Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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ChelleG,
Thanks for checking in! Glad your regimen is working for you. What dosage of tamoxifen do you take?
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Hello ladies!
I take 20 mg. Tamoxifen daily. I also have an infusion of Zometa every three months. The zometa is a bone strengthening IV drug. Also used for osteoporosis. Those se's really suck!!!! But I'm just going to keep plodding along. Stage IV has taught me to live every day to its fullest. I could live twenty years,or twenty days. I'm not going to waste my time worrying about something that isn't going to happen today,or next week.
Hang in there!!!
Love Chelle
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Thanks for your response, Chelle! I do find it interesting that the same dosage of tamoxifen is given for all stages. I guess if it is working, that's all that matters!
Wishing you continued success on T
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I wonder this, too, superius. Because I have very few SEs.
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Im only into my 4week of taking Tamox. I was wondering the same thing. If you don't have side effect such as hot flashes, does it mean its not as effective in reducing the estrogen as it may be in someone who is experiencing hot flashes. How would one know if its working to reduce the levels. I'll have to ask if getting a hormonal blood test at my 3mth check would be beneficial.
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so he didn't entertain reducing the tamoxifen until after the next biopsy results are back. The test is this Thursday so I'll proabably get the results about 2 weeks after.
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beach2beach...just want to say that most MOs will not test hormones. IMO its because most know very little about female hormones. Try asking your PCP or gynecologist if MO won't do it. Also naturopathic docs test hormones too. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Just as every woman experiences menopause differently, they will experience Tamoxifen differently. I just don't think there is any evidence that lack of side effects means it's not working.
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thank dtad. I will do that.
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lala
I want to clarify that the DFCI pharmacist said "no" to Turmeric not because of the estrogenic effect, but because it occupies that same pathway as T and therefore could interfere with it.
I mentioned that a few times here.
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We all react differently to meds. Some people get se's and some don't on the same med. Doesn't mean you don't have se that it's not working. I have 0 se on Tamox thank God. Occasional warm flush but I am menopausal so expected.
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I posted this in the Femara thread regarding the importance for putting your profile public ESP FOR NEWBIES!
I have no idea how people think they will be found out by filling out their profiles with a user name of "fish" for example leaving out location. So that doesn't fly with me. They are being disingenuous and if giving advice, unethical. Newbies do not know age matter, stage matters, ER, Her 2, etc. I know I didn't. But someone here told me to look at profile when taking in any advice. It sounds so logical but when you are a newbie, you are reading typically the negative posts like se's and not paying attention to any of us who didn't have such a bad time whether on chemo, rads or meds. I would love for someone who refuses to put their profile up to explain to me how they may be found out if they post like what I said above. I'm waiting......
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Hi ladies, I was on tamoxifen for 5 or 6 weeks and tamoxifen made me blood for 3 weeks my MO took me off and i stop blooding. Had to go see my GYN and she dis a emotional biopsy came back negative and sonogram an internal sonogram had cyst on my left ovary thinking of the uterine wall from being on tamoxifen and the next month 2 weeks of blooding. I've been off for a few months and now my MO want me to go back on it I'm worried. Oh and when I was on tamoxifen I had anxiety. My MO had me on 20mg and I had to take 10mg in the morning and 10mg at night because taking 20mg gave me bad anxiety but taking 10mg in the morning and at night the anxity is not that bad but still had it. Anyone had this happen be on tamoxifen?
Thank you
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HI, I also got anxiety on Tamoxifen so my MO put me on Effexor which helps with the anxiety and hot flashes.
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Hi Robin1234 and everyone: I have been taking Tamoxifen for almost 2 years now. It did not give me bleeding like for you, in fact it quickly stopped my periods (I am 51 years old). However it does give me low mood and anxiety. This varies from day to day (usually better in the evening), and I don't know how my own background menapausal hormones are influencing things. I recently asked for a break from it for 1 month to get a rest and to see if I felt better. After 2 to 3 weeks I was almost feeling normal
. It's annoying to have to go back unto it. I was still alright for 6 days then whumf! Feeling bad again
. I've asked a breast cancer nurse (I am in UK) to ask a oncologist if I can have a one month break once a year from now on. I'll hear back next week. This will make me more likely to complete the 5 years. FYI: Taking tamoxifen reduces my recurrence percentage from 10% to 7% I'm told.0 -
Hi all,
Has anyone started Tomoxifen for a few weeks and then had to stop taking it for surgery? I am scheduled for a hysterectomy in November and was wondering if I should start Tomoxifen before or wait until after surgery. Any suggestions, personal insights?
