Anybody here take tamoxifen?

[FuzzySlippers]

I received a stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis yesterday, and although a treatment plan hasn't yet been established, it was suggested that it might include tamoxifen.

If anyone is taking or has taken it, I'm wondering what your experience with it was like....side effects, etc.

[pecwae]

1. I didn't,

but I'm sure I've seen posters who either are or have.

I was Stage 1 IDC in Sept. 2005. Did 9 Taxol treatments (that's all I could tolerate) and 7 months of Herceptin. Since my BC was very weakly ER+ I chose not to use any AI's.

Do you have the rest of your path report yet?

Please keep us updated on your treatment and progress. It helps so much to talk with those who are in or have been in the same space.

Be good to yourself.:hug: :hug: :hug:

[FuzzySlippers]

3. No. The path report hasn't come back yet.

Just the bare bones diagnosis yesterday. Thank you for your well wishes. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[mwdem]

2. I'm on arimedex.

stage I invasive lobular. Had mast. on right breast, 4 rounds of chemo(taxotere and cytoxin) for insurance. Since I was er+, I'm doing 5 years of arimedex. I have to get bone density scans every year with my mammogram, no biggie. The med. can cause bone loss. My arthritis is a bit worse, stiff when I sit too long, but I can live with it. My shoulder length brown (and highlighted) hair is now short, dark and curly. I'm liking it more and more!

[FuzzySlippers]

4. Thank you mwdem.

:grouphug:

[Irishonly]

9. I Think I Am Jealous Of Your Hair

I had great hair before chemo. It was easy to style but the color was salt and pepper. As me uncle says highly intelligent people gray early.:P I wished for brown and curly hair. What I got was almost all white hair, baby fine and one section that is curly. Given the alternative, crappy hair isn't bad.

[Irishonly]

5. I took it for five years

You will feel like you are going through menopause. It is one of the side effects. I thought it threw you into menopause. I was wrong. Am going through the real deal now. Soy products are a great help.

[FuzzySlippers]

8. Thanks for the suggestion of the soy products.

:hug: :pals:

[Contrary1]

6. I took Tamoxifen for 5 years minus 1 day...

I also participated in a clinical trial for an investigational drug for the first year, so it was hard for me to assign which drug was responsible for which side effect.

The second year, it became easier. I had a lot of problems with my knees, I already had some arthritis, and was told that the chemo and Tamoxifen would probably make it worse. It did. Hot flashes did not bother me except in the winter...try to figure that one out. I would just stand on the porch in below zero weather until they passed.

Late in the second year, I was diagnosed with cataracts. My eye doctor had not heard that this was a rare side effect of Tamoxifen. I was 47 at the time and he said I was about 25 years ahead of schedule. I am 55 now, and they have not grown enough to be a problem yet.

All in all, I would do it all over again if it offered me even just a fraction of a chance that there would be no recurrence.
That last day's pill? I ceremoniously flushed it down the toilet, while toasting my survival.

[FuzzySlippers]

7. OMG! You flushed the last pill down the toilet?!?

You're doomed for sure! :P

I'm sorry to hear about the premature cataracts, but glad they haven't progressed too far. I must say Tamoxifen has some worrisome possible side effects, but there doesn't seem to be much choice but to take it. My tumor was almost 100% positive for estrogen, so it should be an effective treatment for me.

Here's wishing for your continuing good health!!

:toast: :hug: