I am not soliciting medical advice. Already have that. What I would like is some opinions from anyone familiar with or who takes/has taken tamoxifen. I have been prescribed this medication but am concerned about the side effects (blood clots, liver toxicity, uterine cancer, etc.) Any info on this drug would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Is this taken after breast cancer?
I took Tamoxifen for about six years. The only side effect I was aware of was that the amenorrhea, which had begun with the extremely mild chemo I had had, and which was an extremely welcome side effect - in fact, I’m in the bizarre position of being delighted that I had breast cancer! However, this is not a common side effect; I just got lucky.
As I understand it, Tamoxifen can lead to thickening of the lining of the uterus, which can be a pre-pre-pre-cursor to uterine cancer. About 7-8 months after I stopped taking Tamoxifen (studies don’t show any benefit after five years), my amenorrhea ended with a vengeance. I hied myself to a GYN, who found some thickening - enough to justify a hysterectomy, bless her sweet heart! So I got rid of some bits I wasn’t using anyway, and a nuisance I’d had to deal with for over 25 years and was elated to do away with.
Again, as I understand it, if you’ve had a hormone responsive tumor, Tamoxifen has been shown to be EXTREMELY effective in deterring recurrence. If your doctor is recommending it, I can not stress firmly enough that you should go ahead and take it. While it is associated to a small degree with uterine cancer, the likely benefits far exceed the potential problems. Please, don’t delay on this - the life you may save would be your own.