Hello i am a new member , i was diagnosed with a small slow growing breast cancer which was removed , i have just finished a course of radiotherapy and was prescribed Tamoxifen for 5 years , i have real concerns of taking this drug as i suffer from bad reactions to medication . I would just like to hear others experience of taking this medication as from what i have heard so far it is more of a delay than anything else .I feel damned if i take and damned if i dont , i would really appreciate any feedback, thank you.
Hi Bluebell64
Welcome to this forum, although obviously none of us would have wanted to be here.
You presumably then are pre menopausal and had oestrogen positive breast cancer? I was just post menopausal at the age of 51 when I was diagnosed and had the same treatment as you, but I was given Anastrozole - which does the same thing as tamoxifen. Some ladies who can't get on with Anastrozole or Letrozole (the 2 post menopausal drugs) can be sometimes put on tamoxifen instead.
Basically your cancer was 'fired' by you producing too much oestrogen and the tamoxifen is given to supress your oestrogen. With that, comes menopausal symptoms. Some women are lucky that they don't get much in the way of menopausal symptoms, but obviously given the fact that a lot of women take HRT, there are a those that do suffer from losing their oestrogen. On top of that, sometimes the tablets can cause additional side effects.
Having said that - it sounds horrible - sorry! I nearly didn't take my tablets because I'd seen this information, but decided that I'd 'give them a go'. I am finishing after 5 years of taking them next month - no side effects to speak of whatsoever! (only weight gain, which is normal with old age, around the waist). One time I was given a different brand and boy, oh boy! The side effects really kicked in as the coatings of the tablets can make a big difference. So, if you do take them and suffer a reaction, then ask your pharmacy for a different brand (check the information leaflet and compare the coatings - you can also Google coatings of the tablet brands). After I found this out, I had my doctor write on my prescription slip to be given Accord or Teva brand only as these ones I was fine with.
Hope this helps a little and try not to worry as it may be that you will be ok on them.
Kindest Wishes, Lesley
