Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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Thanks Harley. I had a trans vag pre-tamoxifen (12/22/2007) and it said stripe was 5.0 mm. Had one post tam (6/27/08) and it said stripe was 13 mm BUT it was probably unchanged accounting for difference in measuring technique where the endometirum may have been undermeasured the first time; Also, said no cyst formation. Makes no sense to me. My gyno said I should probably get a D&C to check it all out. Said he could do a biopsy in the office but not sure if he could get to the uterus so he rather just do a D&C and check it out that way. He wants to send me for another transvag in December, then D&C. I just may wait unless it gets really bad (right now, the pressure/pain comes and goes. Just had a colonoscopy yesterday ugh. Tired of getting poked and probed. Some day, I just feel like coming off of tamoxifen. Good luck with your biopsy.
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Joan,
You DO know that Tamoxifen causes UTERINE cancer, don't you? Check the patient information they give you at the pharmacy. Just wondering if I am the only one who gets that little sheet with their perscriptions.
Thanks though.
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Joan- that's cool... maybe we can get a group of NY Metro gals from this thread together for dinner or lunch some weekend?? Maybe meet somewhere in between?? That would be very cool to meet some of you gals in person!!
Virginia
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Ok, goobie new avatar... It's actually pretty long in the back, but it doesn't show in the pics...
So, I was supposed to get my period on the 20th...and here it is the 1st...wonder if I should be worried about that. I have been fairly regular since "chemo-pause" ended in October... Is Tamox supposed to affect your cycle? Anybody know?
Happy Friday girlies...
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Very cute Virginia! Is it curly in the back? You look like you've got some curls or waves going on back there.
I think Tamox can either stop your period (25%), keep it the same (50%) or lighten it (25%). So to me, that says that ANY change in your period could be due to Tamox. I'm not sure about changes over time. It is somewhat confusing because they say to see the doc when you have "abnormal bleeding", but if Tamox is messing with us... Blah, blah, blah.... I would say just call the doc and see what he has to say. (ok, I'm NO help at all...)
I'm off for a week now ladies. I'm heading to Northern Wisconsin for a week on the water. I hope you all have a great week, and Harley - I'll be thinking of you. Try to breathe deeply and know that we are all here for you!
Barbie
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Barbie...I hart you... That was a great response... LOL It's weird b/c I was so regular for a long time... Now, NADA. I am thinking it might be stress... That could happen, I guess... I'm not going to freak just yet. If it doesn't show up, I'll call my onc nurse or my gyno...I'm due to see the latter anyway.
BTW, my hair is wicked curly in the back... I can't help but twirl the curls on my fingers b/c I have ALWAYS had PIN straight hair all my life (except for that time in the late 70's/early 80's where I PAID to have poodle curls put in my hair!!)
Have a GREAT time in Wisconsin! Sounds heavenly...a week on the water...
Virginia
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Virginia
Great new pic!! I also have longer, curly hair in the back! But, the new hair growth is back to being STRAIGHT again!! I really was enjoying thos curls, but I think they will be gone soon!
Barbie,
Thanks!
Have a great weekend!
Harley
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Wow, great news that you have the curls, Viriginia. When my mom had chemo, her hair came back different also!
I was late for my period this month, so you never know it just may show up. I was 8 days late and it lasted much longer than usual. This would be the first month having it since starting Tamaxofin. My onc told me that Tamaxofin can definitely impact your period, that you may not even have at all. They also told me that I could also have spotting due to the Tamoxofin, so bottom line is if you aren't comfortable with how you are feeling or you have any questions, call your doctor or nurse. That's what they are there for.
I never knew they measured the uterus lining by the transvaginal US. I've had an annual one since my mom's diagnosis of OC, and that's going back 12 years. My last one was in February, two days before my lumpectomy. I'm assuming that I get one annually, does anyone have it 2x/year? When I go in for my genetic counseling results on 8/13, I want to have a list for the doctor of screenings (MRI vs digital mammo) and the timetable so I know when/what to expect going forward. Any suggestions appreciated.
