hi everyone im new to this, I have had a lumpectomy in april all went well radiotheraphy starts in june and I have to take tablets tamoxifen, so I was wondering how other people have felt taking these and there side affects.
thanku
I have been on tamoxifen for 3 months now and so far my main side effect are the hot flushes. I have about 7/8 a day nothing I can’t cope with. They can wake me in the night and if i’ve lots on my mind I don’t always get back to sleep. I wake most night once or twice and sometimes awake for up to 2 hours but usual manage 5 hours a night which I can function on.
considering the list of side effects I am relieved that’s it’s not been too bad but early days for me.
Hi Helen, thanks for sharing that with me, I hope all is going well for you
smurf18 x
HI Smurf,
I've been on Tamoxifen for 11 months and main SE has been joint pain and stiffness. I take joint care supplements which have helped a lot. It can be difficult to tease out what symptoms are caused by the tamoxifen though, and which by the lack of oestrogen, which the tamoxifen is suppressing. Many symptoms are therefore menopausal. As I say, I haven't had any other SE and generally feel very well.
Glad your lumpectomy went well and good luck with the RT.
Best,
LInda
Patience and faith
Hi Linda
thankyou so much for sharing your experience on this drug with me.
Ido hope all is going well for you too
smurf
Hi Smurf.
Ive been on Tamoxifen just over a year, it’s been OK . Like Helen it’s mainly the hot flashes, I have spells when there are a few a day then can go weeks without any. I also get the night sweats most of the time and they can wake me.
A bit annoying but could be worse!
Have you started on them yet?
Hi smurf18 I am 4 yrz post masectomy chemo radio first on tamoxifen then letrosole then exmestane now back on tamoxifen this is all due to horrendous flushes which is worst in morning dripping clothes but I have another 6 yrs to go on this think a combination of menopause lack of oestrogen and side effects I take sage tablets have hand held fan bottle of water is my daily pack if anyone had magic cure pleez post as much as we r all grateful for us being here today take care all xx
Hi Amalie
Thanks for sharing with me, so everyone seems to suffer hot flushes with this, that's not to bad then as at some stage all us women may experience this with the menopause. I haven't started them yet as they are delaying them so we can go on holiday that was booked before I was told I had breast cancer. They have done the lumpectomy and are confident that going on holiday will be ok, so it all starts when holiday is over ie radiotheraphy and Tamoxifen.
hope you are doing ok
thankyou Sharon (smurf) xx
Hi Kessy
Thankyou for sharing with me im very grateful, wow you have been through a lot of drugs, it seems everyone has the hot flushes and I don't think theres a magic cure for that otherwise shops will be sold out lol.
Thanks again xx
Hi there I hd similar treatment plan to you and am currently on exestamane , I also had my ovaries removed so no estrogen for me. I was freight trained into the menopause as soon as I started the hormone therapy. As soon as I took my first hormone tablet I started wearing the Ladycare magnet , this sits on your pants and lies against your abdomen , it works on the basis of interrupting the fight flight response signals to your brain which causes the flushes , I have many friends who used this and said it reduced the flushes particularly at night , my experience with it is that I have never ever had extreme flushes , they come intermittently during the day's And not too frequently and at night I perhaps have one which comes and goes very quickly. You wear it all the time as it works on that basis and you barely notice it's there after a while , if you don't wear underwear to bed it can go in you pj trousers on front of nightie as long as it sits on the abdomen. I once chose not to wear it for two nights and the sweats were terrible at night , sold in Boots £35. Give it a try you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I wouldn't be without mine . Hope that helps xx
Hi Issy 333 I have tried the lady are magnet didn't help but thinking now I may not have given it long enough so am going to try it out again thankyou for bringing that to my attention yeah I went straight into menopause after chemo these flushes are horrendous but like I said strangely enough it's worse during the day hair soaking makeup of n tops need changing even thot about stopping for a bit to see if it makes a diff but don't think am brave enough Al let you know how I get on x
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007