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Tamoxifen and Hair loss?
(UPDATE for those who dont' want to read all 4 pages. After countless tries to figure out what was going on, I settled on this. I got dermatitis from a bad massage therapy session on my scalp AND my hair is thinning due to tamoxifen. I started using the irestore laser helmet and both issues disappeared (my hair looked…
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Who Currently Manufactures Brand-Name Arimidex?
I have been taking brand-name Arimidex for a few years. I buy it from the mail-order Eagle Pharmacy through Arimidex Direct, which was originally run by AstraZeneca, the British company that created and originally manufactured the drug. For the last couple of year, the Minnesota drug company ANI has distributed the drug,…
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High cholesterol after Hysterectomy
Anyone else diagnosed with High cholesterol a few yrs after hysterectomy/ oopherectomy? Last 2 yrs 2/3 lipid panels were high. Waiting on results for current one and wondering if I'm going to have to add another damn medication to the list. I cut out nuts, peanut butter, halved drinking from1x a week to bi weekly and…
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Two years off Tamoxifen...possible side effects
Hi ladies, it's been awhile since I've posted on here. But, I have some questions and wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. I was on Tamoxifen from 2009-2019, so I am two years out. Ever since coming off Tamoxifen, my right breast (non-cancer side) get heavy and tender during my menstral cycle. I've reported…
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Broken bones from Aromatase Inhibitors and joint replacements
I haven't been able to find any information about the possibility of broken bones when on Anastrozole and have joint replacements. My last bone scan was five years ago and was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, and am 4 times more likely to have broken bones. I am scheduled for another scan next week, but don't expect it will be…
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Tamoxifen: reduce dosage or quit?
I started T in late June of 2021, so I’m 8 months in. Here’s my laundry list of SEs since then. Vaginal discharge, not bloody, and tolerable. Intermittent pelvic pain and cramping, mild and tolerable. In mid-August, I noticed pain in my left hip joint making it painful to climb stairs and walk uphill. By December this had…
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Tamoxifen and cataracts, eye hole, retina detachment
I have been on tamoxifen for almost 3 years but think I might quit. When I asked my dr he said go ahead and quit. No alternative offered. I am post menopausal, and was so when started the tamoxifen. I am 64 and in good health. I have had cataracts, eye retina detachment, and a hole in my eye. The eye surgeon said it's just…
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Hormonal treatment
Hi! Can you tell me how to determine the menopausal status? What laboratory analises i need to do if i'm not sure if i am at menopause or premenopause? Thank you!
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Premarin after HER2+ treatments for menopause symptoms
I am 6 years from my HER2+ treatment. I am 68. I was stage 1 and had a lumpectomy, Taxol/Herceptin and radiation. I recently had a total hysterectomy due to problems associated with large non-cancerous fibroids. My Gyn and One, said it was alright to take vaginal Premarin cream to help with uterine wall problems. I took…
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Concerned that hormone therapy will worsen depression
Hi, I am looking for advice from those ladies coping with management of severe clinical depression. I am almost 2 months out from a successful bilateral mastectomy. My new oncologist would like me to take Tamoxifen due to how hormone receptor positive my cancer was?? That’s how she explained it. However I take Wellbutrin…
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Who took any kind of hormone drug with no problems?
I am trying to decide whether to agree to hormone therapy - I won't take Tamoxifen, and am in menopause, so expect I'd be offered something else. I am wondering if anyone took any drugs and found them ok - NO weight gain, NO depression, NO broken bones, NO side effects that ruined their quality of life - like…
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Do I need tamoxifen if both breasts removed?
I am about to have a bilateral mastectomy and I just cannot understand why I need to take tamoxifen or an aromarase inhibitor. Can someone please explain why I would put myself and my husband through all the nasty side effects if I really don't have to?
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Upset at my Dr.
Hello tamoxifen sisters. I just got home from my first consult with gyno/onco due to a thickened endometrium which was an incidental finding during CT Scan. Since CT is not the best imaging for the uterus she ordered a vaginal ultrasound. What’s upsetting is she said, it’s a polyp, a fibroid or cancer. If it’s not a polyp…
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Hot flashes! Not a question, just venting...
I was on Tamoxifen for months with virtually no side effects, but eventually the hot flashes kicked in (I know, it could just be middle aged woman syndrome, but I blame the Tamoxifen). It is just out of control! I think I have taken my sweater off and put it back on 10 times in the past hour. Every night I wake up sweating…
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Eye strain/pain on anastrozole?
Just started anastrozole and immediately my eyes are hurting. More like eye strain and sensitivity to sunlight even in my house. Also have a headache which seems more normal. Anyone experience this? I do have droopy eyelids but never had a problem after cataract surgery.
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Thrombophlebitis?