Have a wonderful weekend. It's a big weekend in the Boston area for cancer awareness, the Pan Mass Challenge - a bike ride that raises $35 million for cancer research, starts in the middle of the state, ending at Cape Cod. My neighbor is participating, bless his heart. The Red Sox are having a Conquer Cancer Day at Fenway, so lots of awareness and fundraising! Before you know, there will be a cure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi gals. I had an ultrasound last month to check my lining and fibroids. The tech said I had a 24mm functional cyst on my left ovary. I have to go back on Monday for a followup. Do they generally go away that soon? Also, are they caused by tamox? I did not have any symptoms, it just showed up. I'm a little freaked, even though she said that 99% of the time they go away. Really hoping it will be smaller. Since my DCIS dx, all I worry about is cancer. Now I'm afraid of ovarian cancer. My fibroids are huge and I need to get them out. Maybe I'll take the ovaries too. This sucks. Nada
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Murph and Virginia,
I have to tell you that the company that I used to work for and now my hubby works for makes the bottles for your companies -- Dawn, Joy, Tide, Wisk, All -- you name it. Whoda thunk it? We have so much in common. And Murph, I went to school in Boston and my dorm was across Kenmore SQ from Fenway.
Also, Virginia, I stopped having my period in Jan. My med onc wasn't surprised and told me not to be concerned unless I start having some bleeding. He isn't even ordering TVUS. I do plan on asking my PCP about it though when I see her in Nov. And I love the new pix. I don't think you need a haircut yet, it's very cute the way that it is.
Also, Murph, I have digital mammos done on surgical side every 6 months, non-surg side annually and have US done at the same time.
So my daughter auditioned for Marching Band today after getting the music day before yesterday and she got in! She was quite pleased with herself and I was very proud of her. Now if she gets through one more audtion she'll be in the group that goes to Washington in April. If that happens, Layne, we'll have to figure something out.
Lynn,
Glad that all your appointments are turning out well. How much longer are you going to be stateside?
Have a great weekend everybody!
Deb
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Girls,
It is so good to read everyone's post, I have sent my DH and daughter to Oregon, my son is with relatives at the beach, and I took a trip to SC to visit a dear friend who moved from my neighborhood two months ago...I spent the night and the the next day went to visit my husbands elderly employee and his wife...It was tiring, but I haven't done a trip by myself to visit friends that lived in another state, in forever....Time is so short and I am trying to make each day more meaningful.
Virginia and Lynn, I too have problems form the rad and surgery with a swollen boob...the bad boob has always been a little bigger, so after 2 lumpectomies, I thought it might be smaller than before, and kidded about having a reduction, then I thought if I could just be equal now!, funny i'm still uneven...the swelling disturbs me some though, and both boobs feel more lumpy now since starting tamox, but I am late on the period situation...so maybe it is the fibrocystic causing this...
Lynn, I am glad you are getting the MRI post one yr diagnosis, I have asked my surgeon why I need a mammo when it hasn't helped find anything , I would rather get the MRI, he says just the mammo...but maybe my insurance won't cover it....and I can't cover it.
Harley and Noelleon, 7 months on Tamox with pelvic pain...concerns me....how long has the pain been going on, have you had regular cycles.
My oncologist told me that in premenopausal women that endometrial cancer is not a concern because menstrual cycles cause the shedding of the endometrium, but that uterine sarcoma is the silent no symptom cancer... so I guess we need to be concerned with no bleeding, irregular and heavy bleeding or anything out of our normal with our menstrual cycles...I have take 19 doses of tamoxifen and I think I have ovulated at least once or twice (tamoxifen stimulates ovulation), so maybe that is why I haven't started my cycle, but I am thankful I have you gals to learn from as to what others are experiencing.
girls, glad the tamox/drug interaction is something you could use...It is good that we can look out for each other...thanks for all the encouragement EVERYONE!!!!!
Amber
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You're so right, Amber--all you have to do is ask a question on this thread and someone has an answer for you. I, too, depend on all the encouragement I get here!
Virginia, love the picture! I wish I had a few curls...or at least a little body in my hair. In my next life, maybe... I'm staying at my sister's house in Yorktown Heights. So you aren't too far away? Time is short this summer...I leave a week from Wednesday...but maybe in the future we could have a tri-state tamox luncheon or something. What do you think?? BTW, I was howling that "Princess Chuck" turned out to be "Prince" instead. :-) With all that fur it's hard to tell, I guess. Sad story about the owner's foreclosure, though.
Deb, congrats on your daughter's getting into band...does she get her musical talent from you?
Louishenry, last fall I had a big cyst on an ovary post-surgery/ pre-tamox and radiation that I had to have a tv ultrasound and MRI for. The radiologist was freaking me out, asking if there was a history of ovarian cancer in my family. The day of the MRI my period started and the cyst was history. Hopefully it will be the same for you. That was my last period--I'm hoping my last ever. Enough already.
