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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited July 2016

    Zoladex "for years," according to my MO. That's assuming that I don't have an ooph. . . .

  • Paxton29
    Paxton29 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2016

    Kate, was your WBC okay before Tamoxifen? I just started it on Saturday and at my Friday MO visit I saw in my blood work summary my WBC was low. Not drastically, and nobody mentioned it, but it still bothered me a little. I finished chemo March 25 so I was hoping everything had rebounded all the way, the way Neulasta kept it up.

  • Mm68
    Mm68 Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2016

    I have been on tamoxifen for 15 months now, my MO was doing labs every 3 months in the beginning and we are now at every six months. He indicated when I first started he would do bone density testing after 2 years on tamoxifen. My Gyn does an ultrasound every 6 months to check endometrial linning. I do notice my vision is getting worse so that will be my next appt. Always something, stay strong and positive

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383
    edited July 2016

    Joining the tamox club today. Just took my first pill this morning, will see how it treats me. Trying not to worry about all the possible se & just wait & see.

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited July 2016

    Paxton, my WBC took a pretty big hit from chemo and rads, but has trended down since I began tamoxifen. Apparently this can happen, though it's rare (so don't worry!), and the good news is that my MO is watching pretty carefully.

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 771
    edited July 2016

    TinyDancer...just don't understand why more MOs are not testing estradiol levels??? Makes absolutely no sense to me. Why take this very potent drug blindly?? Don't we all want to know if its working before were a recurrence?? Kudos to your doc for testing!

  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2016

    Orgal, kudos to your doc for checking your liver. I had no idea liver damage could be a se of Tamoxifen. My labs came back normal on Friday, but I'm thinking that's because I stopped the Tamoxifen. I have an appt w/MO at the end of the month. I just have no confidence in this drug and feel like my doctor thinks I'm being paranoid. Of course now I'm bleeding again so here goes the cervical cancer screening again.

  • TinyDancer5
    TinyDancer5 Member Posts: 217
    edited July 2016

    Dtad, I don't know why all doctors don't check estradiol levels. It seems silly to me. TVUS is Friday and I hope the results are normal. Is there anything I should be aware of when I do start the Lupron shots?


  • Paxton29
    Paxton29 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2016

    Thanks, Kate; glad your MO is keeping an eye on it.

  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 650
    edited July 2016

    truth be told I went to the GP on Friday past and now have an apt for an abdominal and pelvic ultra sound. She thinks the head aches for the past 18 days may be stress over the abdominal issues. Either way Saturday we will have some answers. Intermittent upper right quadrant pain with headaches x 16 days is a lttle much. That said, today was the first day in 18 that I have not taken Advil for nor had a headache. Onward and upward ladies and gentlemen.

  • Lauraleigh16
    Lauraleigh16 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2016

    Hi guys, Tomorrow 7/21 is my last day of radiation treatment!!! Yayyyy! 😀😀 my doctor said I'll start Tamoxifen after I complete radiation, When should I start taking it?? The day after or next week? Also which is better to take the Tamoxifen each day, In the morning or evenings? I am 31 years old & will be on Tamoxifen for 2 years then I can get pregnant. I haven't got my period back and I am hoping soon it will come back. Any advice will help me, I am nervous about the side effects and don't want to gain weight.

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited July 2016

    Hi Laura! I finished rads on the day before TG and started Tamoxifen Jan 1. I figured it would be easier to calculate my 10 years that way. The only side effects I am having is slight weight gain and hot flashes that aren't too bad.

  • MJS1266
    MJS1266 Member Posts: 159
    edited July 2016

    Hi Laura,  I'm 20 years older than you and have been on Tamoxifen for almost a year.  I started about 1 month after Rads.  I think they recommend two weeks but no one seemed overly concerned.  I've had some memory issues, minor aches and pains, and mild hot flashes.  My SE's are not severe and don't make me think of stopping.  I was quite overweight at time of diagnoses and gained 15 pounds during treatment, yikes.  The weight had to go, so I have lost over 50 lbs in just under a year.  So weight gain is not a given but you may have to change your diet to keep it off.  Good luck, Mary-Jo

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383
    edited July 2016

    Laura, I started tomoxifen 4 days after last rad on July12 (which was last Saturday, wanted to start on weekend) . My RO told me not to take during, and my MO told me to start after. So far after 5 days no new se that I didn't already have during rads. Tired & trouble sleeping (work isn't helping with lack of sleep). Keeping fingers crossed for no se. Good luck

  • Lauraleigh16
    Lauraleigh16 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2016

    Thank you ladies, I appreciate the responses. 😀 is it better to take Taxoxifen first thing in the mornings or evenings?? I have gained about 30 lbs since last October with getting diagnosed, Quit smoking, & just the chemo meds in my body. I am hoping to get a lot of it off soon.

