Tamoxifen is the most prescribed drug in the world for people with hormone receptor positive breast cancer, purportedly for the ability of this drug to stave off recurrences of breast cancer. Yet tamoxifen has been implicated in many potentially serious side effects − including cancer in the opposite breast.
In this 2-Part article series you’ll discover how tamoxifen and estrogen work in the body, why tamoxifen is still being recommended, the list of possible Tamoxifen side effects, the lies we have been told about tamoxifen, and the truth about this supposed wonder drug.
A Brief History of Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen was originally developed in the 1960s to be a contraceptive. While it worked that way in mice, in humans it actually worked in the reverse − meaning it increased fertility. That was no doubt a big whoopsie for the pharmaceutical company, and back to the drawing board for them.
Tamoxifen was produced initially by a British chemical conglomerate, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which in 1993 became Zeneca Group PLC, and in 1998 merged with Astra to become AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
Tamoxifen was approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration in 1998 after early research indicated it could be beneficial for those with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer.
In 2006 AstraZeneca decided to stop making tamoxifen. Did they know something that they weren’t divulging? Since then tamoxifen has been made in its generic form of tamoxifen citrate, or Nolvadex, by Mylan Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Roxane Laboratories.
Why Estrogen is So Important for Your Overall Health
Estrogen is a hormone and hormones act as chemical messengers in the body, helping to control the activities of many cells. Estrogen is actually an umbrella term for three different sex hormones:
- Estrone (known as E1), considered a weaker form of estrogen
- Estradiol (known as E2), the strongest form of estrogen
- Estriol (known as E3), which is actually a metabolic waste product derived from estradiol metabolism, and only produced during pregnancy in significant quantities.
Estrogen is produced by the ovaries in women and by the testes in men. It is also produced in small amounts in the adrenal gland, placenta, liver, breasts, and fat cells.
Estrogen is a much-needed hormone, playing a pivotal role in the female reproductive system. It helps to stimulate the growth of egg follicles, contributes to the growth and overall health of the vagina, Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and breasts.
This important hormone also has major effects on bone health, working together with calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals and hormones to build bones. This is why osteoporosis tends to be a problem after menopause with declining estrogen levels. Estrogen is required for maintaining bones throughout a female’s reproductive years. It limits the resorption (breaking down) of bone, thus preserving bone strength.
Estrogen is also responsible for increasing the burning of body fat and for decreasing cholesterol. Further, it increases serum triglyceride concentrations, which has a protective effect against atherosclerosis (disease of the arteries) prior to menopause.
How Your Brain Uses Estrogen
Estrogen’s role in the brain, however, is quite surprising. Estrogen helps to maintain body temperature, delays memory loss, and helps to regulate the parts of the brain involved with preparation of the body for sexual and reproductive development.
It also increases serotonin and the number of receptors for serotonin in the brain. Estrogen is also involved with the production and effect of endorphins, those “feel-good” chemicals produced in the brain, and it has a protective effect on the nerves.
Why Some Doctors Recommend Tamoxifen
Researchers have observed that some breast cancer cells rely on estrogen to grow − this type of breast cancer is called estrogen receptor positive (ER+). This form of breast cancer is the most prevalent, with two out of every three cases of breast cancer being hormone receptor positive.
Tamoxifen is classified as a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator), meaning that it can either block or activate the action of estrogen, depending upon the location of the estrogen receptors in the body. The mechanism of action of tamoxifen is to block estrogen at the receptor sites in cells, thus competing with the body’s own estrogen.
The thinking is that tamoxifen inhibits or slows the growth of ER+ tumors. Deprived of a steady supply of estrogen, cells in an ER+ tumor are unable to thrive and the tumor’s ability to spread is reduced.
It sounds like a perfect scenario, right? This is why tamoxifen was touted to be a wonder drug when it was first released.
Tamoxifen is the drug of choice being offered to women with ER+ breast cancer who have not yet been through menopause. This is ostensibly because estrogen is still actively being produced in these women and this, according to the experts, is fueling the growth of their breast cancer cells. Could that line of thinking be flawed? It is entirely possible.
What no one has bothered to ask is why estrogen – normally so protective and so required for good health – became our enemy. (More on that in Part 2 of this series.)
Interestingly, studies have indicated that tamoxifen is most useful for women who have ER+ breast cancer and are post-menopausal. The medical journal The Lancet published a review in 1992 of a number of studies in which 30,000 breast cancer patients worldwide were randomly chosen to take tamoxifen or nothing.
