Just popped my first tamoxifen...

[FuzzySlippers]

and I'm filled with trepidation. This scares me more than anything about my breast cancer treatment(just finished radiation; won't need chemo). I'm worried the side effects are going to be too debilitating. Also, the possibility of blood clots scares me. Thanks for letting me vent.

[BrotherBuzz]

1. I've lost a lot of sleep worrying about side effects.

I take a lot of drugs at the moment, and accordingly, I've read all the lit that came with them and really became alarmed. Scary times if all the side effect came to happen. In my case, I've done well and experienced none of them. I still watch and listen to my body and talk to the doctors and nurses about every and anything that is happening. Treat your body well, listen to it, and keep a positive attitude because the worst case scenario won't happen to a person wearing fuzzy slippers.

Good luck and go with the flow.

[FuzzySlippers]

2. Thanks for the good advice, BrotherBuzz.

Unfortunately, hot flashes are almost a sure thing with this drug. In fact, they demonstrate that it's working. Hot flashes may not sound like a biggie, but if they're severe and frequent, they can present quite a quality-of-life problem.

[BrotherBuzz]

3. I'm have no direct experience with hot flashes, but my wife's are common and not...

necessarily debilitating. But half the battle is knowing that hot flashes ARE going to happen, so you can be prepared when they arrive. Here's hoping they will be manageable, and you experience no other side effects. I was mostly addressing the realm of less common side effects, and rare side effects. That's where the really scary stuff is relating to my medications. I have no desire to grow breasts!

[mwdem]

4. Good luck, FS.

I've been on Arimidex for a year now, and I know it can cause bone loss. I had my 2nd bone densitiy scan, and will see my onc. on the 20th, so we'll see how it's affecting me. At least my mammo. was okay. Cancer sucks, and the after treatments suck, too!:hug:

[pecwae]

5. I understand that fear.

I was actually so fearful of Tamoxifen and Femara that I refused to take either. That's just me, though. Plenty of others have taken and still take these drugs with little or no side effects.

I have severe hot flashes! My menopause was chemo induced although I'm now at the natural age for it. I can be sitting quitely, as I am right now, and suddenly the sweat just drips from me and I turn beet red. After the flash I sometimes feel chilled. It really does affect my QOL and is quite embarrassing in public.

[Imalittleteapot]

6. I'm on Femara

This stuff scares me because I have osteoporosis in lower spine and osteopenia in my right hip. I'm taking Fosamax and calcium/D, hoping that they will not only help with the osteo dodahs, but will fight the bone loss that can occur with Femara. I take Fem. at night now and don't notice side effects so much as when I took it in the morning. I have mild hot flashes at night. I notice that the nerve endings (I guess) from the mastectomy really react to the Femara and my chest gets tight. The joint pain I'm experiencing is only in my hip and shoulder on the right side. I am anxious to have another bone density scan. If there is no improvement I will get off of the Femara.

[Irishonly]

7. I took tamoxifen for five years

I survived it ok. I didn't have any blood clots or too adverse side affects. My big bitch was I thought I would be done with menopause and hot flashes. I was wrong as I am now suffering the mother of all hot flashes.

[Irishonly]

8. How Are You Doing? N/T

[Auntie Bush]

9. Yes, how are you doing? Inquiring minds want to know.

Inquiring hearts want to know too. I hope all is going well...but not the hotflashes. lol

[noiretextatique]

10. started tamoxifen 4/21/08

and like you, i was terrified of taking it. i was supposed to start a month earlier, but i was too afraid to do it.
i've been on it a month, and so far i've only experienced hot flashes and night sweats.
every doctor i talked to said the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially in a relatively young and healthy person, like myself.
i hope you are doing well :hi: