Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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So... like maybe Pine Bark could - relieve menopause symptoms AND help prevent cancer without messing with hormones?
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As always, a lot to catch up on.
Helena, how wonderful that you are getting rain! Having lived through a few droughts here, with mandatory water rationing, I really appreciate rain!
Rachel - interesting about the pine bark. Did you read the warning : Pine bark extract may interact with certain chemotherapeutic drugs and immunosuppressants?
Regarding suppliments I am driving my accupuncturist nuts becuase everything she wants me to take may interear with tamoxifen. I found a good web site that has a lot of information about herbs, botanicals and other products.
It is beginning to cool off here and I seem to be sweating less - I went to yoga class this am and didn't drip on the floor. :-)0 -
Helena, you're famous!!! That's so awesome that the hard work and your perseverance was noticed and you are in that article...simply FABULOSO!! and you got rain! and your own tea! oh wait, that part wasn't fun...stupid football! heehee
Lisa-e, here here to not dripping on the floor!
Rachel, glad the kid had fun at jazz, that's soooo cool! any pics??
Spent a wonderful day with my best girlfriend. Felt normal!! you girls know what I'm talking about....just girlie stuff, no SFBC stuff!!
Sleepy time for Kari, long day....love to all!
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lisa e- I hadn't, but not sure what it would matter? I am not on any chemotheraputic or immunosuppressant drugs. Any case, it would be something I would bring up to my ONC, and wondering if the collective wisdom around here knew about this pine bark thing.
Helena - just read the article. Really impressed! You just so rock.
kari- oh yeah, got pics and one of the daddies in the group - his daughter's name is "Ella" how cool is that in a jazz class? This guy had a serious camera and I gave him my card so I hope we exchange pics. What I wish is that I could take video so you could hear the music. I could, but it wouldn't be that awesome. It's awesome!! The whole area- its part of the Time Warner Center, my first time there, is fabulous. Beautiful jazz is playing in the public areas, its really "high class", you get that serious-music-hall feeling. The teachers were talented musicians, one was playing riffs on the piano nearly consistently and the other was teaching concepts and then started to play his trumpet to the kids. Its that bittersweet stuff. I really enjoyed this and was saying to myself Life is Good, as I have for years and really just happy, ecstatic... and then there's the Wicked Witch of SFBC flying her broom across the sky....
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Boy oh boy it is alot to catch up on. I have not posted since Thursday. Thursday night I had a class for CCD instructors. Friday, the kids wanted homemade nachos, so DH and I went to store and bought all the fixings, then I went to bed early. Saturday, up early, no time for puter, had to run errands before the banks closed. Got home took a short nap and then made dinner, got ready for mass, then off to my overnight job( only one night a week). Sunday morning off to teach CCD and then I took MIL out to lunch for her birthday. Home and watche a little football, very disappointed only one game on. It is cool to see all the teams wearing pink cleats and pink gloves. On Monday night foot ball, Brett Favre will wear pink cleats with his wife's name, as she is a BC survivor!
As for supplements, I only take, Tamoxifen, Effexor XR 75mg, D3 and Calicum, Albuterol(for asthma), Ibuprofen(for bum knee and other joint pain. D and Calcium were suggested by surgoen doing ooph, since I was pre menopausal, he was concerned about bone loss, since my dad's aunt had osteoporosis(sp?)( his dad's twin sister).
Talking about mojo, I wish dh and I could get our mojo together. If he wants a little, I am exhausted, and when I want it he is exhausted. Well we got together tonight for a "quickie"
Sorry, but I only skimmed through the previous posts. Helena, I see you are famous and were quoted in an article, how cool!!!! Welcome newbies, sit back and enjoy the ride.
Oh back to the supplements, before anyone starts taking apsirin, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor. Also there are other blood thinners, green tea, ibuprofen(motrin, advil). Also anyone who is having heavy peroids, just remember that aspirin can make it even heavier. Sorry to keep jumping around, but my brain does not want to work. As I type I remember different posts and things said.
I am dreading Monday, Thursday was the day from hell at work. Hopefully a neww week will mean a better week.
Hope all have a good week.
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First of all, I didn't post the web site I mentioned above, so will do so now.
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
Rachel, I suspect it doesn't matter if pine bark interfers with cheomtheraputic drugs and immunosuppresants. I think the web site you looked up pine bark on is the same one above. Anyway, I went and read further and I didn't see a mention of tamoxifen. I think I just sort of consider all drugs suspect after looking at the list of drugs that interfear with tamoxifen metabolism.0 -
lisa-e I haven't really been following the natural substances, I am kinda surprised no one who is into that stuff has popped up to say anything pro or con. After you posted I googled around a bit but didn't find anything one way or another. I agree on the suspicion
It's kinda like the soap in the bed/leg cramp thing. Just wanted to see if anyone had heard of it. So far, soap sounds good, pine bark still mystery...
