Tamoxifen and Mirena alternatives

  • 4 replies
  • 13 subscribers
  • 987 views

Hope someone has some words of wisdom.

I have breast and brain cancer, I was diagnosed after a headache made my GP send me for an MRI, ended up finding out I have a grade 4 Anaplastic Astrocytoma in my cerebellum and triple positive cancer in my left breast - both unrelated primary tumours, lucky me.  I love a BOGOF deal.

I have had surgery and Herceptin for the breast cancer (couldn't have Chemo as I was having chemo for the brain cancer) and I am now due to start on Tamoxifen.  I need to have my Mirena coil removed as my breast cancer was triple positive.  I had the coil because I had abnormally heavy periods that left me severely anaemic (we are talking flooding, blood clots like tennis balls, sleeping on 2 bath towels. changing a super plus tampon and a sanitary towel as thick as mattress every hour) .

I need to find something that will lesson the flow of my periods or I will be unable to leave the house for 6 days a month, does anyone have any idea what I could switch to? I have an appointment with my GP but want to go armed with information and feel informed.  I am not a fan of Dr Google and it is a very scary place and often out of context.

Thank you for reading this far

  • Won’t the Tamoxifen start the menopause not sure but worth checking.   

  • I've been on tamoxifen for nearly two years and while I have the menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats yay) I also have very regular periods that are normal for me - which I'm trying to see as a good thing as I'm considering possibility of having another baby at some point. . 

    Hope it went well with GP  and wishing you all the best. 

  • Hi, I’m currently having chemo for breast cancer. I also had to have my marina coil removed before treatment, and have since had very heavy periods. I have been started on Zoladex  injections every 4 weeks which has help stop the bleeding as the aim is to put the overies to sleep as my cancer is hormone led. Might be worth a chat with your GP or chemo specialist. 

  • Hi how is the zoladex I have been told I could have it as an option on top of my tamoxifen. I’m under 50 so stopping my ovary’s working would be good think.