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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 362
    edited January 2008

    Welcome Aboard Labhusky!

    I live aboard the dark chocolate car (that's why many don't see me post - too busy munching).

    Trish

  • my3girls
    my3girls Member Posts: 1,291
    edited January 2008

    Hmmm...the chocolate car, bar car or the strarbucks car...I like the sound of all of them!  Decisions, decisions.

    Jane, sorry about the nausea. I am trying to remember back 3 months ago, if I experienced any temporary nausea.  Chemo brain is not allowing me to remember.  Hopefully it is just temporary.  As for the tiredness, I am tired often, not sure if it's the tamox, or work or life! haha.

    Thanks for the well wishes ladies!  I will take them all, and any prayers as well.  Can't have too many of those!

    Welcome aboard labhusky!

    And..to your last question Jane..no..unless the oc wants me too.

    xoxo

    Lisa

  • louishenry
    louishenry Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2008

    Jane, I asked for the CYP2d6 test because I had no se's and was worried that tamox was not working because I was on paxil for panic attacks. I took the test, found out I could metabolize it, got off paxil and still have no se's. Of course, how about those panic attacks...? Got to figure out what to there.  Nada

  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 934
    edited January 2008

    Just wanted to say from one jane to another, Congrats on the clear TESTS!  :D

  • Trishd2007
    Trishd2007 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2008

    Hello all...I just finished Chemo on Dec 21 and am now on Herceptin every 3 weeks as well as Tamoxifen....just started the Tamoxifen about two weeks ago and so far....the only se I have noticed is vaginal discharge...has anyone else had this happen....just started yesterday and I am not sure if this is normal and how long this will last...finally got rid of the periods and now I have to wear a liner for this....ughhh

  • Cyndy
    Cyndy Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2008

    Thanks everybody for your answers. I have one more question about Tamoxifen.I no longer get periods. Will they come back if I go on this stuff? I never had problems with periods ever (I must be weird) Got them every 28 days since I was 8 years old. (I started super young and had a huge chest by the time I was ten)If I had the flu, then it was every 32. They finally stopped in 2006.

  • LottaQuilts
    LottaQuilts Member Posts: 10
    edited January 2008

    Trish - I've been on about 2 weeks as well.  I also have the discharge which surprised me.  One of the side effects was listed as vaginal dryness..... I'm quite "juicy"!

    Other than that, I don't have any SEs yet.  I guess it won't stay that way, huh?

    Awaiting my first hot flash......

    Abbi

  • labhusky
    labhusky Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2008

    Im glad I finally broke down and started it.  My gut tells me I did the right thing and I feel happier for it.  Is that not strange?  I guess I will keep taking them mid morning.  It sure didnt take you very long Abbi for your first SE.  I have been periodless for just about 2 years now (April 06) so this will be interesting. 

    A lady I know at work has been taking it for 6 months now.  She says she can feel a hot flash coming when her back feels a certain way.  She said to get some cotton and rayon clothes.  She did have chemotherapy prior. 

    Thank you, and Im happy to be aboard.  This was a very innovative idea for a thread Basha!!!

  • barbeqrn
    barbeqrn Member Posts: 38
    edited February 2008

    Harley!



    Glad to see you are taking in a melon ball or two on this train! How is the hair coming? I still am wearing the wigs because it is too short for me!No bald spots anymore though. You and I never did lose all the hair...How is the fatigue level?



    I am still just having little "flashettes" at night especially, otherwise I am totally fine. I think my doc said he would change me to an aromatase inhibitor if I remain in menopause for a year....I think they are supposed to be 17% more effective than Tamox in helping prevent recurrence. I believe there is more bone problems though....is anyone considering this switch?



    Have a great day everyone! Barb

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited February 2008

    Dear Gals,

    Got dx yesterday with my first yeast infection. Anyone know any ways to prevent that doesn't involve headstands or yogurt?