Murph, wow--lots of $$ being raised this weekend for cancer in your neck of the woods!
It's breezy and cool here today...after being raised in FL this is unique August weather for me. I plan to enjoy every minute of it! My niece and her husband are here this weekend...they're about to buy a new house so it's fun to look at pictures and talk about decorating, etc. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Lynn
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The pain/pressure has been for about 2 weeks. It' strange I only feel the pain if I move a certain way and it's not all the time. It almost feels like muscle pain as if I were doing ab exercises which I'm not, I am 56. When I went on tam in January I was partially through menopause and since tam I haven't had any menses. I guess I will have to schedule biopsy or D&C. It's is never ending. Have a nice weekend.
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I am only 45 but I am menopausal due to a condition called premature ovarian failure.
My abdomen is just HUGE, I always have a bloated, swollen belly. My endometrial stripe is 10MM! It went from 4 mm in March 2007 to TEN MM in June 2008... and I had only been taking Tamoxifen for aobut 6 or 7 months!! I worry about any cancers of the reproductive organs, because after having had bc, I believe we are at increased risk for ANY of these types of cancer.Sometimes there is pressure and sometimes it feels ok, but I just think that I would be better off if they would just TAKE IT ALL OUT, so I don't have to worry about yet another cancer.
No one else understands how scared it makes you, when you have to have YET another biopsy and the only other one I had showed bc... I just want to hide under the bed with my cat, Spike.0 -
Believe me, I understand how scared it makes you, especiallly when you live alone. I am widowed 5 years now and this site really has been a godsend. Like I said in my other post, I had a transvag pelvic u/s pre-tamoxifen (12/22/2007) and it said stripe was 5.0 mm. had one transvag u/s post tam (6/27/08) and it said stripe was 13 mm BUT it was probably unchanged from first test due to difference in measuring technique where the endometirum may have been undermeasured the first time. I am definitely considering taking everything out. It will be just one less worry. Sometimes hiding under the bed is the thing to do.
Joyce
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(((((((((((((((((((((((Harley))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Lynn- definitely next time you are in town... I would love to meet you in person.
Thanks girlies for the kind words RE my dorky picture. I hate the pics of myself, but I love documenting the hair growth!! It's getting fairly straight on the top... It's very funny......
Well, today is Aug 3, and NO PERIOD. Not that I'm complaining...buuuuuuuuuuuuut. I was due 7/20. I do have to call or make an appt to see someone anyway... It's weird b/c I am really really regular.
Amber- I have the opposite feeling of you mammo vs. MRI. My mammo found my cancer - MRI said, "no evidence of disease." My schedule has worked out to be mammo in Oct and MRI in Feb...
Deb- that's very cool your daughter is in Marching Band!! I was the president of my band...played the flute. LOVED marching band...
murph- good to hear of all the fund raising! (I like the BoSox b/c I'm a Mets fan and all the Yankees fans down here don't like the Sox...but I do b/c I can't stand the Yankees...)
Hugs to all. The weather is positively glorious here in NJ. Going to my bro's house for a BBQ to celebrate my sis's birthday...Dad is going too, so it will be a nice diversion for all of us...
Virginia
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OK, Gals, Bra News
Fit to the bigger breast, my case, C cup. Then the helper gave me these very thin molded pads to slip into the smaller cup. I look absolutely balanced again. How about that??
Basha
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Basha, that is something else...what a good helper!
Harley and Joyce that does seem like quite a bit of increase in the stripe (I guess that means the thickness?) it is concerning, will be thinking of you two let us know how things go.
Virginia, maybe the Mammo will be more helpful for me in the future, I just realized my surgeon told me at my last visit that it would be a digital mammo...and I think maybe the one I have been getting locally isn't digital. Hope the party went well for your sis's BD...and that your dad has a pleasant time.
Lynn hope the weekend went well with your neice.
on another note my cycle finally came....yesterday, and I was wondering if any of you experienced heavier flows on tamox. I hope I am not exaggerating, but today it feels like a twice as heavy flow...and I am taking iron for anemia. and I am paler than I was yesterday...but I know this will probably subside when my cycle stops....but it makes me think the Tamox is causing this... I slept better last night....but I attribute it to my period....
It is 1am and I am off to bed...good night all and God Bless
hugs,
Amber
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Amber- I'm sure that's why they make us have more than one test...just to cover all the bases. I've had digital mammos for about 5 years now... I encourage (insist) that people try their very best to get digital if they can... I know it saved me for sure...
