Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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ReneeS ~ thanks for your note about Prozac and Effexor.
Rachel BC ~ thanks for all the links; I had printed out the info from BC.org, and I'm printing more as I type this. I'm going to start weaning off Wellbutrin tomorrow and will ask my onc for Effexor when I see him on the 30th.
ivorymom ~ I know, right?! When I first started talking about my meds, he said, "Effexor is ok." I said, "But I'm on Wellbutrin, ya goof!" (Ok, I didn't really call him a goof...) Then he was all, "Meh...not a problem." I think he's wrong, and I'm going to tell him my sisters here think he's wrong, too.Thanks to you all!
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Just received my mammo/utrasound test. Everything ned. I have been on tamoxifen for 1-1/2 years. I am 57 and my dr. said she is going to keep me on for the whole five years then switch to an AI. I thought once you were post-menopausal, you were switched to an AI? Also, I get horrible hot flashes/night sweats but how do you know if it is from being menopausal or the tamoxifen? Thanks for any insight.
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Catching up on posts. Rachel I'm going to laugh all day at you saying sure I'll see the doc and walking out like what are they going to do take the radiation back.
TerrJ: welcome aboard it really isn't a bad train ride
Joyce, not sure it matters, they're still miserable for some. Don't be shy about asking to go on something to help
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Not to scare anyone, but there is NO test for ovarian cancer. A precentage of women who opt for ooph already have stage one OVCA. This is from Woman and Cancer fall 2008. It also has an interesting article about bc and alcohol.
Off for school clothes shopping!!!!!!!! FUN FUN FUN!!!!!
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Had a very successfully day shopping, my 8 yr old is done. Oh how I wish our school had a dress code. Of course I did not spend much money, but enough. Next is my 11 yr old, he is very picky, and since he has grown sooooo much he will need everything new!!!!
Here is a web site to look info about BC and OVCA www.womenandcancermag.com
I hope it will be of some help for anyone with questions.
Have a Happy Monday!!!!!
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Mary - most schools in Australia have compulsory uniform regulations - thank heavens - I have two daughters who are so picky about their clothes and they are only 7 and 10 - I blame it on Bratz dolls!!
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Mary, you're panicking me. I'm still planning on going out to hit the summer sales, are fall clothes really on the racks already. I keep trying to find the time, although I dislike shopping intensely which may be part of it.
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Just checking in to say HI!! Been reading...wanted to wish everyone a great Monday evening or a good Tuesday morning to Helena! Take care!
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Blondie-Julie- welcome
Thank you so much for your kind words, ya don't know what it does for me. And of course, the Blonde thing, we gotta do the Blonde version of the Vulcan mind meld (I'm a blonde geek girl). In Texas the pressure must be on because of the whole "most beautiful girls are from Texas thing. Hold your head up gal 0 -
Artemis... those articles say two things at once... one that you should switch to Effexor and two that you shouldn't try to go off anything by yourself without a doctor (even one who is clueless). Get a big 2 x4 and go to this doc, or go to another doc, or go to your GP, but don't start playing amateur doctor (well, not in this scenario, but if you have someone to "play doctor" with, please do) with your meds. Please. That can be bad magumbo, and you don't need more headaches and medical crap going on now...
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MurphMort- are ya there? I kept thinking there was someone who posted whose been on Tamox for a year and had to go back to page 111 to find ya. So ... oh wise woman who has been on Tamox for 1 year... what do you think? You said "lots of hot flashes and night sweats" but "piece of mind". Way cool. Did the hot flashes and night sweats continue the whole year? Any other SEs you feel like you can attribute to Tamox? Thank you so much for hanging out with us, mostly newbies and chicken hearts... thank you for sticking it out with the Tamox for a year so far... you give me faith and cancer a kick in the arse. Rock on!
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On the Folic Acid and Alcohol thing, there's good news and bad news... the good news is that the research is on reliable sites like ACS:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_2_1x_Study_Folic_Acid_Vitamin_B6_May_Protect_Against_Breast_Cancer.asp
and yes, there is some good news in that article:
"Several studies in the past have linked a diet high in folic acid to a lower risk of breast cancer. Because alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to use folic acid, the extra folic acid seems to be most protective in women who drink."
and now for the bad news:
"But most of these earlier studies were marred by the fact that they questioned the women about their diets after they got their cancer, and memory can be faulty. Harvard researchers Shumin Zhang, MD, and Walter Willet, MD, and colleagues took a different approach by evaluating women in the Nurses’ Health Study prospectively -- before they developed any problems."