    XXX Basha

  • Blinx
    Blinx Member Posts: 82
    edited February 2008

    Just took my first pill today -- decided it looked just like an aspirin, and wondered if I pretended that it was an aspirin, could I trick my body into no SE? We'll see.

    But, I had to go through pre-tamox testing... gyn exam, led to biopsy and ultrasound. They found a polyp, so lucky me, I get to have a D&C. For some reason, I'm more apprehensive about that than my lumpectomy!

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2008

    I guess no one could answer my question, but thanks anyway.

    Hugs, Jackie

  • dcbkc
    dcbkc Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2008

    Basha,

    I've had two yeast infections so far (been on the train almost 2 months)  Actually, one was before I hopped aboard.  PCP said she wasn't surprised -- stress can cause them.  She recommended the one day ovule.  It took care of it but then I got onboard and got another. Did it again and I've been ok since then, I think.  I'm not sure if I'm getting another one right now or not.  But I tried something yesterday that I haven't done in ages.  I did a douche with a little white vinegar and a lot of water.  I'm waiting to see if it helps.  My gyn from long ago thought they were a good idea.  He was pretty smart -- on staff at GWU, had a wing named.  But he was always really practical.  I'll let you know if I think its working. And I'm with you, not a yogurt fan.

    Jackie,

    The only chest tingling that I get is anxiety.  I too had rads and my skin was a mess but only in the tx area.  If you aren't sure call your doc's office.  I know NOT going to a doc sometimes feels better but your peace of mind is important too!

    D

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited February 2008

    Hey Barb,

    How are you doing?  Hope you were able to get a good seat, near a window. 

    I figured if I bring some drinks, maybe it will be a lot easier, and the time will pass quickly!  Hair... well, I am not wearing my wigs anymore.  My hair is about 2" long, but it is silver and gray, and black and white... all mixed together on my head.  I don't like it this short, but everyone tells me that it looks cute this way.  I am still going to try to let it grow, maybe to my chin or shoulder length.  I can't wait til April... then I may consider coloring it, but I want to try to use an all natural color.  I am still tired alot, and I am not sleeping very well.  I have a pcp appt on Monday and an onc appt. on Tuesday, so I'll let him know about the fatigue, and see if they have any suggestions.  Probably not... I wish I had a job like that... my onc does NOTHING, and spends about 5 minutes with me, and that is IT!  ...  But, he makes A TON of money!  Must be nice! 

    I may switch to an AI after 2 years.  But, I am frightened about the bone loss that it causes.  I already have low bone density...

    I am SO ready for my cruise!!  We leave on Feb 8th, driving down to Ft. Lauderdale.  We will spend the night there and get a shuttle to the ship the next day.  It is a 7 day cruise on HAL's Zuiderdam.  I can't wait!

    Hugs

    Harley




     

  • 3boys4me
    3boys4me Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2008

    I just got my "little bottle 'o tamoxifen" so have officially hopped the train and have headed to the bar car.  It's only been about a week, but so far so good, except the night sweats...  I just want to sleep at night!

  • betsy13
    betsy13 Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2008

    Hi,

    I've been on the Tamox train (in the bar car.... buying my own drinks ;) since Sept. 07....am now glad I did it as I am doing well (have utilized a psychiatrist that uses acupuncture....no other meds needed) my se are night sweats with my period...some sleeplessness...tweaked by the acupuncture...some weight loss, but I think that was due to stress (daughter got married:) and my business moved into a new office and I became a jr. partner:O....lots and lots of extra paperwork and hours..... I also developed polyps...had 1 in Oct when I went for my annual Gyno appt. I had discomfort during the exam so Gyno sent me for a transvaginal us....then he did transvaginal us in his office 3 weeks later and discovered I had developed 3 more by end of Oct. I had surgery in Nov. B9:)....jury is still out whether it was the tamox or not....Gyno thinks yes...med onc...not convinced...both will monitor closely....then this month I get my period at 22 days for 7 days.....last month was 31 days for 4 days......I use to be like clockwork....28 days for 4 days...no real problems.....I am concerned about it coming sooner....as I would have expected it to start coming farther apart if it is a response to the Tamox.....and of course we are watching for any unusual bleeding...I head off for a mini-vacation at the end of Feb. and would be quite annoyed if I have my period....I am going to Key West and plan on planking myself on the beach in the am....until the pm (with sunscreen of course)...so would hate to have to interrupt this fun with trips to the girls room (even on the way to the bar:) ....has anyone else had this experience......