The patients in this study were followed for an average of between five to six years. The patients receiving the tamoxifen had a 74.4% survival rate, compared with 70.9% in the non-tamoxifen group, which is not a significant difference. But what this review did reveal was that the group most assisted by the tamoxifen were those who were postmenopausal and ER+.
Are Some Doctors Using Strong Arm Tactics on Patients?
Increasingly, women are opting out of taking tamoxifen, especially since much more information has become available on the internet about this drug and its side effects.
To be completely fair, some doctors are diligent about sharing the pros and cons of taking tamoxifen with their patients. Others offer solutions for some of the side effects – albeit usually in the form of more prescription drugs. For instance, many women are offered anti-depressants for the hot flashes that result from taking tamoxifen.
As a breast cancer coach, I have heard many shocking stories from clients about things their doctors have told them when being offered tamoxifen. For instance, some women have been told that if they choose NOT to take tamoxifen their doctor will have nothing further to do with them. They will not be monitored and they will literally be out on their own. What kind of tactic is this? Where’s the bedside manner here?
Another thing frequently heard is that after refusing tamoxifen, women are being told by their oncologists, “Well don’t come running back to me then when your breast cancer comes back.”
Are you kidding me? That sounds more like a spoiled child not getting their way than a trained medical doctor presenting all of the reasons why a medication should be taken or not. One is left to wonder why this is happening. Why should a doctor be upset if we decide NOT to take a drug?
Tamoxifen Side Effects: Why More Women Are Opting Out of Taking Tamoxifen
The list of side effects (some of them life-threatening) associated with taking tamoxifen is lengthy. True, not everyone suffers from side effects, but we are discovering that some women don’t metabolize the drug very well. For those who have tried the drug and do suffer from side effects, these can be so life-altering and impactful to their quality-of-life − they feel they are losing their minds.
The more common tamoxifen side effects include:
- Absent, missed, or irregular periods
- Back aches
- Brain fog and trouble concentrating
- Decrease in urinary output
- Depressed moods
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Headache
- Heart palpitations
- Hot flashes
- Hair loss or hair thinning
- Irritability
- Joint or muscle pain
- Night sweats
- Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally upper chest
- Skin changes
- Skin rashes
- Sleep disturbances
- Swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
- Troubled breathing at rest
- Weight gain or loss
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal tissue thinning causing pain during intercourse.
Less frequent Tamoxifen side effects include:
- anxiety
- blood clots in legs or lungs
- cancer of the uterus or endometrium
- constipation, darkened urine, diarrhea
- decreased libido difficulty breathing
- hives on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, and sex organs
- loss of appetite
- nausea, vomiting, indigestion and bloating
- pain in the stomach or side radiating to the back
- red, irritated eyes
- itching, large, hard skin blisters, sores and red skin lesions often with a purple center
- liver toxicity and fatty liver
- sore throat, ulcers or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
- strokes
- unusual tiredness or weakness
The more rare side effects of Tamoxifen include:
- abdominal or stomach cramps
- bleeding gums
- blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin and mucous membranes
- blurred vision, cataracts in the eyes or other eye problems
- bone pain; bone loss in premenopausal women
- change in vaginal discharge
- chest pain
- confusion
- cough or wheezing
- dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness or weakness
- fast heartbeat
- fever or chills
- hoarseness
- lower back or side pain, pain or feeling of pressure in the pelvis
- pain, redness, or swelling in the arms or legs
- painful or difficult urination
- rapid shallow breathing
- skin rash or itching over the entire body
- vaginal bleeding
- yellow eyes or skin
It doesn’t really fill one with glee to look at that list, does it? It’s no wonder that a woman’s quality of life can be so greatly diminished by Tamoxifen use.
Coming Up… In Part 2 of this series, we’ll cover the Tamoxifen lies that women have been told, why your own estrogen is likely not the culprit, and some specific actions that reduce breast cancer recurrence.
This information is being suppressed from you by the mainstream media and the medical establishment. Please share this information with friends and family. It could save someone’s life!
Article Summary
Tamoxifen is the most prescribed drug in the world for hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Yet tamoxifen has been implicated in many potentially serious side effects − including cancer in the opposite breast.
In 2006 AstraZeneca decided to stop making tamoxifen. Since then tamoxifen has been made in its generic form of tamoxifen citrate or Nolvadex.
Estrogen is a much-needed hormone, playing a pivotal role in the female reproductive system. Estrogen is actually an umbrella term for three different sex hormones:
- Estrone (known as E1), considered a weaker form of estrogen
- Estradiol (known as E2), the strongest form of estrogen
- Estriol (known as E3), which is actually a metabolic waste product derived from estradiol metabolism, and only produced during pregnancy in significant quantities.