  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited July 2016

    I started a week out from rads. It was based on how I was feeling with rad se to start Tamox with possible se. I didn't want too long break in tx. IMO sooner than later.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited July 2016

    Hi Laura,

    My doctor suggested I take tamoxifen just before bed. He said it might make me slightly nauseous and light headed. I have only been taking for about a week

  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 125
    edited July 2016

    Hi,All -

    I am going to respond to all the comments stemming from Lauraleigh. My radiation treatments were done in November until December 19th of 2014. My treatment with the Tamoxifen didn't start until January of 2015. I am older than some of you here on this board so having children is not in the picture. Unfortunately, I did have some side affects from the Tamoxifen, but that is just my experience. Had three months off of it with a re-start which didn't make any difference. Just last week, I was changed to another medication that biochemically does the same thing (decreasing estrogen) in the system.

    It doesn't matter if you take the medication in the AM or PM just as long as it is consistently taken at the same time.


    MarieBernice6234


  • Lauraleigh16
    Lauraleigh16 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2016

    Thank you so much for the response! I appreciate the input

  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited July 2016

    Anyone have some constipation and mild cramping (that doesn't quit) on this thing?

  • Musosgirl
    Musosgirl Member Posts: 305
    edited July 2016

    no cramping, but definite constipation

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited July 2016

    I find that I can offset the constipation with magnesium. I take 400mg at bedtime.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited July 2016

    I've completely changed my regularity with magnesium as well. Specifically, SloMag (magnesium chloride), which I can buy pretty much anywhere. It was recommended by my naturalist doctor. I take 2 every morning. But I also take 1 magnesium glycinate at night which helps my hot flashes and I'm sure helps with regularity as well.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited July 2016

    I was using Members Mark curcumin/turmeric from Sam's for a couple of months. On Prime Day, I got a great deal on Pure Sunday Turmeric/curcumin with bioperene. This one appears to help the HFs more. I'm having them much less frequently.

    Scottie

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited July 2016

    My holistic doc has reiterated to me many times that the turmeric only works if combined with black pepper. That's probably why it's helping your hot flashes more. His favorite is Gaia Turmeric. It's sourced out of North Carolina and he said it's very cleanly produced.

  • dctexas
    dctexas Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2016

    I've been on Tamoxifen for almost a month now. I've had a couple of hot flashes which are inconvenient, but not bad. I do feel like I'm already having memory/concentration problems. Is there a supplement (or something else) y'all have found that is helpful with that? Does a month seem too soon for this kind of problem or is that common?

  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited July 2016

    I would ask your MO about supps. There may be interactions with Tamox that may not be known here so I'd ask MO before trying anything. Too much risk to take something that may interfere with it imo.

    I'm a month in too. I have mild-moderate cramps most of the time ever since, constipation. Fatigue is there but nothing really of note to note other than these.

  • dctexas
    dctexas Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2016

    Thanks, Artista928. I definitely will check with him. I have the fatigue too in the middle of the afternoon but I've never been a good sleeper and I'm anemic all of the time so I never know what is causing me to be tired. I had constipation issues too but the SloMag supplement that others have suggested here really helped. Hope you get some relief from that soon!

  • pab
    pab Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2016

    Hi all! My onc started me on tomaxafin as soon as I got my biopsy report--last June. Had my bmx July 7, 2016. Hot flashes started pretty quick and yes I was very tired. But I had surgery then chemo then radiation so kinda a lot goin on! My onc is having me take a low dose aspirin to help with the clotting side effect as well. I am also taking magnesium as I had an awful time with very achy legs. Not sure if it was chemo and neulasta or what but it seems to help.

    Big question for all--has anyone had any eye issues? I have awful floaters and went to opthamologist and he found tears on my retina and had to have laser repair. Could just be age (48) or I'm thinking maybe a little tomaxifin??

    Take care and stay cool! We are baking here in Illinois!!

    Hugs and prayers

  • HRwinter16
    HRwinter16 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2016

    Robinda, some studies have shown that some antidepressants like Lexapro, Zoloft, celexa etc may inhibit the efficacy of tamoxifen. The ones shown to have no effect on tamoxifen are Effexor and Pristiq, I believe. For this reason I switched to Effexor.

    Like some others said, I also am constipated from the tamoxifen which I started just under a month ago. Hot flashes bad at first but a little better now. Overall my sleep is not good at all though- I find I wake up several times every night. But maybe that's from the Effexor, I'm not sure.

    My doctor said to take the tamoxifen in the morning for less hot flashes at night

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