    Basha

    I too had a "wicked" yeast infection 2 scripts of vag. meds 3 days each...it was a month after my surgery for the polyps so 3 months after starting on the Tamox. (just in time for Christmas....so I had to actually buy my husband a gift;) and Gyno thought it was due to that......haven't had one since....(knock on wood) so not sure what might help.....I drink Kefir which is like yogurt...so not sure if yogurt would work either...

    Blinx

    good luck on the D&C I was more nervous about that than my lumpectomy too not sure if it was because I already knew I had breast cancer......where with the polyps I would have to wait for the results.....waiting I find is the hardest of all of this.... 

    Betsy 

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited February 2008

    Betsy,

    Your husband's gift made me lol. Hopefully this diflucon script will take care of it.



    D, I remember the vinegar and water for a prevention. You jogged my memory.



    I'm going to Sanibel for a week of sun. Yahoo!! Last week of March.



    xxxBasha

  • betsy13
    betsy13 Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2008

    Hi Jackie,

    Just saw you ?.....I think this is related to rads.....I still have occasional "twinging" and I finished in May 07...but much less often now.....it was weird how I wouldn't have anything then out of the blue I would have these sharp needle like sensations....I would have to press on my breast (whenever I could:) to get through it.....my BS said it was from the radiation and would happen for a while.....I had not been on tamoxifin yet, so it had to be the rads......hope that helps...this too will pass:)

    Betsy

  • labhusky
    labhusky Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2008

    Hi Blinx,

    Welcome aboard!!!  Before I took it, I decided just to get checked out at my gynecologist also.  I do hate those endometrial biopsiesYell.  Hurt like hell.  Had one last year too and they found a polyp that was causing my weird bleeding.  I was relieved but  owwww.  I received no call from them from the test and see them again in April just to see how Im doing, so I took it on the 30th.

  • dcbkc
    dcbkc Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2008

    Basha,

    Hope the scrip helps.  I do think the vinegar/water is helping.  I thought another was coming on but not so much any more.  Keep your fingers crossed.

    Sanibel sounds wonderful.  We're going to Palm Springs in mid-March.  By the way, other than sunscreen, do you have any limits on sun time?  I had rads and went to Orlando a week later.  I wasn't allowed to expose my chest to sunlight if I could avoid it.  I was always covered in some way. I see bs in 3 weeks before we go so I'll ask him then. But any thoughts would be appreciated.

    D

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited February 2008

    D,

    I'm going to be a little more careful of my chest area. I've had squamous cell carcinoma that need sun protecting as well as my radiated left breast. Maybe a light shirt at peak sun hours. Have fun too!!Key Lime Pie!!!



    Basha

  • betsy13
    betsy13 Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2008

    HI,

    I head to key west at the end of Feb. I am irish...so lots of basal cell...had an area on the top of my toe...then a recurrence...so had rads on that along with left breast this past year...finished up in May 07...breast did OK...usual skin/rash, but the toe opened up and took a while to heal.....I was told no sun for the first year after rads.... I had my dermatologist follow-up and rad onco follow up the day after I get back from the Keys.....OOPPSS so I changed it to the week before I leave....wouldn't want to get caught if I get a little sun;).....but last summer I did fine with using 50sp sunscreen....so I am not too worried, just hate that I will be the only "really white" girl on the beach:)

    Betsy  

    p.s.

    heard that there is a correlation of melanoma/breast cancer especially in the first year....anyone else heard that??? 