Researchers have observed that some breast cancer cells rely on estrogen to grow − this type of breast cancer is called estrogen receptor positive (ER+). Tamoxifen is the drug of choice being offered to women with ER+ breast cancer who have not yet been through menopause.
Interestingly, studies have indicated that tamoxifen is most useful for women who have ER+ breast cancer and are post-menopausal.
Increasingly, women are opting out of taking tamoxifen, especially since much more information has become available on the internet about this drug and its side effects.
The list of side effects (some of them life-threatening) associated with taking tamoxifen is lengthy with many being life-altering and impactful to a woman’s quality-of-life.
Part 2 of this article will cover the Tamoxifen lies that women have been told, why your own estrogen is likely not the culprit, and some specific actions that reduce breast cancer recurrence.
Estriol is not waste….estrogen turns into Estriol eventually. Estriol is the weakest/safest kind of estrogen to use in bioidentical hormone replacement. Estriol helps circulation in the brain. Progesterone help stop clots and helps thyroid/lowers swelling/helps raise temperature/ helps IQ and helps fat burning. Progesterone helps Osteoblast build bone. Estriol only helps lower the break down of bone. Testosterone also helps bone…is one hydrogen atom different than estrogen. Tamoxifen was used for my friend with breast cancer and killed her. Estrogen blocks thyroid which lowers oxygen and the immune system. This just speeds up the cancer in my opinion. It should not be used. Taking bioidentical hormones in a balance way may help. Many cancers are at premenopause and the women are estrogen dominant due to meat/dairy/soy/BPA etc and taking The pill that didn’t have real progesterone…but has progestin which doesn’t work like progesterone. Progesterone helps the immune system and gets lower before menopause and stops at menopause. Restoring progesterone may help and estriol/testosterone in the right ratios.
No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils/minerals..probiotic…LDN..detoxing ,may help the immune system/cancer. Cancer maybe due to Celiac which lowers the thyroid/immune system/affects the glands and oxygen burning/pH/minerals and nutrients absorbed in intestines etc. Fix the Celiac and progesterone etc and the person may heal fast. Chemo/radiation may hurt the gut lining in addition to gluten/GMO. Pain killers may lower the immune system. Sugar may feed cancer. Gluten may lower nutrients absorbed in intestines needed for cells to be made right to work right. Gluten hurting the stomach lower HCl and intrinsic factor that carries Vit B12 into the intestines that helps stress and oxygen. Stress lowers B vitamins/zinc and steals progesterone. Helping stress helps the immune system. Mushrooms/Cruciferous family cooked/Essiac/green organic vegetables/no food with a label/no hidden gluten may help. Eating pure organic food and good water. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices/air/certified gluten free/food with a label may have hidden gluten which may hurt.
What about DIM vitamin from Vitamins Shoppe that I used to go there – Natural. DIM is block estrogen. What I was told from Surgeon Doctor said need block. Use Tamoxifen. I refused to take. I don’t tell her. I use gluten free because I have prediabetes type 2. I will get Detox soon and wait for mail by Monday. I wonder about DIM. Let me know. Thanks Lori
Question if I don’t take it without telling my Dr. wil it show on my blood work??
You shouldn’t care. Just tell your doctor you’ve decided to stop taking it. It’s your choice, it’s your body
Catherine, that is exactly right. It’s our bodies. I won’t take it.
My Doctor knew when I stopped taking arimidex because I cut off the pharmacy that I supplied my credit card numbers to. the pharmacy was providing the crap to me through a “special” program thru my doctors office. and I got read the riot act at the same My doctor was in the middle of renovating his office (with the incentive money from Astrazenica???)
Thank you for this article. Yes. Diagnosed with early breast cancer (non-invasive) after an extreme biopsy my oncologist wanted me to immediately undergo surgery, radiation, chemo if needed, and of course tamoxifen. I said no to all and went to another doctor who has only trained for a year as an NP. Now I have been taken off of my hormone replacement therapy and have many of the same side effects listed for tamoxifen. The worst is back and joint pain, headaches, vision problems, hot flashes, night sweats, and depression – all coinciding with being taken off of HRT and not having the benefit of estrogen. I am told that breast cancer patients can not have bioidentical hormones. I am trying to fight cancer naturally and work two jobs. I am on a cancer diet, many supplements, detox, vitamin C & B vitamin drips, ozone treatments, and everything else I have read in Tys book. in Dr. V’s book. in Bill Henderson’s book, and from The Cancer Tutor. Also, I have just been given the SOT 9(Greek) vaccine. .I really don’t know what else to do and hope you will provide some alternatives and suggestions in part 2 of this topic. We desperately need this information.
