I quit my Tamoxifen

[LindaMHR]

I quit taking my Tamoxifen after two months, because the hot flashes interfered so much with my sleeping (I have an oncologist appointment in a few weeks). I was stage 1, with a 1.1 cm tumor (segmental surgery, and radiation). I was leading a highly stressful life, with very poor (short) sleep and many ten or twelve hour work days. I am now retired. I eat very well, and take supplements and exercise (walks, yoga) every day. The doctors tell me they can't quantify lifestyle changes so don't consider those. But my sleep had become so poor with Tamoxifen, that I always awoke at 3 or 4 and was most often not able to go back to sleep until the next night (so, six hours sleep at most). Even if I napped, it amounted to ten minutes or so.

My question -- it seems to me many stage one women (no nodal involvement) would quit their Tamoxifen, if it gave them hot flashes so badly at night. (I already was having hot flashes somewhat, being on HRT till I was diagnosed in the spring. They became much worse, especially at night.) The oncologists are very insistent about Tamoxifen, and I'm guessing will be (next) insistent about aromatase inhibitors. I just want to live a good life, and not be exhausted because I'm not sleeping. I don't want to take hormones. My life since retiring is vastly different (and relaxing).

Can you comment on this?

[egdf]

I also had severe hot flashes w/the tamoxifen and still after taking the effexor . I have now been on Tamox for a year . I have found that homeopathy and acupuncture really help.They can also help with sleep. There is a site called ********.com that gives one information on their particular cancer and likelihood of recurrence.This helps one decide . My onc said the side effects of tamox were negligible  compared to what having metastasized breast cancer is like. ********.com does a work out for you after you give hem all your specific cancer details.
Good LucK !!

[LindaMHR]

Thank you for your comment. I mean that I am having sleepless nights after upping my sleeping pill (Zopiclone) from a half to a whole. At that point a good night was six hours (not enough) and most often less; I would just lie there in the dark for hours because I know melatonin production is interfered with, with light (at night) and it's important for breast cancer prevention. I am continuing to look for information. Thanks!

[Leemg]

Your doctors are insistent about Tamoxifen or similar estrogen blocking drugs because you tumor was no doubt estrogen positive so it can be fed by estrogen and therefore recurr.  I too take Femara (similar) and deal with hot flashes.  I have an overhead fan that I have on every night even in the dead of winter.  If I have a sleepless night I take an Ambien (sleep medicine) and it will put me to sleep.  I only use them if sleep becomes a real problem and notice that I can usually sleep without them the night after.  My radiation oncologist told me to try Vit. E tablets short term to help with the hot flashes and it did until I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and lost my thyroid but I would rather insure that my cancer stay under control and use a fan or other means of addressing the menapausal symptoms but this is my choice.