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2008

    Betsy,

    Thanks for you help.  I think I agree about the radiation because I have been getting that pain.  I feel better now that I know.  Have a great weekend.  D- thanks too.  I'm going to doc next week so I'll see.

    Hugs, Jackie

  • nativemainer
    nativemainer Member Posts: 7,922
    edited February 2008

    Melanoma is a possible complication of radiation therapy.  I've read a few posts from women who have developed melanoma on the breast that was irradiated.  Something we should be watching for but they don't tell us about. 

  • LottaQuilts
    LottaQuilts Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2008

    Just called the pharmacy to refill for the first time.  That's one bottle down, 59 to go for me!  So far no real SEs.... but I'm sure that's going to change, right.  Does anyone get away without any SEs?

    Abbi

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited February 2008

    Abbi

    Wow!  Congratulations on your first month with Tamoxifen!  So far, the se's have been minimal for me, and I started it on Nov. 18th.  I get refills every 90 days, so I just got my first refill, too.  I have noticed that if I sit in one position for awhile, and then try to move, I am stiff!  This is new, so it must be from the Tamox.!  Also, I have been getting some hot flashes, at night.  Not sure if it is from the Tamox., or if it is from my thyroid, because my thyroid is off again...  so what's new?

    Good Luck!

    Harley 

  • nativemainer
    nativemainer Member Posts: 7,922
    edited February 2008

    Abbi,

    I have been taking tamoxifen since October and have not had one side effect.  While I'm glad not to have side effects, now I'm struggling with the fear that it's not working.  I'm not sure which is worse--what I've read about ladies going through with hot flashes and night sweats or just waiting for the beast to come back because the pill I'm taking isn't doing anything. . . .

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited February 2008

    Dear Native Mainer,(Where in ME? I love to visit in the summer from VT)



    Why not locate that test, CYP2d6 to see if you are metabolizing? Then you don't have to worry.



    Basha

  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 934
    edited February 2008

    Is it standard tx to check to see if the tamox is utilized by our bodies?  Do they do that test before you take it or after you've been on it?

    I'd be one to be concerned if I didn't have SE's also NM :(  I understnand your feelings, liking that you don't have them, but also that nagging thought in the back of the mind.

  • JapanLynn
    JapanLynn Member Posts: 211
    edited February 2008

    Good morning, ladies--

    I've been riding the train silently this week...computer issues.  Now I'm sending this message from my new laptop; I have new baggage but a flat wallet. :-(  Sigh...  Can someone buy me a coffee and some chocolate??  Or maybe a glass of red wine in the club car.

    Yesterday I filled up my pill box w/ mostly supplements/vitamins and tamox, too...my first 3-month supply is gone!  Next Sunday I'll start on bottle #2.

    From what I've read here, Native Mainer, doing the CYP etc. test isn't necessarily SOP for all docs, but I would think you could request it.  My onc says he'll do it this summer when I go home, just to make sure.  I'm having a few side effects--aches and pains in the hips, some flushes here and there--but nothing way out there.  I think I'm lucky in that I generally tolerate medication pretty well...I don't seem to get the low-incidence SEs (knock wood).

    Jackie, I, too, get tingling and/or shooting pain on the radiation side; this is normal, from what I've been told and what I've read.  Just a fun little reminder of the past, I guess...

    So the snowbirds are heading South...I grew up in north FL, and remember seeing all the Yankee license plates on I-95 in January.  Basha, enjoy Sanibel!  My aunt and uncle lived in Ft. Myers for years, and my uncle was the bridge tender on the bridge to Sanibel.  Beautiful place...enjoy!  You deserve it after all the recent stress you've had.  Other ladies--enjoy your cruises, Palm Springs, sun lamps, whatever.  This time of year is the hardest for me, but spring is coming!

    I took the day off today to see my beloved Giants whup the Patriots.  Here I sit on Monday morning with my coffee in hand, ready for the 8:30 a.m. kickoff. 

    Take care, ladies!  Enjoy your evening...

    Lynn

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