The past 3 weeks I have noticed a pain which I though was rib pain, but now is clearly swollen and I feel swollen vein or something. It’s under my breast area on my side and hurts to lie in that side, also raise that arm. I have my 6 month follow up tomorrow and will ask about it. I’m thinking it is a blood clot. Also feel…
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Anastrozole and sinus issues
Hi- It's been awhile since I've been on here. I was diagnosed in May 2014 with ILC. I had surgery, followed with radiation, and then a prescription for Anastrozole. I've had the usual side effects of insomnia and aches and pains, but have just been watching the calendar knowing that my 5 years will be coming up next year…
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Starting Zoladex advice
I've been on Tamoxifen for nearly a month, now. Had a telephone appointment with one of the Oncology team today and they're going to start me on Zoladex as well next Monday. Does anyone have any advice or can tell me what to expect from a patient's perspective, please?
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How quickly can Tamoxifen cause uterine changes?
I've been on T for about 2 months. Last week I did a pelvic/TV ultrasound which was intended to establish a baseline that could be monitored for changes. However, this initial ultrasound found thickening (13.5mm) and a suspected polyp (12mm). It also found bilateral simple benign-appearing ovarian cysts. Yikes! I have…
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ADHD and Tamoxifen
I've seen a lot of women report that their ADHD meds don't work as well at certain times in their menstrual cycles. Wondering if anyone has noticed if their tamoxifen affected the effectiveness of their medication for ADHD? I got my ADHD diagnosis at 40, and haven't had a "normal" life or schedule since then so it's hard…
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Your thoughts on tamoxifen 7 vs 10 yrs (SALSA study)
I just started year 7 on tamoxifen and while I thought I was on the 10 year plan. My oncologist just told me that she now recommends I stop after 7 years, based on the SALSA study https://ascopost.com/issues/november-25-2021/durat... This confuses me bc 1) the study refers to post-menopausal women, while I am still (at…
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Tamoxifen question
Hello ladies. I have an odd question. I’ve been on Tamoxifen a little over 30 days. And I am having this strong urge to clean out everything. It maybe just my state of mind as I am about to begin radiation too. And it does take my mind off of all of this. But has anyone else had the “nesting” feeling on Tamoxifen? Kind of…
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Letrozole joint pain side effect
I have been on Letrozole for five months and the joint pain is bad. Doctor told me to give it six months for side effects to get better. Anyone else have the same joint pain and it got better
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Oophorectomy and er/or+
Hope this isn’ta dumb question. I was diagnosed with stage 0 grade 2 DCIS er/or + last month. A few weeks ago found out I was BRCA2+ as well. I’m having a double mastectomy for the cancer and a prophylactic oophorectomy due to the BRCA. So my question is… can I not do HRT since the cancer is hormone positive? Or will it be…
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Monitoring and Reducing Risks of Aromatase Inhibitors
I asked how to monitor my HEART while on Letrozole. Suggested: Heart scan at the start of prescription then about 18 months later. A quick check found several for $50-$150, all out-of-pocket. Overkill: I asked if I should make an appt with a heart specialist and the answer was that it was not needed. Question: Do any of…
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Low White Blood Count? Freaking out
I am more than six months past chemo and two months out of radiaiton. I have been taking letrozole (Femara) for five weeks. I have been having a little lightheadedness, which I reported to my MO because it's not uncommon with AIs. At the same time, my PCP was doing my annual blood work, and my WBC is down to 2.7. (The…
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Turmeric Circumin Yay or Nay?
Forgive me if this has been discussed before. I have been taking Turmeric for years for its anti-inflammatory benefits. I have researched whether it is safe to use when you have breast cancer and especially on an AI (Anastrozole in my case) and I have found many conflicting studies that say no to and to take it as it can…
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Zoladex timing
I will be starting Zoladex here in a few weeks. I read it's every 28 days. How much leeway do they give you with that? I want to try to plan a 4 day weekend to the mountains in the late spring, but how in the world can I really figure out when to book that? I'm already seeing why people get their ovaries removed. I will…
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cholesterol, a1c and letrozole (femara)
Just curious if anyone had their cholesterol go up while taking letrozole. I used to have really good total cholesterol around 150. Now it is at 233. What the heck? I eat like always do. I have read letrozole can cause this. Any of you had this happen. Honestly I'm ready to dump letrozole. I have been on hormonal therapy…
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Vaginal pain/letrozole/ can I use estrogen cream?
I've been on letrozole for 2.5 years out of the 5 that I am supposed to do. I have been going along pretty ok until the past year. I have had 3 UTI's, and the lack of estrogen has made my vaginal area very sore. It hurts to walk or bend over. I have tried at least 5 different OTC creams/suppositories, coconut oil every…