As to the nature of the flow after I got mine the first time after chemo, it was really really heavy for the first couple of months. I also had lots of cysts, so my onc thought maybe they ruptured. It calmed down....and now, well, nothing still....Called my gyno today and the nurse said she was out 6 weeks on medical leave. So, I will be calling my onc nurse to see if I should be worried (as I'm not a worrier by nature).
Happy Monday girlies...
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Thanks, Virginia for the encouragement!
I am so tired!
HUgs
Amber
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Virginia,
Don't worry too much. I haven't gotten mine since January. My med onc says that the tamox can interfere with it. In fact, he told that if I do have some bleeding that I should call him then. The weird thing is that my body seems to be cycling still. I get cramps and back aches just like when I was regular -- which I was until I wasn't! YIKES! I'm still not sure how I feel about that. It's all very confusing to me.
Amber,
I also have digital mammos but also U/S now. I'm told that's the norm after dx. Both my surgeon and med onc feel that an MRI produces too many false positives so they prefer the combo of digital plus U/S. So for 5 years after dx, I'll have both annually plus on the surgical side at 6 month intervals. (Ever feel like you need a score card for all this stuff?!?!?!)
I hope you are all having a better day than me. I'll tell you about it sometime (it's not health related -- it's job related).
Deb
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Thanks for the thoughts Deb... I just find it weird for it to all of the sudden stop after regular cycles for 10 months...and 1+ year on Tamox. Just another thing to obsess over, eh?
Sorry you are having a bad day...
You need some Ben & Jerry's!! That always works for me!!LOL Hope your day gets better!!!!!
V
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Deb,
How's this day going?
xxx Basha
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Afternoon ladies - Hopefully everyone's week is improving?!
My period seemed much heavier with the Tamaxofin - I've only been on it since June 16th, so I've only had one period. It also seemed to last longer than ever before. I had been on the birth control pill (helps prevent OC) since my mom's diagnosis of OC (10/94), so my periods had been rather light. I went off the pill the day I received "the call" with my bioposy results, and it took 2 months before I got my period and then I went onto the Tamaxofin. So, it's hard to know if that is normal for me or if it is the Tamaxofin.
I also seem to bruise easily since I've been on the Tamaxofin. Anyone else notice that? I was horsing around with my 15 year old, and I hit my right hand with his knuckle, and my hand is really, really bruised. It didn't hurt, it just looks nasty. I guess that will teach me to horse around with a 15 year old who plays the line in football.
He's been really good since my diagnosis - he doesn't practice any more wrestling moves on me!!!!Deb/Virginia - that's funny about the bottles .... made me think of Kevin Bacon and the 6 degrees of separation!! LOL.
As far as MRI's go, my radiation oncologist said that for small breasted women they aren't very helpful, they are better suited for bigger breasted women. Keep in mind that I am lucky if I fill an A cup. Yet my daughter is a D cup, go figure!!!!!!!!!!! I'll continue with the digital mammo but will inquire about the ultrasound also. Of course, all this may change dependent on my BRCA1/2 results that I'll get on 8/13.
Take care everyone.
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Virginia & Basha,
Today is better partly because I didn't work today. My daughter got her braces today. I have this part time job. It's 12 hours/week now. I was told that as the current receptionist transitioned into another job, my hours would increase until it became my full time job. I was happy that it was going to be gradual so that I could get used to working again and could get my daughter's activities arranged to accommodate a new schedule. Well, I was informed on Monday that they want to go in another direction. That they want someone with computer skills, is organized and detail oriented. I told her that I could easily do all those things, that I used to be responsible for 3.6 billion bottles a year! Well, to make a long story short, I won't even be considered for the fulltime position and they won't need any part time help once the full time person is in place. The office manager wants to have someone who's there all the time. But she doesn't have a life outside of work so she wants someone who doesn't either. And I wrote my last note at work so I was not a happy camper. My friends can't believe that they would not want me in this position -- not to brag but I am organized and detail oriented and I can learn very quickly any computer anything you put in front of me. So I'm getting my head around having to look for something else but it just makes me mad! Thanks for listening.
I have my house back -- my parents went back home today. My daughter is in band camp --- I hope she can play with her braces. And I have laundry to do!! And, Virginia, I have B&J's in the freezer and Oreo Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory in the fridge. I'll drown my sorrows in one of those.