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"The data so far shows only an association between nutrition and cancer risk, not a cause and effect, said Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecological programs for the American Cancer Society. Furthermore, she said, other recent studies have not found the same association between folate and breast cancer as this one."
and it's not just Folic Acid, its also Vitamin B6. Here's how you get them:
"Folic acid is found mainly in dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits and juices, fortified breakfast cereals, and of course, vitamin supplements. Vitamin B6 is found in meat, poultry and fish, as well as in fortified cereals, potatoes, bananas and some beans."
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Will I do? I've been on the Tamoxifen since May 2008. The hot flashes were definitely worse last year, and got better as the weather got cooler, but as soon as I feel the least bit warm - they hit again.
My period has gone from being absolutely predictable to the hour, to arriving anywhere from three and a half to six weeks after the last time.
Oh and the fun new discharge continues.
I didn't do chemo, and I really believe that Tamoxifen is effective, which makes it much easier to remember to take that pill every single morning.
I've also lost weight, yes on the Tamoxifen, tried to eat healthier, exercise much more, and added vitamins to my routine. These boards have really helped me know what to expect and given me some great ideas of how to help myself.
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PatMom thank you! I keep getting you confused with PattiB... Well, its not all the news I wanted to hear but its still not so bad. I was hoping - like you- that after the winter the hot flashes would have faffed off and the period too. So what do you do to prepare for the unexpected periods and discharges? And the hot flashes. Ya know with all the women in natural menopause and all the cancer patients on various treatments that cause hot flashes, how come the only time I ever saw a woman having a hot flash in real life was my friend at her 50th birthday party? I'm sure when I have one the whole world will notice, they already notice when I am sweaty, which is waaaay too often.
If I get to lose weight on Tamox, I'd take the hot flashes and discharges with a smile - or so I think.
YAAAAAY PatMom!!!! 1 down, 4 to go..
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Hi Joyce,
I'm 53 and was pretty much into menopause, no periods for about 6months, then right before my first lumpectomy, I had a period. My doctor said I had to have no periods, for a year, to be considered post-menopausal. Chemo. followed and not a one since. My Onc. said hot flashes are a good thing, means we're metabolizing Tamoxifen. Course, he isn't ringing wet, at the drop of a hat.
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Rachel,
I started tamox in Oct 2007. Fairly light on the hot flashes (one major flush) and some night sweats. and the leg cramps. The leg cramps are mainly what I have now, but not as frequently as at first. My only complaint, my period is from H**L, my endemetrium has tripled in size and I have an issue on one of my ovaries (2 cysts or a septated cyst - won't know until I get it out). But other than the uterus/ovary issue, I have had smooth sailing on tamox - SE wise. I think that the inches that I have gained in my waist may be due to the increase in the size of my uterus. I've talked to my gyn and we've agreed to a hysterectomy (although I think she wants to do a total- I only want one ovary out but if it doesn't look good during surgery, get them both out). I'm scared of the AI's
Oh well I've rambled enough!
Hugs to all,
Trish
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ah- and Joyce was another one I missed. They are kinda the sophomore class as we are the freshmen... horrible hot flashes 1.5 years later. Bleh. Isnt there a medication that lessens the hot flashes if they are horrible?
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And Trish, you're a Junior
Major bummer about the endometrium. I have big ol' Texas sized fibroids I was hoping would shrink on Tamoxifen, but maybe they'll grow instead and i'll be going where you are headed. What's the reason for keeping one ovary?
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Rachel,
I'm just so scared of the AI's side effects that I would rather keep an ovary that is not giving me problems and stay on the tamox. I have at least one fibroid and a couple of polyps too.
I have read and heard that effexor helps with the hot flashes.
Trish
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Trish, so you have to keep an ovary to stay on Tamoxifen? You can't be on Tamoxifen without an ovary?
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Yes they have back to school clothes out already. I wish we had a uniform, all the districts around here do, so maybe the 2010-2011 school year. My son is very picky, not sure if it is adhd or buyers remorse. He likes the clothes at the store, but then when it is time to wear them he refuses. He sya the y are uncomfortable. Yes my 8 yr oll lokks 12 and want s to dress the part. She needs a bra and even wanted me to but her a padded bra.
