It was all so foreign to me being so young.  However you soon get used to it and after a while it gets better and after 4 years of it the flushes had almost gone.  After 5 years it is starting to come back again now though which is a bit grim but not as bad as when I first started taking it.  But Im still here and its down to the treatment I have been given so its a small price to pay really.

 

Take Care. hope this helps

 

Lynnie

3

Hi I,m 37 and have been taking tamoxifen for 5 months. So far I’ve had no problems, have occasionally felt slightly warm but no hot flushes so far. Hope you get on ok xx

4

Thanks Flower :slight_smile:
Keep well

5

I am 44 and been on tamoxifen for 3 months. Hot flushes were really bad at first day and night but maybe down to about a dozen or so a day now. Initially flushing at night kept waking me up but now sleeping better … think I must automatically throw covers off without wakening. Lol.
Have lots of other side effects but not sure if still chemo side effects that finished in july…radio in september. Really painful feet and ankles. Stomach cramps. Headaches. Extreme fatigue … limbs and muscles… hoping in time all subside.
Everyone reacts differently so hope you’re getting on ok with it Paula. X

6

I’m 44 … been taking Tamoxifen since July. Night sweats and hot flushes were a constant for me initially but few months down line marginally less. Still a nightmare eapecially if wearing a wig!! Lol

7

Hi,

I’m new here!

I am 39 and have been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 months now. I have experienced feelings of severe low self esteem, but I’m not sure if that’s me or the drug/hormones. I feel fat and ugly.

Anyone experienecing similar? I am being ferocious to my pooor supportive boyfriend!

 

help!

kiki

 

8

Hi kiki

I think your low self esteem is probably linked to the treatment rather than the tamoxifen. I have met lots of people along the way who have felt down and tearful when treatment ends. I was very depressed for a while and found a ‘where now’ course which really helped put everything in perspective. Be kind to yourself and ask for help, I would look to see if there’s a macmillan centre at your hospital they offer counselling and complimentary therapy.

Good luck I hope you feel more like your old self soon. X

9

Hi

I’m 34 and started tamoxifen 4 months ago. I too have been suffering with terrible hot flushes day and night. My bcn recommended maca powder as a supplement taken daily. I also checked with my oncologist if this was ok as it has the effect of balancing your hormones. I wouldn’t be without this powder now…my hot flushes are now manageable- less frequent and less severe. They still wake me up at night but don’t cause as much disruption as they did.

I also asked my pharmacist to supply me with the same brand of Tamoxifen each month to reduce the effects of the different coatings of the tablets…I chose Wockhardt as consensus on the forums was that this brand causes the least problems. I feel quite lucky that I don’t have the upset stomach, painful joints or itchy skin that others on this drug seem to have.

Jane xx

10

Hi everyone I’m 33 and just counting down to my last 3 taxols. I’m awaiting more surgery, continuing on herceptin and commencing tamoxifen. I’m dreading it. I’m worried about weight gain. Dreading hot flashes- although the steroids give me a flushed feeling for 48hours post chemo and am dreading the low mood. I have been in a fog/ chemo brain for a while now and it scares me. I’m very fragile and having panic attacks. God knows what I will be like on tamoxifen?

11

They said three weeks post chemo I would commence tamoxifen. That’s when they allso said I was having more surgery. It doesn’t seem a long time

12

hi 46,  and was not in menopause but guess i am now, they said tke tabs at night to sleep through symptons but i kept forgetting, so i take in morning, to start with they are quite extremem, you do get used to them, i am still hot fromt he radiotherapy 3 months ago and have put on 2 stone (i did give up smoking too), and find i am hotter all the time, hoping to get ome weight off and may feel better, get quite tired and down, due to the circumstances i think, but have counselling at our local fountain centre and that really helps, i also did research into energy boosting foods and tired them in my diet, mcmillan do a book on fatigue and it says try not to sleep during day, which i must admit helps, i rest rather than sleep, as i feel worse when i wake.

 

hope that helps x

tracey

13

I have also found coffee. Alcohol are big triggers in hot sweats. If i get too hot i lye down for a bit x

14

Caffeine triggers it for me buts it’s better now 5 years of tamoxifen

15

Diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago this month at the age of 44, had a mastectomy on left breast and watching the other. Three different doctors from Three different institutions told me My cancer was 99.9% estrogen and progesterone positive and I was on progesterone and testosterone at the time and immediately got off and have been on tamoxifen ever since. I have never experienced any of the side effects I’ve read about. I still have regular periods, no hot flashes and who knows about mood swings since those who know me say I’ve always been cray cray lol.
My oncologist says im their poster child I say I’ll take it for as long as I feel good while I’m on it. Good luck to those of you with the horrid side effects. I would probably get off if I was experiencing those things.

16

I’ve been on maca since before my breast cancer diagnosis and maybe that’s why I feel fine not sure?? Now I’m wondering if maca is safe to take since it seems like it works the opposite of tomoxofen? The box label says consult with dr if you’re on tomoxofen

17

Hi,

I am 33 and started taking tamoxifen two weeks ago, it seems like as soon as i started taking it i started getting a headache and now have weird lower back pain.

Is this a side effect, i was at my oncologist and he said headaches is not really a side effect.

Thanks

18

Hi Carla ,welcome to the forum .May be better to ask your question in the hormone therapy section of the forum - this is a very quiet part of the site .All the best with your treatment .Jill x
forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Hormone-therapy/bd-p/4438

19

Claudie I actually feel like I have just read about myself, I actually think the tamoxifen is driving me crazy and now after reading your post will definitely be making an appointment with my GP and oncologist.
I feel so low most of the time and constantly think I am unwell again which I just can’t cope with, it’s all driving me crazy and feel like I’m driving everyone away from me. Thank you for your detailed post.