Breast Cancer Now Forum

I was originally on Anastrazole but was scared by the thought of it ruining my bones. I asked my oncologist if I could go onto Tamoxifen, all was well at first but I found I was so tired, not sleeping due to hot sweats and getting aches and cramps at night in my feet and legs, also dry vagina together with recurring thrush. I also had vaginal bleeding and was subsequently checked out for uterine cancer which is a risk with Tamoxifen. This was the final straw so I decided to do some research as I was about to come off it altogether and take my chances. I typed in low dose tamoxifen into google and a YouTube video popped up. I was amazed at what I was watching. Professor Andrea De Censi has been using low dose Tamoxifen for over 15 years with great effect. I have been taking 5mg since I saw this video in November 2020 and I am so much better. I can tolerate the drug now and I now have very few side effects. I had a mammogram last week and have had the all clear for another year. I think the uk need to look closer at this drug as 20mg is quite clearly is too toxic for most women, 5mg is so much better. I cut my 20mg into 4 by the way. I hope this helps. here is a link to one of prof Andreas YouTube video. https://youtu.be/QAqgyqYgL6E ... View more

A lovely balanced post Charys. Like you I admire Winnerwinner for her upbeat approach to her diagnosis and treatment and wish her well, AND I subscribe to the "Moderation in all things" philosophy, or "A little of what you fancy does you good," (sung suggestively in true music-hall fashion!) Like many others on here i made some lifestyle changes after my diagnosis which i hope will ensure a long and healthy life, but there are no guarantees - all sorts of people get cancer, and recurrences, whether they are fat or thin; fit or couch potatoes; veggie, vegan or carnivore; tea-total or tipplers; so the key thing is for people to feel OK about how they are living their lives and not feel they did anything to cause it if they get cancer, or a recurrence, and for them to BE HAPPY as much as possible. x ... View more

I have the same thing. I am thinking of asking my oncologist to switch to another drug.  ... View more

I have just completed radiation in June and chemo in April  Wearing a wig daily.  Started tamofixfen on June 27th and my head is so terribly itchy.  Is this due to the tamoxifen, the wig, the heat, or my hair that is pathetically growing in. I have to remove the wig 2 x a day and just scratch for 10 minutes before replacing it.  Was wondering your thoughts?  ... View more

@MissP wrote: I’m a secondary Food Technology teacher and I was diagnosed in March, had my operation in April and have been off work since then. I really miss work but also understand that the nature of condition and certain side affects will make it difficult for me to do so. Having gone to Occupational Health, I’ve been told that my main priority should be ME, getting through treatment and recovery. I have 6 cycles of FEC-T and then 3 weeks of Radio Therapy to go through.  There seems to be a total lack of understanding on the part of my employers, they are following their procedures and seem not to realise that I now have a disability and how it is affecting me mentally, physically and emotionally. This illness is not of my own choosing. I went one day before my chemo started and was told that “I looked really well considering”, I’d made a huge effort to look okay and this seems to have counted against me. I have good days and bad days, on my bad days I really don’t want to go back into work even though I love my job. I sit crying, shaking about what will happen when I go back. In this day and age when Education has,  in some ways become a business, the mealy mouth platitudes surrounding veiled threats is wearing me down. Hi Miss P My employer wasn't great and Head said 'she only has cancer' to my colleagues about me. That said, my union NASUWT was brilliant and 'held my hand' and guided me throughout my return to work. I know exactly what you mean by wanting to look 'normal' and healthy then being penalised for it! ... View more