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Just woke up from a nanna nap. Gotta love long weekends. Kids playing in the pool, DH cooking up a storm in the kitchen (osso bucco or something he said) and here I am feeding my addiction.
B4 I forget or B4 the girls hijack the computer AGAIN just want to wish you all the best Diane. Not sure whether to say that on FB or not. I'm sure everything will go really well for you and you will be back to hugging those gorgeous kids of yours in no time. ((((hugs)))
Ah fame and fortune, what I have always wanted. Ha.
The Queen has a very happy heart, thanx Rach.
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Yes good luck with everything Diane!!!!
Have a HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!!!
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Morning all. For anyone who was wondering, this is what was on the list I received from my new med onc at my initial visit in August:
Vitamin D3 - 800-1,000 units daily.
Maintain an acceptable weight (working on it!)
Exercise at least 30-45 minutes a day, if possible.
Low fat diet - 6-10 servings of fruit / veg, whole grain, limit processed foods and meats. Lots of omega 3 rich foods - flaxseed, fish (salmon and tuna). Minimize omega 6 fats.
Multivitamin daily - make sure it has selenium and lycopene.
600 mg. of calcium for bone density.
Baby aspirin - for heart and for tamox clotting prevention
Resveritrol, an antioxidant.
Drink green tea and avoid caffiene. Sorry, this one is tough - I am a coffee lover.
Curcumin - a spice found in tumeric and mustard is an antioxidant and a natural aromatase inhibitor. I get mine currently added in the DIM I am taking, which is from the naturapath and is also a natural aromatase inhibitor.
Cinnamon - helps with inflammation and can increase circulation, helpful for lymphedema.
So, I was doing most except for the cinnamon, and I have added the fish oil, biotin and hair growth supplements.
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Diane, we will be thinking of you for your surgery (tomorrow right?)...Lots of good thoughts comin your way girl!! Hugs
Rachel, the jazz event sounded really really cool! I hope that daddy sends you the pics!! NYC just sounds soooo hip and cool! We met some people from NYC (everytime I type that I say New York City? like from the salsa commercial) a couple years ago and they said the best time to visit was Oct/Nov...especially Nov when all the decorations are up for the holidays.
Mary, hope you have a good day at work, sounds so up and down there, poor thing!! Eat your Wheaties each day for that brood. Glad you worked in a quickie, now you and DH are a smilin!!
Chelev, thanks for writing down what your onc gave you.
My friend that had the brain tumor emailed me 3 pdfs of info she got from her nutritionist...There's one from the National Brain Tumor Foundation, a Fact Sheet..."The Healing Power of Your Fork" A Brain Tumor Survivor's Eating Plan. (I will read it, but it is geared for brain not breast...i.e. lots of soy products listed)...If anyone is interested lemme know and I will email to you.
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Helena QOTD your hubby is making you Osso Buco? I LOVE Osso Buco! Wow. Yummy!
Diane I lost track of days somewhere - major hugs and love for your surgery tomorrow. I will poke around and see what the problem posting on BC org from an iPhone is, I had same issue. But hope you will be in and out so fast you dont have time to post.
I'll check ya on FB kari- that's really interesting they recommend soy stuff for brain cancer. I hadn't even begun to look into it, and just assumed there were hormone positive cancers for all over the body. F*cking SFBC. F8cking SFC.
Baby aspirin- got my answer from my ONC: "Yes it would be OK however the use of aspirin is primarily for prevention of arterial events ie strokes and heart attacks. It is not as good for the prevention of venous blood clots for which we use coumadin or heparin neither of which are indicated in your case. It would be fine to take nothing and stay active!"
Color me active... Active active ACTIVE!!!
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Rach, straight from the onc's mouth! Yeah I was kinda worried about others popping baby aspirin without doc's orders...my mom had to take it, but she had heart issues. I read all the info on the brain cancer stuff...wow, lots of info, and I do the best I can...I just can't do the whole veggie breakfast lunch and dinner thing, just not that lovin it. My SIL is a vegan and when we were visiting her in Seattle last year, she handed me a smoothie for breakfast, well it was green, that should have been my first warning...I was thinkin yum, i love smoothies...WRONG, took one sip and almost hurled, dumped it down the drain when she wasn't looking....
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Yes Osso buco - I just had the sauce with brown rice - beautiful. Sure my heritage should have been italian instead of german.
G_d I love you Americans - hurled ... he he !! love it. Kari me too. Pretty healthy but can't do the wheat grass shots and all that stuff, give me a whole banana anyday.
