Emotional Health And Well Being 3. Family Communication 1. Fertility And Parenting 1. Genetic Testing Guidelines 4. Health Equity And Disparities Health And Fitness 4. Hereditary Cancer - General Inspirational Laws, Protections And Public Policy Men With Mutations Menopause 2. Partnerships 3. Previvor 4. This is usually most noticeable when they start taking tamoxifen. These symptoms generally improve or become easier to manage over time and may be helped by taking the tamoxifen with food or taking it at a different time of day.
If you are postmenopausal there is evidence that tamoxifen slows down bone loss, reducing the risk of osteoporosis thinning of the bone. However, tamoxifen may slightly increase the risk of osteoporosis for premenopausal women.
This is unlikely to lead to osteoporosis unless treatment has been given to stop the ovaries from working as well. It can affect you physically and emotionally. Your pharmacist, GP or treatment team can tell you what products you can use on your skin to help. Tamoxifen can affect the lining of the womb uterus , known as the endometrium, which may become thickened.
In a few cases, use of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women may cause polyps or ovarian cysts or, even more rarely, cancer of the womb. There is a very slight risk of changes to your vision, including a slightly higher than usual risk of developing cataracts. Tamoxifen can occasionally cause changes to how the liver works. These changes are usually very mild and unlikely to cause any symptoms.
A number of small studies have also noted other side effects, such as decreased sex drive, though this usually recovers after tamoxifen treatment has ended. People with breast cancer have a higher risk of blood clots. Their risk is higher because of the cancer itself and some treatments for breast cancer. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body secondary breast cancer , this also increases the risk.
This is when part of the blood clot breaks away and travels to the lung. Find out more about blood clots. Long periods of inactivity can increase your risk of developing blood clots. If you need to have treatment or surgery that will reduce your mobility, discuss with your specialist whether you need to stop taking tamoxifen before and after this. A few studies have suggested that some drugs may interfere with the way tamoxifen works, making it less effective.
More recent research suggests this is unlikely, but you may be recommended not to use these drugs with tamoxifen, in which case an alternative may be suggested. Check with your treatment team before stopping taking these drugs as stopping them suddenly may be harmful. Many people consider taking herbal products or supplements while having treatment for breast cancer. However, the exact effect and safety of taking these after a diagnosis of breast cancer is not fully understood.
Ask your treatment team or pharmacist before taking herbal products or supplements. Taking tamoxifen while pregnant may be harmful to a developing baby. Non-hormonal methods include condoms, Femidoms or a diaphragm. It may also be possible to use a coil IUD or intrauterine device. However, you would need to discuss this with your treatment team as not all types are suitable for women with breast cancer. In most premenopausal women who take tamoxifen, the ovaries continue to work.
When you start taking tamoxifen it may stimulate the release of an egg from the ovary ovulation and could make you more fertile. For some women, continued use of tamoxifen means periods become less regular, lighter or stop altogether.
Generally, your periods will start again once you stop taking tamoxifen, as long as you have not gone through the menopause naturally while taking the drug. You could even create a numerical sliding scale of importance for your answers, such as allocating a number one for not important to a number two for somewhat important to a number three for very important. Take a minute to create a set of Tamoxifen-focused questions that can help you determine if taking the drug for prevention is in your best interest.
You may also want to share the results with your medical team for their input. These questions could include:. Remember, at the end of the day only you know what is best for your life and for your health. There are no wrong choices. So thoroughly explore your options and arm yourself with as much information as you can.
It can only help to make or break the big decisions, like a Tamoxifen relationship or a Tamoxifen break-up, for you. Adriana Ermter is a multi award-winning writer and editor. You can follow Adriana on Instagram AdrianaErmter. Photo by Paico Oficial on Unsplash. More Stories. Tell us your story. CBCN strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
Adriana Ermter is an award-winning writer and editor. More Stories. Tell us your story. CBCN strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
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