Bioidentical hormones…not the Conventional hormone replacement is usually from Alternative doctors and are needed. Progesterone helps the immune system and all 3 hormones estriol/progesterone/testosterone need to be balanced. Depression is due to low oxygen in the brain…would let cancer grow. Estriol helps circulation. Testosterone helps energy. All three help bones. I have ozone for Lyme..lasts only 4 days. The vaccine was for what use? Lowers the immune system.
Celiac help may rebuild cells to burn oxygen. Oregon grape root/alpha lipoic acid/Cr/Mg may help blood sugar. Find an Alternative doctor..not just a Naturopath. Chiropractors are also great help. Hair tests show good minerals/heavy metals. Genova tests are for allergies/vitamins/hormones. Getting Bioidentical hormones to help may stop cancer as it balances out the right hormones. HRT..Conventional style may cause cancer. The link has a section on Cancer and more details about what I do. Best wishes.
No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO/food with a label etc. and vitamins/good oils/ LDN and detoxing help me. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc 50mg if detoxing, 2000mg fish oil, 2000mg evening primrose oil. 2000 mg lecithin, Phosphatidylserine/DMAE, krill oil, CLA, Coenzyme Q10, Rhodiola, Mg citrate 400mg, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and Now brand- Super enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body/thyroid/depression/immune system and more. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye/corn…oats has gluten with avenin…and there is a small amount of gluten in rice. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid. Coenzymated B vitamins far from synthetic kind make make me calm.
Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food….. no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Certified gluten free food may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten/food with a label and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them).
EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support, Far Infrared Sauna and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain.
LDN may help block hidden gluten/heal the gut lining and help the immune system, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten..no hidden or microscopic gluten may help. Cutting back on gluten or cheating by eating gluten hurts the immune system. It may take 1 1/2 months to heal the gut lining after getting hidden gluten. HCl and enzymes with meals and gluten enzymes help me. There are now gluten enzymes also a person may use that may help, but LDN helps block gluten in the air/on the skin and all day long.
Amour thyroid has some T3 and Calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4..may not convert to T3. Zn/Se/enough iron/strong probiotic may help convert T4 to T3 for thyroid.
Alternative doctors/chiropractors/acupuncturists and more may help with health/vitamins etc.
Books: No grain No Pain, Wheat Belly, Grain Brain, Dangerous Grains and The Autoimmune Fix and more explain Celiac. Peter Osborne/Tom O’Bryan on Facebook/Youtube.
Longer version:
http://articles.mercola.com/members/Shasha/default.aspx
Gayle,
I am in the same boat. Was told DCIS stage 0 with “diffused area”. I have not gone through a surgery yet because I am trying to have this get better through Nutrition BIG TIME, 14 different Supplements (for my Adrenal issues and for fighting cancer), Ozonated water, health and beauty products clean, etc. After 4 weeks from my biopsy, I decided to start Tamoxifen only 3 days ago and I am starting to get side effects…hot flashes and heat in my chest (not sure how else to say it…but I can still breathe ok). I already had regulation of body temperature as an issue because of my Adrenals.
Would you recommend I see a Naturopath? What should I ask him when I go? Thanks.
Shasha,
You are very knowledgeable and I thank you for your post. The SOT is a personalized vaccine made from information from “The Greek Test” which shows elements that the person’s cancer cells are resistant to and receptive to. The vaccine stays in the system for 14-16 weeks and is meant to cause apoptosis to cancer stem cells circulating in the blood. After the 14 weeks I will be tested again to see if it did cause cancer cell death. It is a waiting game. In the meantime I still follow the Budwig and raw food diet – no grains, all organic (I read Wheat Belly and Grain Brain). Will check out the others you mentioned. Thank you
Hi, You are welcome! A hair test may help more than the vaccine maybe..tells minerals that are high/low and if heavy metals are high which may block chemical reactions. Amour thyroid…right dose may help since gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid. Zn/Mg/Se/enough iron/probiotic/fish oil etc may help. Detoxing…Far Infrared Sauna may help. God bless!