My father (86) takes aspirin every day for his heart condition and he tends to get quite dizzy if he does too much, well too much for an 86 year old. It is actually quite an amazing little pill and they are finding more uses for it each day but until I am told I need it I will leave it alone. Just my 2c.
Totally off subject but I was reading lots of posts last night from other threads, yes, I am a thread whore...and was telling a friend who was out walking and she came up with a doozy ..."everyone is entitled to my opinion". Just thought I would share that one.
Just went for a run after a 2.5week break and no squeaking. Yay.
Mary hope you have a stress free day.
Beautiful photo Chelev
Rach & Kari ... love you guys.
big hugs
Helena
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My pcp told me I should be taking a baby asprin every day, while my gyn told me I should be taking calcium and vitamin D. My onc hasn't said anything to me about diet, vitamins or suppliments. I wish my onc would have handed me a list like Chelev's. I feel like I am on my own and every practioner has an agenda they are pushing.
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Best wishes, Diane!!!!!!!!!!
Well, very interesting, Chevlev - Most of what you have written, I've had confirmed as well. HOWEVER, flaxseed, whole grain bread (especially if containing flaxseed, sesame seeds, sunflower seed, Resveritrol are on my "Natural HealthProducts with known Estrogenic Activity" and acording to the Alberta Health Services, where I get the tamoxifen, "there is a theoretical risk that phytoestrogens may encourage the growth of some breast cancer cells and may also interfere with hormone type medications....including tamoxifen. Also on this list are: aletris, alfalfa, anise, beta-sitosterols, bitter melon, black cohosh, blue, cohosh, chasteberry, DHEA, dong Quai, evening primrose oil, ginsing, fennel, hops, licorice, milk thistel, raspberry leaf, red clover, scarlet pimpernel, soy supplements, tangeretin (watch out for mega doses of the Vit C), wild yam.
Gets more confusing all the time!
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I should clarify - the whole grain bread (especially if containing flaxseed, sesame seeds, sunflower seed) aren't actually on the list but when you google the inhibitors of tamoxifen - it will list these - as well as black bean sauce, curly kale, broccoli, and watch out big time for the antidepressants, antihistimines....
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Helena, funny...my coworker and I are goofing around this afternoon (shhhh...) and we were talking about family heritage, etc. I'm from Scottish/Italian decent...and some other stuff thrown in for good measure, hence making me sweetie pie happy face! heehee (I get a kick out of some of your words too! so different than us Americans - LOVE IT!) and I have a banana sitting next to me for my snack! Your friend's quote is funny and so is 'thread whore' LOVE IT!!! YAY for NO squeak!! and I see we can give big hugs again - YAY!!!
lisa-e - thats pretty contradictory from one doc to the other...I keep bringing this stuff up to my onc and my pcp, I asked each one (onc/gyn/pcp) what supplements should I be taking and the main ones they all agreed on were a multi w/minerals (no iron unless I don't eat meat or leafy greens) and calcium with vit d....I asked my onc about fish oil, and she said you can but better to eat fish twice a week, which I need to do!!
bcamnb - I've seen conflicting info on the flaxseed subject and I thought we were supposed to gobble up broccoli! All the docs said was avoid soy, but my onc said you can have soy a couple times a week, no biggie. I wish everything was packaged in a pretty article and handed to each of us with a bow as far as what we should be taking/eating!!
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Diane, wishing you all the best tomorrow! it will be over before you know it.
Just wanted to report I've been on Tamoxifen for 4 whole days and have nothing substantial to report. Well, OK, have had a little trouble sleeping but that could be because I'm no longer taking Trazodone, or because I have a brick hard boob on the right, or a couple of other things.
I even felt like doing housework today and that's pretty unusual. (You know, as in "I do housework every other day. This is not the other day.")
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Hey Patty,
You and I need to keep in close touch. Last night was Day 4 for me as well - and so far nothing major either. Gather it takes about 4 weeks for it to really get into our bodies. Do you know how you metabolize this drug? I am an IM and therefore am taking 30 mg/day - all at night. Somewhere I read if you are taking more than 20, it should be divided into two doses but who knows, not what my doc/pharmacist thinks....
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Helena--What a star you are--here and in Aussieland! I am so impressed by your determination. By the way, I was the first person for whom my first med onc ordered the Oncotyping (in 2006), and only because I did all the research and asked him to order it. I reminded him to think about this test for other women with breast ca, and I often wonder if he does. (I can't ask him, I later fired him...another story). My current med onc did not know about CYP2D6 testing when I asked him, so he had the researcher in his clinic investigate; I was the first person in his clinic to have that test. It can be exhausting to try to keep up with research and novel thinking about breast ca!
With regard to aspirin, I tried to take it, but the increased ringing in my ears nearly drove me crazy! I drink green tea each day and I am going to have to do more research into natural blood thinners.