Rachel, my med onc said after I have the ooph, she will take me off tamoxifen, since it is mainly for pre menopausal women. I guess once I have both ovaries removed, I ge to go thru instant meno. I am fine w/ it, as long as my DH can put up me, that is great. For the people who make me miserable, I guess that I can try to take my "lack of hormones" out on them, rather than my loved ones. I already have a few in mind LOL!!!!!!!
Good night ladies and have a great Tues. I will start looking for my sons bts clothes on tues.
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Mary I don't know that its a hard and fast rule about Tamoxifen. It was originally only used with post menopausal women, and I thought some of the women on KAK's thread who had been on AIs went back to Tamoxifen if they had problems. I think the reason they put post menopausal women on AIs is because they are supposed to be better, I guess in terms of recurrence? And don't forget the Zometa.
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I can't read all this now, gads there is a lot! I missed so much last weekend. I just wanted to say hi to my tamoxifen sisters. Hope everyone is having a good week.
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Thank-you Rachel, I hope maybe I can stay on tamoxifen, since the se's seem to be manageable. I have read about some the se's of the Al's it seems worse than tamoxifen. Oh well, I made it this far and I can get past anything( I hope). Also the link I gave www.womenandcancermag.com
you have to subscribe, I did not realize that, but if you are a cnacer survivor you get a one year complimentary subscription.
Have a great day ladies.
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Rachel,
I am not sure if there are any medications for the hot flashes. Flashes are bearable night sweats are the worst. Wake up dripping all the time. Since I am menopausal, can't figure out which is causing the flashes/sweats.....menopause or tamoxifen or combo of both.
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I am hoping I could get some advice. I have gotten a lot of good information from reading these posts. I am 40 and have been on Tamoxifen for 2 1/2 months. Bilat mastectomy will be getting DIEP in Sept., No Chemo or Radiation. I have had minimal SE. I have had hot/warm flashes which occur mainly at night and not too bad. My biggest problem is the discharge. I have had an increase since starting but now it is becoming more itchy. I went to the Dr. because I thought I had a yeast infection however everything came up neg. My Dr. says this occurs mainly in women who are younger and pre menopausal. Have any of you experienced this? I am hoping it will get better because I really do not want to have this for 5 years!! If any of you have experienced this what have you done to decrease the itch. And will it get better with time?
Nancy
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Morning everyone. Just wanted to show you the beautiful day I had yesterday. I was out in the garden all day doing gardening and playing with the girls. Nice weather sure does make a difference!!!!!!!
Sorry Nancy - can't help you with the discharge thing
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This is the beautiful day we had at home yesterday (sorry about the washing !!!!!). Must say that the weather sure can make a difference to one's attitude/emotional wellbeing. Was outside all day doing gardening and enjoying the school holidays with my dd. Have a wonderful day/nite everyone.
Sorry Nancy can't help you with your question.
big hugs
Helena
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Rachel---the AIs are only for post meno, but tamox can be used for pre or post meno. I was on tamox 1.5 years pre meno and 3.5 years post meno.
Trish----you still have the option of staying on tamox even if you have both ovaries removed.
Joyce--they say Effexor is supposed to work well for the hot flashes---I had them initially from the tamox, then they increased big time after my TAH/BSO; leveled off after the first year, but still somewhat of an issue and it's been over 4 years now since surgery. But I didn't do the Effexor as I didn't want any more SEs, so I just tough them out as best I can. I have a fan blowing directly on me (even in the winter!), AC, and a ceiling fan!
Anne
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Joyce,NJ, I'm with you. I was perimenopausal, getting hot flashes occasionally, a lot of night sweats, even before the tamox, but since then it's become much worse. I'm wondering if it's the tamox or just progression of menopause. I'm actually doing an experiment right now in hopes of finding out. I stopped taking it about 2 weeks ago and may go another week or 2 to see if anything diminishes.
On a different note, I always thought that tamoxifen was beneficial to the bones, but recently read that in premenopausal women, it may not be good for the bones, only in post menopausal women. So if I'm peri meno, where does that leave me with the bones? Rachel, any research?
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