Tamoxifin side effects

[prayer warrior]

One year survivor. Been on Tamoxifin since finishing just radiation only, no chemo. Been on Tamoxifin nearly 10 mo. One side effect I like is I've lost weight. The other side effect is my periods are irregular, I've only had 4 periods in those 10 months. How can I tell if it's the Tamoxifin or starting Menopause?

[lbriat]

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[scout19]

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[ferncourt]

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[llittlelulu]

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[Stup]

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[cassie2rn]

I was diagnosed on June 28th with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.  I had a right mastectomy due to the extent of my cancer and chose to have the left done as well.  I am 32 and a little lost by all of it.  I am a nurse but it still seems so confusing.  I am going to see my oncologist tomorrow about chemo and I will probably have to do radiation as well.  I guess my cancer was the fast growing aggressive type.  They took out 9 lymph nodes and 2 were cancerous.  I am just now trying to figure out what these different drugs are and found this website and forum.  I am trying to stay positive but find it harder now that my bandages are off.  I hate taking showers because then I have to look at my scars, and now I always wear a shirt even to bed.  I feel horrible about my body and unatractive.  They say it is best to wait till after radiation to reconstruct, which I agree but it is so hard.  I am not sure I will reconstruct, they will never be the same as they were.  How do you feel about your reconstruction?  Which kind of reconstruction did you have done?  I hope you are doing well, thank you for posting.

Charity

[Tricia52]

I have been on Tamoxifin since Jan 2005. Have put on 28lbs in weight and have joint pain. I attended a conference for younger women with breast cancer recently and at least 50% of the women on tamoxifin experienced the same side effects. Hot flushes have been dreadful, was prescribed eefxor to help have eased them a bit, but still suffering. Any advice on how to loose the weight, and ease the hot flushes?

[Jennyf]

Hi. I have recently begun tamoxifin (2 weeks) and I was wondering if anyone was experiencing headaches? Or even worse, a lack of ability to be completely satisfied with sex...without being too graphic???
I also have been having pain under my right arm, where my lymph nodes were removed and I never really had that before?
I am 28 years old, and have 3 kids. If there is anyone out there in a similiar situation, I'd love to hear from you. Or anyone in general. Its nice to chat with someone who can relate to what we've all gone through, and are going through.

[not hopless]

hi there i am a survivor finished up chemo in nov do not need rads had a double mastectomy with reconstruction,,,just found out today i am going on tamoxifin,,i was reading side effects and weight gain is one of them,,,beings i gained alot of weight during chemo i just worked my butt off 2 lose 20bls so i am not happy,,,i am 36 menopause, my ovaries and my age is working against me but i am strong and i kicked chemo in the butt had 4 ac with cytoxin treatments then i had 12 of taxol,,,lost every hair on my head someone said the red stuff makes u lose ur hair well let me tell ya the clear is no better,exactly 18 days after my first tx but before i had 2 put myself through seeng it all fall out i shaved it and wow was my hair long,,the wig thing was not for me i hated it so i wore hats and scarves i had em in every color but my favorite was the one i had with  big happy faces on it,,,i heard from faimily and friends hair grows back but when ur going through it beleive me it is not easy so for the gals out there going through it yes it stinks but hold ur heads up high and remember ur beautiful also keep in mind when it does start 2 grow back 6 weeks after chemo ur hair is thicker and better than ever,,,always remember  the breast cancer bible Cure,Hope,Courage,and Strength...attitude is everything cancer is no joke but u have 2 keep laughing if someone would of came 2 me 9months ago and said that 2 me i would of not been happy but u learn 2 get through it be positive  hopefully u have good family and friends..lots of them might not always understand what ur going through ur the one fighting for ur life but they r going through it with u,,,if anyone wants 2 chat feel free 2 email me anytime,,good luck 2 all

[megie]

Im a breast cancersurvivor.Taken tamoxifen about 7 months now.I thought i the only one having problem of joint pain .Last month i went for a check up because on the right side of my chest is painful sometimes it bothers me when I breathing.So they send me for the mammogragph,ultasound,bonescan the result is normal.Until now it bothers me why is painful? Tommorow i will see my oncologist i know they will say its not tamoxifin.

[Lizzy0827]

2 year survivor; 35 yrs old; been on tamoxifen the whole time. I just started having regular (more of less) cycles again. My doctors have told me it varies from person to person. Your side effects seem easier than mine were. I had horrible hot flashes mood swings and put on 25 pounds. My doctor put me on Effexor which helped a great deal with the side effects. I just recently went off of it because I was having problems with the Effexor side effects. The hot flashes are minimal now. I think my body has adjusted to it.

If your doctor suggests Effexor think about it first. It numbed me out - slept alot, no sex drive, and dry mouth. But the worse part is coming off of it - mood swings, head and body aches, nausea, and diarhea. From what I've read it doesn't last as long for cancer patients withdrawaling, but it is a miserable 2-3 weeks.

[smittysmom]

I turned 40 in October. Had BC surgery and 33 radiation treatments with NO chem. I'm now taking tamoxifen have been for 1 month. Is it common for a person to miss the very first period after starting to take tamoxifen? I too have lost weight instead of gained but nothing drastic. Just a few pounds.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear prayer warrior:  There is no way to be sure whether your irregular periods are due to the tamoxifen or whether you are perimenopausal.  Also, even if periods cease during therapy, it may be possible for them to restart when therapy is complete.  It depends in part on your age and how close you might be to going through menopause naturally.  Keep in mind, as long as you are ovulating, it is possible to become pregnant.  You should continue using reliable birth control as long as you are taking the tamoxifen.