Hugs to all,
Deb
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Murph, I can relate to the heavy period...it really drained me...I'm glad my DH was out of town....
Deb, that is tough, and seems kind of mean, especially with what you have been through....I have been trying to go back to work too...and thought I was out of a job...but in actuality my supervisor was trying to give me as much time as possible...but because I thought this, I asked the local community college if they could use me to teach any classes...now they want me to come for a cont. ed to update ther part time employees...so I may have more work than I can handle...but the LORD knows what I can handle, My son just got braces last month and with my med bills we could use the money...
My DH and daughter are home as well as son....so it's back to the routine ...\
God Bless all
Hugs
Amber
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Amber,
Thanks for the warm thoughts. I was able to get through today and actually be civil. I also found out that the office manager is not being honest with another person who works part time there (who happens to be one of my closest friends). So may be it's for the best. I wouldn't want to work with someone who is dishonest.
Well, ladies, Sunday is the Walk for the Cure here in KC. Hubby, daughter and I are walking with a group from our synagogue -- about 30 people. I have raised over $900 so far. I was hoping to make $1000 but I may not get there. Thankfully, the weather is going to be great -- 68 in the morning, high of 85 for the day. Wahoo! And I have my annual mammo on Monday with U/S. So I'm a little anxious about that. But with the walk, I'll be distracted. So have a wonderful weekend and I'll check in next week.
Deb
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Hello fellow Tamoxifen ladies,
I received my first Rx of Tamoxifen this week. I haven't started taking it yet because I feel so uncertain about it. I keep reading about all the side effects and worry about even starting this med. Hot flashes, joint pain, not sleeping, fatigue, possible uterine cancer, clotting.... and the list goes on! When I was diagnosed with b/c in Nov 07 I felt fine. Now, after lumpectomy, axillory lymphnode dissection, chemo, and radiation, and cancer free - I feel tired, everything aches, and I am so out of shape (gained 30 lbs since Dx). I am tired of feeling bad. I want to feel good again. And I feel like I won't achieve that for a long time. I am currently on a diet and starting an exercise plan.. hoping that helps make me feel better. Ii am just so tired.What can I expect as I take tamoxifen? I know everyone is different, but I just feel like I need some encouragement that this is the right step for me. Help!!!
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Have been on Tamoxifen for several months. Am post-menopausal, but had to get off Aromasin because of intense pain associated with neuropathy. I have felt terrible ever since starting on Tamoxifen. Don't know if it's just a coincidence or is it side effects? Most of the time, I feel weak as a cat. Legs feel like jelly. I live an active life and push myself to do what I want to do, but there times when I wonder if I can make it from my car to my doctor's office. Constant indigestion. Pains in lower abdomen. Doc is running tests. So far; nothing is showing up.
Yvonne
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Anna, I felt uncertain as well, I remember after getting the RX filled, looking at the bottle for quite a while before I could stomach taking that first pill..the first week for me was the hardest....I experienced the hot flashes after 3 pills, and didn't know a hot flash had dizziness and such as symptom...hy heart beat was irregular, and I thought I was having a mini stroke...but then I read that hot flashes gave one the feeling of a stroke or heart attack, and my sister in law is going through the change and told me the same....but now after almost completing one whole bottle, I have very little side effects.
One thing I can suggest is to experiment taking it at different times of the day, the evening works best for me.... and I try to eat ground flaxseed and take CoQ10 daily to try to offset side effects...so far so good...
I do have trouble sleeping....whether it is the tamoxifen or just that I worked some night shifts in the past and nursed 2 children in the past...and then the sleeplessness with the worry at BC diagnosis, I am not sure...but many women that take tamoxifen have insomnia.... Benadryl and a list of other meds are a no no with tamoxifen,,, so I tried Melatonin (a hormone that we secrete at night that is a natural part of sleep), but I don't take it unless I am desperate.... but I have been sleeping better for the past week....I have lots of dreaming which is a good sign that you are getting good sleep.
My BC nurse did tell me that the main problem she saw with tamoxifen was blood clots....some women take an asprin a day, some walk daily....those are good things to do to help offset this side effect....
I understand about the weight issue as well......I'll join that cause as well. You can do it, take one step at a time, you may occasionally take steps back, keep walking forward.
Deb, I am so proud of you...900 is very close to the 1000$. and it must me nice to have your family right beside you in the walk. Glad you have the walk...I know how stressful thinking about that mammo/US and make you feel. God bless!
Love and Hugs to all,
Amber
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