Tamoxifen

Hi Cherryvale,

Sorry to hear you've gone through so much treatment, amazing that youve managed to stay fairly positive!

Yes I can identify, I started on Tamoxifen on the 20th December , radiotherapy from 21/12/21- 11/2/21 and my mood went very low soon after, as well as anxious. I was finding it hard to distinguish between whether it was the months of waiting and treatment and other stressors going on  or/and the tamoxifen until I saw a radiotherapist specialist nurse who was reviewing my treatment on the 7th Jan. She said Tamoxifen can cause low mood and anxiety and siggested an anti depressant and speaking to my GP as alot of antidepressants inhibit Tamoxifen's effectiveness!.

For me I feel its a bit of everything, Tamoxifen and an accumulation of the treatment and other stuff. If you feel that you've managed the treatment with a fairly positive outlook then only you know if it's the Tamoxifen that's caused this sudden drop in mood, though I wouldn't rule out just how gruelling what you've been through is.

I'm going to speak to my doctor tomorrow about Tamoxifen, as I don't really want an anti depressant ( personal choice) but do need help. I've been doing a bit of research today on high levels of Omega 3 and Vitamin D helping with anxiety and depression. The other thing I've heard about is 5HTP, which I need to do more research into. I'm going to run it all by my doctor and see what she thinks. I'll let you know, if you're interested? If anyone has tried any of these, I'd love to know your thoughts/experiences?

Hope you find some more useful answers from others. Will be watching this thread as I'm interested too!

All the best

Yep, totally. I don't know what age/stage of life you are, but I'm 54, been experiencing occasional hot flushes (1 or 2 per day) for the last 12-18 months pre-diagnosis.

I have been prescribed Tamoxifen 20mg since my diagnosis late September. Looking forward to stopping it after Friday morning's dose as I start chemo next week.

I was peri-menopausal when diagnosed and was warned Tamoxifen can exaggerate/intensify menopausal symptoms as it reduces/ceases oestrogen production. Mood swings not so much, but certainly been emotional over the slightest thing (good and sad), but night sweats and joint aches have been my most noticeable symptoms.

Hope you'll manage. Your care team might have a solution to at least reduce the side effects.

Hi , I’m due to start tamoxifen , waiting for prescription . I am aching all over , surgery , lumpectomy on both breasts was in September , Finished 15 sessions of RT in December . 
Should I be asking for vitamin supplements along with my Tamoxifen ?

Also somewhere on this forum somebody was recommending CBD oil ? Which one and is it good for aches ?

Thank you 

Love

Penelope xx

I wouldn't be too quick to blame tamoxifen, it could just be everything catching up on you. I was the same a few months after I finished my main treatment after being really positive throughout chemo, surgery and rads and then feeling energised at having finished that part.

Then I hit a wall and mood was very low for a couple of months. Very unlike me. I spoke to a few people about it and most agreed it was me processing everything I'd been though.

Pleased to say I'm out the other side I'm taking zoladex & exemestane and mood is fine on it now.

Hi Cherryvale

I’m 47 and started on Tamoxifen on New Years Day after having a lumpectomy in Sept 2021 and 10 sessions of radiotherapy from 23 Nov - 7 Dec 2021. I held off going on Tamoxifen until all my treatment had been completed and I was super apprehensive about starting due to some of the stories on here about it, but I have to say I’ve had no issues so far. I was put on the Milpharm brand from the hospital pharmacy and then when I went to collect my prescription from my local pharmacy they’d only got RelonChem in stock. I’ve tried a couple of weeks on each brand as I wanted to see if different brands had any differing side effects (reading posts it seems to cause an issue for some). Maybe the brand you are on is causing the low mood and another brand might suit you better? How quickly did people start to feel their side effects? I’m just wondering if mine will develop in the next few weeks or whether there would be signs by now? 

Hi.  Blade46 . I had lumpectomy in September ( both sides , aaargh !) . 15 sessions of RT , finished December . So we seem to be aligned date wise . I’ve yet to start Tamoxifen but when I finally get the prescription it will be probably next week .

It will be helpful to see how our symptoms track . 
But like Beatthebreastrightly points out . Side effects could be our bodies reacclimatising to what has happened .

Holding on tight !

Penelope xx

Reading back on LuckyLocketand I can identify with the low mood . Since diagnosis , out of the blue , in August , it’s been one flurry of activity after another .

Not saying I was any worse of than anyone else at all but I did have real struggles through my treatment regarding infection , cording ( still getting treatment for ) bladder infections blah blah .

Maybe only now when the main bulk of treatment has been completed can my mind accept what has happened and is straying to process . Hence the low emotion . Well none of us are exactly going to be elated about our experience !

it all makes perfect sense how I’m feeling once I get on here and listen to others .

Have a great end of week , whatever that looks and feels like.

Love

Penelope xxx

Hi LuckyLocket

Thank you for your reply.  I think you may be right - it is a bit of everything just catching up with me.

I hope that you managed to get something positive from your doctor and interested to know what she thinks about Tamoxifen, vitamins etc.

Much Love.xxx

Hi Cherryvale,

You're so not alone in trying to work out what is causing which symptom!

Aw my doctor was lovely, thank you for asking. She suggested that I don't discount an anti depressant, however rather than jumping straight into taking them that I try a healthy diet and exercise first for a few months. If I were to decide on an antidepressant in the future she would prescribe Citalopram, as it doesn't interfere with Tamoxifen's effectiveness and it also mixes with Amitriptylene, which I'm on for IBS and nerve pain.

She said she's seen alot of women through breast cancer and both approaches, diet and exercise or antidepressant ,have helped them to get through what she said is a generally 'shitty time' ( loved her for using normal language lol ) of being thrown into intense menopausal symptoms by Tamoxifen. She said its a case of finding what works for me and also said to remind myself that this is temporary and one day I will come out the other side and look back and think " I got through that and its over now".

She said  the omega oils and vitamin D would be fine with the Tamoxifen, so I'm going to start those ASAP. I think I've read on the Macmillan page that vitamins are ok with Tamoxifen, I know I gave my oncolgist a list of things I was already taking and she said they were fine. If youre in any way unsure might be best to check with your breast care nurse just incase.

 I mentioned that since taking Tamoxifen I have terrible dark circles under my eye and even paler skin and that the Tamoxifen leaflet said it can cause anemia ( though not super common)  so she is going to do a blood test just to check.

Really hope you start finding the things that help you Cherryvale : )

HI Beatthebreast

Thank you for your reply.I think I may have "hit the wall".  I am glad that you are now feeling much better and I look forward to brighter days.  My consultant said not to expect too much too soon.

Take care.

xx