Tamoxifen and radiotherapy - any advice?

Hi 2blackcats  great news the op was a success! I’ve been on tamoxifen for about 6 months now and the hot flushes were awful at first but have since got a lot better. I was also a way off menopause but can’t say I miss having periods! Everyone seems to get different symptoms but you will need to give it a few months for the hormones to get used to it all. I haven’t had any other issues so far. 

with regard to radiotherapy, I had 10 sessions. It doesn’t hurt but did make me a bit tired. I just got fed up with having to go to hospital everyday! 

good luck with your treatment! 

Hello, I’ve been on Tamoxifen for about 8 months and haven’t experienced any menopause symptoms thankfully. 
I had 5 sessions of radiotherapy and experienced bad fatigue for some months afterwards. The radiotherapy itself was painless. 

I’m three years on from diagnosis. I had some initial side effects (fatigue mainly) from both radiotherapy and tamoxifen, but they were manageable. I returned to full time teaching and family life quite soon after radiotherapy and looking back, I wish I had taken a bit longer to fully recover. Tamoxifen will likely accelerate the menopause but my view is ..hey it’s not cancer! I now struggle with a bit of pain in my rib cage, told this is a probable side effect from radiation but other than that I’m leading a full and normal life. Good luck x

Thanks everyone. I know everyone's experience will be different but it's really helpful to hear what you have had to deal with and that things seemed to get a bit easier with time. Hope you all continue to do ok xx

anyone with larger than usual breasts have advice i was told more likely to have effects.

i was also told mepetil film can help with burns, a film u leave on for whole treatment

Hi, my breast size is 38FF, I was a bit sore for a few weeks after my lumpectomy. My breast after radiotherapy was ok, the only problem I had was a relatively sore nipple as it got burnt, a bit like sunburn, but bearable.

I moisturised twice a day with Aveeno unscented, this was recommended by my BC nurse and worked well. I also used Aloe Vera gel occasionally too. Hope this helps

thank you, he stressed me out 

As of having BC isn’t stressful enough. Good luck on your journey

Hi. I was in same position back in March, though I am post-menopause. I think I would ask as much as possible about the likely benefits of the treatments for you. Unfortunately, I have been in increasing pain/tenderness/damaged skin since having radiotherapy in May. However, I have a friend who didn't have any problems. We're all different, I guess. I didn't ask how much benefit I wld be likely to gain from radiotherapy & I really wish I had. On the other hand, when I was recommended an AI, I queried this because I have various joint issues & was told, ok, tamoxifen instead. When I queried that, I was told if you don't get on with tamoxifen, we can consider stopping it as benefit small. Tamoxifen has been ok so far. Everything I was offered was in accordance with NICE guidelines but at the end of the day, I feel that what is best for you depends on your particular situation - cancer stage, overall health, your age, personal situation & what level of recurrence risk you would feel 'comfortable' with.