Tamoxifen

Hello there, I started Tamoxifen on Christmas day, luckily I don't seem to have had any side effects. I do however get anxiety especially around appointment times, which results in me having a surge in nervous energy and I find it hard to focus on anyone thing. Do you think your mood swings might have something to do with what you are dealing with rather than the medication? 

Aud xx

It could be, I've never been a nervous or anxious person but I do feel strange some days especially when my period is due...I'm all over the place. I wasn't sleeping well but that seems to have gotten better, it's just so hard going thru this thru lockdown and not having so much support in place due to closers. I still struggle with what I've been through and I think that's half my battle. 

Thank you for your message and I hope you are doing well. 

N xx 

I'm not usually anxious either, but found I am at certain times now! When i was first diagnosed I didn't sleep well either, I kept waking up and especially in the early days after diagnosis I needed to know everything about the cancer, treatments etc!

I'm doing really well thank you, I finished radiotherapy 3 weeks ago and again I have been really fortunate and not suffered to badly, I even asked at my review if it had worked because I felt so well!

I must admit that I have missed faced to face support, as it would have been nice to speak to others in a similar situation, even though everyone's journey is different.

I think humor, walking and exercise have been my saviors throughout my journey. I hope you have people who can support you?

Aud xx

Omg I was exactly the same.... awake at a hours worrying. 

Im so pleased your doing well ️ I burnt under my arm but other than tiredness I feel ok. Can't wait to get back to work but my boss wants me to have my vaccine first! 

I do have good support around me I just struggle sometimes to talk to them about how I feel. I should be upbeat and positive but some days I just want to cry! 

I've started baking to keep busy....my youngest thinks it's great!! 

Take care xx 

Hi, I had breast cancer 17 years ago which responded well to tomoxifen which after chemo and radio and surgery I took for 5 years as recommended (I believe now they recommend 10 years of tomoxifen).  Initially I think it made my eyes a bit dry but this disappeared after a few eye baths.  Otherwise I never had any side effects.  After a few months when I began to start to forget about cancer as treatment finished except for taking tomoxifen i forgot all about side effects and just got on with life.  I think initially anything I felt which seemed not normal I put down to tomoxifen then realised it really wasn't the drug just normal things we all get.  Your mood swings may be something else - getting used to living post cancer.  You'll forget about it (don't forget to take it though) when you life gets back to normal.  My cancer didn't reoccur - tomoxifen works.  I do have breast cancer again now 17 years on but in different breast and not linked to the initial one - which unfortunately is Triple negative so doesn't respond to tomoxifen.  Tomoxifen in my case a life saver.

Hope that helps, Kaye

I think my daughter would have been really pleased if I'd taken up baking, I decided to give up on processed foods and red meat, I invested in cookbooks, but to be honest all my meals have been a bit of a disaster ( even following the recipes!!!)  and then a couple of people mentioned going dairy free, so that was my next thing of research. anyway now I'm a bit more chilled about things and everything in moderation isn't going to harm me and to be honest giving everything up didn't seem to apply to wine!!

I had my vaccine 3 weeks ago, but I work in a school, so initially my head wasn't keen on me going back as i was a bit of a logistical nightmare, as prior to being off I was in 5/6 bubbles and ironically the back up plan if staff members went off. So instead of going back after the Easter Hols I'm looking to returning at the beginning of May, so will have a few weeks to enjoy hopefully some good weather and the easing of restrictions.

It will also give me time to complete my final assignments of my degree, as I have done plenty of research over the last few months, but unfortunately my dissertation is not on cancer! that's defiantly something else I've struggled with 'fog brain'.

I think it's fine to have good and bad days, a cancer journey is hard enough, but never mind in a lockdown!

Always around if you need some support!

Aud xx