Diane--Thinking of you and hoping for an uncomplicated recovery.
bcamnb--30mg--interesting. I have IM status as well, and I guess I will have to do some more research on dosage recommendations, since I am taking 20mg per day. (I have heard there is some controversy in this area.) Of course, I am very sensitive to meds, so my MD may just want to make sure that I take the darned thing each day.
Chelev--Thanks for the list of supplements. I think many of us get confused about what to take or not take, what research we should attend to. I think I read somewhere that resveritrol was not considered to be beneficial in supplement form, and now I hear that your med onc has recommended. Oh, well,.I'll keep slogging along, doing the best I can.
By the way, has anyone experienced a significant increase in blood pressure on Tamox? My bp usually runs around 90/60 or 100/70, and it has increased lately--one reading was 119/80. Geez, now I may have to start monitoring my blood pressure, too?
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I know - it is very confusing!! I am taking my med onc's advice on the strong basis that her specialty, all she treats, is breast cancer, so I thinking she knows from where she speaks. And, I'm not opposed to the resveritrol in liquid form (wink wink - nice glass of red wine anyone?).
Thanks for the compliements on the photo, Helena!
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I think I am the first person to be tested here as well. My onc and the onc pharmacist did not know what to make of the results. The increase in dose came from the recommendation of the lab which did my testing. They specialize in DNA testing and also have a fabulous software program that shows drug/food/over the counter interactions - things that inhibit tamoxifen especially.
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Hello Ladies....
I am new to this thread, and will be starting my Tamox in 2 weeks, after taking 2 week of Effexor to help with those stupid hot flashes. On the "Anyone Not On Tamox thread" there were so many Tamox horror stories, I had to stop reading. Anything I need to know before starting????
Thanks..and looking forward to getting to Know you all!!!
Linda
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Welcome to the train LindaSueH! Find any car you like (I personally love the chocolate car, pasta car, etc!)
That's the thing with a lot of forums, people post to find other people who have the same problems as they do. You normally don't find posts from people who have no problems with side effects. As with different bc dx's, there are different se's to each person. I have had some (1) hot flush, weight redistribution (went to my middle), extreme pms (more so than normal), leg crams (have eased), insomnia (now I have to get up to go pee), and uterine/ovarian cyst issues. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT in their se's I normally don't post too much anymore but do lurk. I started my 3rd year on tamox and will continue unless my uterine/ovary issues tell me to stop.
Hugs!
Trish
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Hi LindaSue,
What a journey we are all on. I have recently joined this site as well, and am 5 days into Tamo. I am taking it with my dinner at night (advised to do so so that most SE might happen while I sleep) - so far so good. Best of luck!
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hey bcamnb, yes, we should keep in touch! I'm still waiting for some kind of bomb to go off, although I do realize it may take a while for SEs to show up and you can also take a drug for years and suddenly develop SEs. At this point, I'm pleasantly surprised.
I did lose money at the casino this morning, though, so I'm attributing that directly to the Tamoxifen!
I don't know what kind of metabolizer I am. My oncologist didn't mention the test at all but I am taking 20 mgs. Theoretically speaking, wouldn't we need tests on ALL our meds to see how we're metabolizing them?
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Linda--I was also freaked out about tamox after seeing what side effects some people had. So far I haven't had any--or just one, an ovarian cyst but that seems to have shrunk (we'll see when i get a pelvic ultrasound next month.) But i think the thing with tamox is that 1) everyone responds differently 2) whatever side effects you have will typically dissapate after you stop taking it--so you can try it out and see how you do...
Good luck!
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Quick post, off to work... will post later... but
Meg and Diane ... big big hugs.. thinking of both of you. And happy birthday too Meg.
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Hi gals this is going to be a double post.......Surgery went pretty well today. I got my TE put in on the L and my simple mast on the R but the PS couldn't go straight to implant so I have a TE on that side too.....I was told this could happen but was hoping to be done with the one side. SIGH......I was a BIG baby while waiting to get taken back to the OR. I teared up everytime someone came in for my preop CRAP. Oh, and I love my surgeons....on my paperwork it said I was having breast augmentation...YEAH right I am hear for a boob job but not my flipping choice. SFBC! I have 2 drains and a lidocaine pump for 4 days. So far I haven't taken any pain meds. I hate the feeling of them. I just asked for some tylenol and for the nurse to take the Dilauded pump off so I can have a Tylenol with codeine if I need it.
Now looking forward to the healing process. I am going to miss picking up my little (almost 2 year old).
I gave all 3 of my kids LOTS of hugs and holding the past few days to make up for what I will miss in the next few weeks....HUGS and thanks for all the well wishes. Love you all.
Diane
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