Hair test…Doctor’s Data from Holistic Health International
http://www.holisticheal.com/hair-elements-test.html
Just a note about Calcium and bones. It is my understanding that most people on western diets are NOT deficient in Calcium and in fact may have too much, not too little. Too much Calcium can be a problem – think of too much lime (calcium) in cement which makes it brittle!! While Calcium is a constituent in our bones it is ONLY one of the at least 12 or 13 minerals needed for healthy bones. Sea water has ALL our bone minerals and more though also comes with a high Sodium content. The water in our body most closely resembles sea water in mineral content which says something to me.
Take care adding Calcium while thinking our bones are ONLY Calcium – they are not. Study what excess Calcium can do in the body before jumping on the ‘We need more Calcium’ train, especially if you have heart issues.
My mother took tamoxifan for five years from 1994 to 1999, because she had estrogen positive breast cancer at age 47. She said that with the tamoxifan her periods were coming every two months instead of stopping at all, but when she stopped the tamoxifan her periods were coming every month. She said that some women who took the tamoxifan had their periods stop immediately and they hit the menopause with it. Even if my mother took tamoxifan for five years, her cancer came back in 2003 in the bones. What diets and supplements can women take to lower the high levels of estrogen?
HI, Cancer may come back if gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO is not stopped. Vit C IV may help cancer and the bones. Estrogen may block thyroid/lowering oxygen. Cooked cruciferous family…broccoli/cabbage/Kale etc. I say cooked since uncooked may block thyroid/oxygen. Far Infrared Sauna may help detox estrogen. B vitamins may detox B vitamins. Zinc may help lower Cu which estrogen may raise. Ozone treatments may help as they raise oxygen. Lipsomal Vit C and lipsomal glutathione at night may help detox and help bones/cancer. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…no grains…no food with a label…organic food/good water/sunlight/exercise…organic vegetables etc may help. Protein helps the immune system. Osteprocare and Vit B12 with intrinsic factor/folate and progesterone may help bones. Bioidentical hormones from an Alternative doctor may help. See above my other comments. Best wishes.
I took Tamoxifen for approximately 4 1/2 years. I had a side effect that is not mentioned here. It consistently caused extreme urinary incontinence. When I would take a “drug holiday” it would always go away within 4-5 days. When I restarted the T, the urinary incontinence would return almost immediately. My doctor said “Oh, that shouldn’t happen, it’s usually the opposite”. I felt I was going to have to start using Depends by the time I was told I could stop taking it. Has anyone else had that reaction? It is not currently an issue, I’m just curious since I have not run across anyone else that was affected that way. 🙂
Books have said estrogen may help urinary incontinence,but Tamoxifen is not the same as estrogen so maybe the opposite should happen as it blocks real estrogen. Real estrogen may block thyroid so muscles maybe weaker. Lower thyroid lowers oxygen burning in mitochondria which may let cancer get worse and lower the immune system. Real estrogen helps circulation…blocking it may lower circulation to muscles. Progesterone blocks estrogen issues more than DES/Tamoxifen which hardly looks like real estrogen/but may act like it. Taking Bioidentical hormones may fix the estrogen dominance many woman have due to The Pill and fake HRT and meat/dairy/soy/BPA etc. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO …vitamins/good oils/minerals..probiotic…LDN..detoxing may help the immune system/nutrients absorbed/pH as more minerals absorb and oxygen burning as cells are rebuilt to work right. Gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid lowering it and oxygen burning. Amour thyroid may help. If people don’t fix the root cause cancer may return. Stress steals progesterone and B vitamins /Zn. Progesterone helps the immune system. I take estriol/progesterone/testosterone. Estriol is the weakest estrogen. All three hormones are needed by me to be balanced, but need the right ratios of them. Hair tests show good mineral levels and heavy metals. Detoxing removes heavy metals that may block chemical reactions. LDN may help block hidden gluten and help the immune system work right and heal the gut lining so nutrients are absorbed. Probiotic is very important. Gluten may hurt the liver and other glands. The liver helps detox and helps T4 convert to T3 for thyroid hormone. Now brand- Detox Support and Far Infrared Sauna may help detox or organic sulfur/green vegetables etc. DES/Tamoxifen…body may not know what to do with them and may not know how to detox them. They may act like estrogen, but may also block estrogen. Natural only help…diet changes…100% no gluten/hidden gluten/vitamins/probiotic/detoxing etc may help the cells work right again. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats/corn/rice so some people eat grain free. Pets also need no gluten/GMO and need grain free food and treats so their gut lining/immune system is not hurt.
