Tamxifen

I have been on Tamoxifen for almost three years. I am 42.  I had
breast cancer in 1998.  At first with Tamoxifen I was not having periods now I am having them almost regularly.
Could this mean the Tamoxifen is not as affective as it was...or what does this mean.
Also, Tamoxifen and Alcohol?  Someone said if you have a drink or two it makes the Tamoxifen less effective....
Can you clear my confusion on these two things...
Thanks so much!

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Ann2800, Tamoxifen is a SERM or selective estrogen receptor modulator.  What that means is it works differently on different cells that express estrogen receptors.  So it does not change estrogen but blocks estrogen from interacting with certain types of cells and in other cells it mimicks estrogen.  Taking tamoxifen does not automatically put a person into menopause, sometimes women experience a chemotherapy induced menopause, and their periods return after chemotherapy has completed.  So having your periods return does not mean that the Tamoxifen is less effective.  You would however want to be careful not to get pregnant while on tamoxifen because of harm to a developing fetus.

In the drug information about Tamoxifen there is no mention of alcohol changing the effectiveness of the drug.

[Ann2800]

Thank you so much for the information!!

[Gibbs Hill]

I am just finishing up my last 4 booster treatments of radiation and I have just started tamoxifen. I have (had?) very early stage 1 breast cancer. My prognosis is very good and no doctors seem too concerned. My surgeon, radiologist and oncologist all explained all the pros and cons of tamoxifen. The oncologist gave me a perscription for 10 mg of tamoxifen twice a day and told me to come back in 3 months.

Is there some special followup that I should pursue to see if the cancer recurs? Other than regular mammograms and ultrasounds and gyn checkups should I be doing anything else? Do I need blood tests?  Am I done here except for seeing the oncologist a couple of times a year?

Also, is weight gain an inevitable part of taking Tamoxifen?

Thanks for the opportunity to ask these questions.

[marlin111]

A related discussion, stopping Tamoxifen was started.