Bottle o Tamoxifen
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OH NO momo -- facial hair, you've got to be kidding. How much more humiliation? What to do?
Hi Lady M - guess it's onto Tamoxifen threads, love the Aug rad gals! But how great to be moving on, hope your Tamox tolerance remains well. I haven't started, ordered it by mail, there was a mix up but it should be here soon.
Chevyboy - love the avatar picture, I've got the 'warm waves' too. Hope they don't get any worse. Appreciate the info.
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ladym, One study I read said hair thinning on tamox occured in something like 5% of patients, so if that's correct at least its not very common. :-/ I know a lot of women on tamox personally (not just thorugh BCO) and hair thinning is not the thing they complain about. The peach fuzz on the face has been mentioned here more often than hair thinning, although how frequent it is is uncleear to me.
momofcuig, i'm sure your docs already said it but I'll just say that since you have a history of blood clots it seems superimportant for you to know the signs and get help ASAP if you notice them. Blood clots on tamox are most common (although still very uncommon) in the legs. Good luck to you!!
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I just popped my first Tamoxifen.......come on SE's, I'm ready!!!!!!!
cs 7777.......Ta for the info. Yes the docs did explain the sign's and symptom's of a clot. I hope to God it doesn't happen but if it does I'll be running to the Doc office.
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LOL momofcuig - I love the fierce women I meet here! Go get em!!!
Glad to hear you're all educated on the clots, and here's wishing that you NEVER have to use the education!
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I had blood clots in both legs at age 41 and was hospitalized for 18 days. I was then switched from estrogen pills to the patch after 6 months of no estrogen.
Believe me I watch like a hawk because I know exactly what it looks like and feels like. Since I've gone so many years w/o even one problem, they decided to give the Tamoxifen a try. And it's been over a year now.
CS~ I'm one that the doctor had me "half" my pills and it works for me. I've noticed that it's about 50-50 on here that it either works or makes no difference whatsoever. So like you say, you just have to try it and see.
What amazes me the most on here is how the opinions of our doctors vary so much !!!!!!! It makes me wonder ??????????
Bonnie
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Bonnie.................that is so scary!
I am 40 now but was 37 when I had an ovarian vein thrombosis. It was related to a complication I had after a c. section with my 4th baby! But it didn't present itself until 6 months after I had my babe, so I had no clue what was going on. By the time myself and the doc's figured out how sick I was.....it was life threatening!
I did forget to ask the doc if the risk gets higher or lower the longer I take the Tamox. Or maybe there is no difference at all.
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Dorothy, you may want to switch to taking your pill in the am so you don't have the night sweats. Of course you'll have to tolerate them during the day, but at least you'll get some sleep at night!
poohbear, can't imagine why your onc would advise against all vitamins?! Are you doing rads? Maybe he just meant during rads...? Once I finished chemo & rads I started supplementing with vitamin D, fish oil, CoQ10, a probiotic, and I took a multivitamin all the way thru- even during chemo.
Hi ECT, Hi Alaina! So many familiar faces
Oh, and my hair seems to be coming in nice and thick...Yay!!!
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Lady M......
I hope you don't mind me asking but how long in between finishing chemo and thick hair growing???
I miss my thick brown hair
It has only been a couple of weeks for me since my last chemo but would love to get an idea as to when I might see hair again!0 -
Hi Dorothy...Yes, Lady_Madonna is right! Both my Onco Doc & Radiologist said we should be taking the Vitamins...Been doing this since the first day on Tamoxifen....I also take the Fish Oil with Omega 3, Calcium, A multi-vitamin, Vitamin D3, & Glucosamine ......And with the Tamoxifen in the mornings I take a lo-do aspirin.....So ask your Doc again about what he said about "no vitamins."
Bonnie....you are so right about "Every Doctor says something different!" But I never took vitamins before, so I just thought I had better do eveything I can to get healthy. I FEEL really good, even at 73....So maybe that means I have another 20 years left....Ha!
Take care of yourselves gals....xoxoooxxoxo
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Re vitamins. Rads onc said I can take a multi vitamin and med onc just had me suspend vitamins 2 days before and 2 days after chemo.
Kittykat- I have a very short white stubble on my head and am approx a month post chemo. I am curious too. How far are you post chemo ?
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momofcuig- I finished chemo on June 30th and I noticed the hair coming in about 8 weeks later, I now have almost an inch and it's growing in very even all over and thick.
Mel (lady Madonna) I'm cracking up, because our names are so similar on here that I never know if people are talking to you or me...hahaha looks like we have ONE more thing in common huh?
I've taken two Tamox so far and nothing to report, probably too early to feel anything, when did everyone start noticing SE
cs7777 thanks for the stats...here's hoping I'm not in the 5%...LMAO!!
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Hi Tamoxitrainers,
Momofcuig~~ I think ovarian thrombosis is every bit as scary as my leg thrombosis!!! We'll just have to keep a careful watch.
Chevyboy~~ I'm surprised more TTrainers didn't comment on how different all our doctors view all this stuff we're supposed to DO and NOT DO. This one says DO That one says DO NOT DO. Hey~~~ Can't we have some common ground on at least MOST of the Do and Do Nots !!!!!
I take almost the same pills that you do Chevyboy. I have taken vitamins before but never stuck to it. Now I do it faithfully.
Everyone ready for Halloween? We get about 85-90 kids a year. . . so I have to be. LOL
Catbird (Bonnie)
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Hello Ladies,
Thank you so much for all of your input. I think that I am going to take the Omega's to protect my heart, joints, and skin. I am going to ask my Rad oncologist also about the vitamin debate. I start my Rads Nov 3rd.
As for the Tamoxifen, only three days in but I have been taking half dose in the am and the other half in the pm. I maintained having my cyle on chemo ( I am 36 and premenopausal) so I will be interested to see what happens. I just pray that I tolerate this pill well considering I will be married to it for 5 years.
Hope everyone is doing well
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Mo, I know... think I'll add "Mel" to my signature line so people can tell us apart! Haha!
Tamoxifeners, Ladym13 is "Mo" and Lady_Madonna is "Mel" but who the heck among us is going to remember that?! Haha... I'll add "Mel" to my signature line. We're buddies and we don't mind if you mix us up anyway. Besides, we just did the same chemo & rads & now tamox & we both have long, dark hair - oops, can't believe I just wrote that! Make that had!!! Now we both have short, dark chemo hair, lol!!
Anyway... I have about an inch of thick hair evenly covering my head! I'm about one week shy of four months out from chemo. My onc says I have good follicles. I just want to get to where I have a little bit of bangs. Right now I can do "spiked" really well, but I'd like a little softer look. Also don't panic if the first hair that comes in is grey- that's what happened with me and most of my friends. The color comes in after that.
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I forgot to clarify in my previous post... my onc only wanted me to take Vit D and Calcium, but advised against multivitamins and supplements. Again, I would think it would be beneficial to be as healthy as possible???
Oh, and I don't care what color my hair grows back, it can be purple, I just want it to grow back
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I know my onc. told me NOT to take any anti-oxidants during chemo, and my rad.onc. said not to take it during radiation either. It seems to inhibit the chemo and radiation process. I took tamoxifen after radiation was over with, after chemo/2 week break/35 days of radiation/one week break, then tamoxifen for past 3 1/2 years. Now on Aromasin (now definitely chemopausal/post).
Yes to the hair thinning on tamox, hot flashes/night sweats, but as noted, is it menopause or the meds? Who knows?? lol...just wing it. Good luck to everyone just starting...the road does end at some point! ~juli
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Just curious - did anyone get a back ache on their first few weeks of the T? Like clockwork, I get a back ache every night at around 7pm. Not back pain or bone pain per se, but an ache. It's very weird that it is like clockwork. I pushed back my dose from breakfast time to lunch so we'll see if the ache starts later - but just curious to hear if anyone had this too. Some sites list backache as a side effect and some sites do not - weird. Not sure if it is an after effect of chemo . . I just finished a few weeks ago.
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My rad onc recommended no antioxidents during rads but everyone seems fine with them afterwards.
in_cognito. I had back aches with the tamox and also other joint aches.
I didn't post but I do find it very disconcerting that so many of the doctors have different answers. It makes it hard to know what is the right thing and what is not. I guess you just have to trust in your doctors and keep asking questions.
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Exactly, about the antioxidants AFTER chemo/radiation is over with (give it a few weeks, as they both continue to keep working). Taking the mega fish oil, omegas, has helped me tremendously with my skin, triglycerides (reason for the big dose), constipation. Same with green tea, that is an antioxidant as well, now I drink that or red tea, along with mostly water though, day & night.
Peg, yep, one has to go by your own gut, your own research, and just be your own advocate. Doctors should never mind anybody asking them questions, even if they don't know the answers.
~juli
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All of you gals are my hero's! You have, or are going through chemo, and I just think you are awfully brave....You went through so much more than I...and you are so much younger! It kind of makes me want to cry, that this all happened to you when you are young! At least I have "come so much further"....I thought I was too old to get breast cancer! Thank God the Mammogram found it when it was so small.
I know my Mom had it, but I didn't know that much about it, like 20 years ago! I think she was even younger than I when she got it. But we never know! So I have so much hope & respect for you gals....I'm just so proud of you!
Also....maybe for the back pain, or any other aches.....Try Glucosamine! My Doctor told me to take that, & also the Oncologist did! ....So maybe this would help! Keep on hanging in there you beautiful women! xoxoxoxo
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Day eight of the stuff and so far, not too bad. Lady Madonna, I took your advise and am taking the a tamox in the AM. I am still having slight sweating of my face and neck but nothing unbearable. I have not gotten out my 3.0 eye glasses to check for hair growth on my face... yikes, I will take a hot flash anytime over that SE lol.
I got my period two days after starting the tamox and it was not due for 12 days. I am always fairly regular. Does anyone know how it affects the monthly cycle with the tamox?
Thanks for reading. Peace and love to all!
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Glad that's working out for you Dorothy
My chemo brain had been getting better, but now that I'm on Tamox, I think it's getting worse... anyone else notice something similar? Darn it...
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P.S. still no period, so I can't help you there...
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DorothyK, As we say in the reconstruction forums, put away the magnifying mirrors! LOL. Seriously, if you have to get out your super-duper readers to check for facial hair you probably don't have to worry.
About tamox and periods, yes, tamox can change it in all which ways, and unfortunately it's unpredictable what will happen to whom. And if you had chemopause that would factor in, and how close you are to natural menopause might as well. Some women's periods stop altogether (I think it's about 25% if I recall the data right). For those that don't they may stay regular or they may start changing in time between and/or length of period. As one example, in 10 months mine have been at intervals something like (in months): 1, 0.5, 0.5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.5, expecting it now... I'm 48 and probably early perimenopause as well. Some women get spotting between periods and your doc probably gave you instructions about when its a problem.
Good luck to you (and all)! CS
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I took tamox for 5 years and never had any constipation, facial hair, or hair thinning--in fact, my hair is thicker and wavier than ever. I did have mild hot flashes, insomnia, and achiness however. Now I take evista and have pretty much the same as tamox.
Anne
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Lady Madonna...yes to your question. I have noticed my head feels less foggy since I stopped it even though it has only been three days. My nightly headache is also gone and my back ache has improved. If it weren't for the darn neuorpathy, I would feel like my old self.
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Thanks ladies. I can only wish for the good se's such as weight loss and menopause! I feel lucky that I am not having horrible hot flashes, I can take the night sweats since they are not bad at all . Just four years and 347 days left of the tamox!
God bless you all, my sisters! Sending hugs to everyone :-)
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Testing... added my name so you can tell me from the other ladym, guess I forgot to "save" last time...2nd time's a charm-??
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Dorothy, don't know if this will be you but I was in chemopause for nearly a year. They thought I was going to stay in menopause. Low and behold month 6 on Tamoxifen (sept.) I got my period. And this month again like clockwork. HEAVY I might add ~ Prior to getting it my hot flashes stopped. When I first went on and during chemo, hot flashes were awful. I slept with a fan next to my bed I would wake up wet with sweat. YUCK! They are nearly gone. I get a warm flush now and then but nothing like that FLASH of burning up I was getting. I think it has to do with getting my period. Not sure. I did have the backache and knee pain. They sent me for a bone scan and all was clear. So it is the tamoxifen I imagine. I feel like the tin man in The Wizard of Oz when I first wake up or sit for too long. I move real slow till things get moving again.
Ok I am rambling too much coffee this am.
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Justmealicia- Interesting to hear about your chemopause. Went into chemopuase, symptoms seem to be ALOT worse now that I have two weeks of Tamox uner my belt. Would love to lose the flashes sweats and chills. But, would like to get to menopause. Oh well, I guess I can't get it both ways. But, I am thinking of asking for meds to handle hot flashes they are a little overwhelming!
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