The urinary incontinence ( among other side effects)also happened to me and my younger cousin in her late 40’s in 2000-2002. I stopped the Tamoxifen after 2+ years. She eventually had to have the sling surgery. My DCIS recurred in 19 years….
I have had lumpectomies in both breasts did not react well to Anastrazol lots of aches and pains been off it for 5 weeks feeling much better but they want me to take tamoxifen my cancers we’re eostrogen fed. My concern is that I only have one kidney the other was removed 4 years ago with a tumour am four years clear now but will the tamoxifen affect my kidney I am so concerned seeing the hospital today can you help me please
Hi Diana,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes!
John Lee in his books on Hormones says Tamoxifen may raise estrogen and feed cancer. See his books on Amazon. Chemicals/over load may hurt kidneys. Ginger is helping my kidney and may help cancer, but protecting the kidneys is needed.
I was surprised a buddy of mine was given Tamoxifen for 3rd Stage colon Cancer. He is over it now, just waiting for the ‘other shoe to drop’.
This page is very disturbing. Tamoxifen is not perfect, but can provide up to a 40% reduction in the chance of the return of breast cancer. Many of these side effects are not that difficult to deal with (and most people will experience one or two of them, if any). Some of the side effect symptoms are also the same as symptoms women may be experiencing due to the start of menopause and it is difficult to tell the difference. For cancer relying on natural medicine in addition to traditional medicine is fine, relying on it entirely for the treatment of cancer is delusional.
Can you please tell me the risk of recurrence with Tamoxifen and the risk of recurrence without it? Stage 1 IDC , lumpectomy, radiation and now Tamoxifen recommended for 10 years. I do not want to take it.
Just start the tamoxofin if your doctor told you to. If the side affects are bad for you then you can talk to your doctor or if you want to stop the tamoxifin go ahead but at least try it. . I have talked to several ladies who have taken it for 5+ years with NO side affects. Why not even try it if the your test results tell you it will lower your chances for recurrence.? Its a no brainer to me. I read several blogs where the women taking tamoxifin cut out sugar and simple carbs and all their side affects diminished. Good luck on your journey. It is difficult I know but have fairh and You will get through it.
It’s not a no brainer for others. Everyone’s body is different, cancer situation is different, and quality of life differs from one another. Get off your high horse.
Been having cancer treatment for Breast Cancer since 2013 chemo, radiotherapy , and Bone strengthening injections every month, also letrozole, and anastrozole had very bad side effects from both drugs.I now have secondry Bone cancer which has been stable since 2016. My last bone scan showed a deterioration in part of my Ribbs. Having more radiotherapy but have been told to take Tamoxifen but am very worried about the side effects again. I am post menopausal, I feel I can’t take any more drugs just want a normal life I can control the. Pain with pain killers is there an alternative to taking this drug and what would the outcome be.
Margaret – my mother had breast cancer and was given only 2- 4 years to live. She defied the odds and did all the treatment, chemo, radiation, tamoxifen, arimidex and more. She lived 16 years. I now have similar breast cancer and through my journey of watching her and the constant 16 years of side affects (radiation poisoning, urinary tract infections for months/years, aching bones, heart attack, osteoporosis) I have decided not to take the Tamoxifen. It might not work out well, but I am hopeful. It is always a big decision but looking back I wonder if she had of been given less time with no side affects would she have taken it – Maybe yes. I can’t remember her quality of life in the last 5 years being that great but I admire that she tried it all to stay with us. Good luck I wish you well. Listen to your heart and gut instinct.
I would NEVER recommend taking this drug!!!!!! I took it for 4 years, I was in so much pain, I could hardly put my own pants on. The Hot Flashes we so horrible, I felt like I was on fire ever 10 min. There were times I would stop taking it because I needed a break, the symptoms would subside somewhat. So for you to say the side effects are not that bad, you obviously have NEVER taken it. Also can cause other forms of cancer.
Doctors wanted me to take Tamoxifen for 10 years after going into remission from a blood cancer. They said because of radiation I’m likely to get breast cancer. I had three choices; four mammograms a year, prophylactic mastectomy, or Tamoxifen. I asked for the prophylactic mastectomy and to my surprise they discouraged it, and tried to pressure me into taking Tamoxifen. I’m not estrogen positive and since they refused to do the surgery (blessing in disguise) I declined the Tamoxifen..That was five years ago and their reaction to me asking for the surgery is what made me start questioning everything. PS. I suggest thermography.
Yes I was given Tamoxafin, not told what it was.
I was so sick and brain fog was not good.
My Doctor did not want to see me again as I did not want to stay on the drug.