side effects with tamoxifen

Hi 

Quite a few of the hormonal therapy drugs can alter your blood sugar levels, so I wouldn't be surprised if Tamoxifen is one of them.

If you were susceptible to becoming diabetic at some time it can make this occur sooner, and those who are already diabetic are at higher risk of developing breast cancer - so it seems there is a link.  It is probably down to oestrogen hormone levels affecting insulin rather than the tamoxifen itself.

Diabetes UK and Macmillan have produced a booklet you can have a look through. I'll place the link below  - There seems to be some info about hormonal treatment around page 46.

Cancer and Diabetes pdf.

I did a Diabetes message search in the Breast Group you just joined and those results can be found here.

Hope this is of some help, G n' J

hi, i have already told my pharmacist and gp about tamoxifen having a possibility of causing the diabetes but both are saying that they are not sure.  i will be seeing my oncologist in May this year which she will be changing tamoxifen to another drug.  i will be mentioning this to her.

its strange that my blood sugar was 5.0 a year ago then i started to take tamoxifen and now my blood sugar is 6.9.  this is why im thinking that its the drug doing this also its not hereditary and im not overweight.

my gp wants me to do an a1c test for diabetes in April.  i only have 2 months left of tamoxifen which means the entire month of April i wont be on it.  im hoping the diabetes test shows the number dropped big time.

Hi 

Sounds like the break from tamoxifen could be a good indicator if these are the cause if the level starts coming back down. Don't know if I would like the risk or not having any of the oestrogen lowering tablets long term though, considering the reason for taking them.

I don't profess to know much about this, but can a change of diet in some way help lower this as well ?

G n' J

my tamoxifen will be running out end of march.  my gp wants me to do a diabetes test end of april.  im starting a different hormone therapy medication in may.  it will be interesting to see what the test shows.

Hiya

Fingers crossed 4 weeks off will be long enough to use as a guide - Are you being switched to one of the AI's (aromatase inhibitors) like Letrozole / Anastrozole / Exemestane which are used if peri or post menopause ?

G n' J

i dont know the name of the medication that i will be switching to.  i only got diagnosed and had a lumpectomy in march 2019.  i had my last period late january 2019. so now im officially in menopause.  i heard letrozole and anastrozole might have some nasty side effects

Hi

TBH none of the oestrogen reducing tablets are pleasant.

The side effects are mostly down to the lack of oestrogen they cause. There are several types and within those different 'brands' too, most here just have to find the type/brand that they get on with the best.

If they prove too unbearable several have gone the quality over risk route and taken their chances without them which can be a difficult decision to get your head around.

G n' J