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Variable,
I have stopped Tamoxifen before each of my surgeries, the main reason being that I have to take baby aspirin with the Tamoxifen and thiscould cause excessive bleeding.
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I didn't think that a -8 was possible. I was told the scores were 1, 2 and 3 and when mine came back as a 0, I was surprised. It was like winning the lottery!! My oncologist said that he had only seen two zeros in the past decade, so how is there a -8? Do you know?
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I was told for Exchange surgery to stop two weeks before, three after. However, I did some research and stopped about 10 days before 10 days after.
Doctors are over the place on this topic, from what I have read here.0 -
When I had my ovaries removed I was told to stop Tamoxifen for two weeks before and two weeks after. I was not taking baby aspirin with Tamoxifen at that time. My surgeon said Mr it was ok to stay on a Tamoxifen but my MO said I needed to be off it.
Dr's tend to vary a lot on this issue.
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Hello all - has anyone heard of Tamoxifen causing strokes? My story is a long one. I came down with sudden double vision almost 6 weeks ago. I have had every test under the sun. It is not cancer thank goodness! But my latest MRI showed a small "lacular infract" which is a stroke. I have no risk factors - I am 52. Not diabetic. No high blood pressure. Not overweight. Exercise daily. Don't smoke. So am wondering if this could be related to tamoxifen? I see my neurologist next week so will have more info. Meanwhile I have been told it should clear up in 12 weeks. So I am about half way there. It has been very difficult as you can imagine. I stopped taking tamoxifen the day this happened to me and I have serious doubts whether I will ever go back on it. Also seeing oncologist this week and will see what he says.
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Hi Suzanne...So sorry.Tamoxifen can increase your chance for blood clots and blood clots can cause strokes. I would take the advice of a neurologist as well as your oncologist. Good luck and please keep us posted.
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Suzanne50- I'd ask your docs about possibly taking low dose aspirin if they feel you should stay on Tamoxifen with your profile. Best wishes.
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beach2beach - on your question about should the doc test your hormone levels while on tamoxifen: tamoxifen does not lower estrogen levels. It blocks the estrogen at the cell receptor level so the cells in your body can't use it. If it doesn't enter the cells it can't feed the cancer. Often blood estrogen levels are elevated in women taking tamoxifen due to the blocking action as your body keeps making it. Aromatase Inhibitors on the other hand stop your adrenal glands from producing estrogen but do nothing for the ovaries - that's why they're only indicated for women who are post-menopausa, women who've had their ovaries removed or who have their ovaries suppressed.
Suzanne50 - so sorry to hear about this. As someone else stated, tamoxifen can cause blood clots and blood clots can cause a stroke. Hopefully they went ahead and did a full body CT or at least a chest CT to check for clots elsewhere in your body. They've also hopefully put you on an anti-coagulant (Coumadin/warfarin, Lovenox, Xarelto, Eliquis, etc) for the next 6 mos. Clots typically resolve in 12 weeks but therapy continues for an additional 12. Aspirin of any strength, ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin, Aleve as well as any prescription NSAIDs should be avoided while taking the anti-coagulant as it can increase the risk of a bleed and make it more difficult to stop one.
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Haven't posted here yet, I started Tamoxifen Wednesday Oct 11 and I have to say the Hot flashes have gotten a lot worse then they were. For you that have been on it for awhile do they let up at all?
Thanks
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hi Shelabela we did chemo at the same time, hope you’re feeling better! I’ve been on Tamoxifen since the 7th, zero side effects so far except for achy legs sometimes What I’ve heard from friends is weepiness etc kicks in around week 2. Some say up to 3 months for you to know how it’ll be. Hope the hot flashes ease up!
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Effexor works great to slow down the hot flashes.
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Thanks Ladies! Me too!
Ndgrrl where did you get that stuff?
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