Tamoxifen Side Effects

I am on my 5th year of taking tamoxifen.  I have had a back ache for over two years.  I have told my oncologist and she says it is soft tissue pain.  I have not had a bone scan, mri or any other type of test, just the regular blood tests every 6 months.  I wouldn't call it a pain in my back, it just aches, especially if I have been sitting down or laying down for a while.  I am also overweight, so could be that too.  But just wondered it it could be the tamoxifen.  I remember when I first started taking it some people said they would rather not take it because of the side effects.  I wondered if an aching body could be a side effect.  My bc was smaller than .5 cm, no lymph node involvement, her negative, and estrogen positive.  No chemo or radiation needed.  I opted for the mastectomy instead of the lumpectomy.

 

On 4/6/2007 Igahmah wrote:

I am on my 5th year of taking tamoxifen.  I have had a back ache for over two years.  I have told my oncologist and she says it is soft tissue pain.  I have not had a bone scan, mri or any other type of test, just the regular blood tests every 6 months.  I wouldn't call it a pain in my back, it just aches, especially if I have been sitting down or laying down for a while.  I am also overweight, so could be that too.  But just wondered it it could be the tamoxifen.  I remember when I first started taking it some people said they would rather not take it because of the side effects.  I wondered if an aching body could be a side effect.  My bc was smaller than .5 cm, no lymph node involvement, her negative, and estrogen positive.  No chemo or radiation needed.  I opted for the mastectomy instead of the lumpect

I have been on Tamoxifen since December. I have rib and spine pain every day. It is a constant aching like you described. I had a neg bone scan in Dec and neg labs in March. My oncologist says this is due to the Tamoxifen. I take Celebrex but only with minimal relief. I can see why some choose to discontinue therapy. Has anyone else had these symptoms? I think your pain could be from the Tamoxifen also. However, I would want a scan if it persisted. Thanks!!

Thank you for your answer.  I have had this off an on for about two years.  I went to a regular doctor and they gave me just an Xray and told me I have the spine of a 20 year old.  The ache is not in the spine or the tailbone area it is on either side like in the muscle, some days on one side some days on the other.  Like I said I have ask my oncologist about it and she doesn't seem concerned, pokes around ask me if it hurts and tells me it is soft tissue.  I go back again in August.  If it has not gotten better by then (bought a new mattress) then I think I will request a scan of some kind.  Seems to me she would have recommended one if she thought it necessary.  Sometimes I wonder about the oncologist.  Mine comes in for about 10 minutes tells me my test results are good, how do I feel, must be soft tissue pain, and she is gone.  I left one doctor because I thought he was so impersonal, but she is just as bad, I guess in their field you couldn't get to personal with your patients.  Again, thanks for your info.

My pain varies from side to side too and moves around daily from my ribs to my spine. My Dr. spends enough time with me. However, I wonder about the new treatment guidelines that recommend scans etc. only if you are symptomatic. I would rather be scanned to look for problems. My Dr. is the same one that Elizabeth Edwards has. I did not know this until I saw her on TV with her a couple of wks ago. Being a nurse, I know that if you are not satisfied with your Dr, you should switch. I am sure you can find one that meets your needs. Thanks and hang in there!

Good to hear that others experience this bone or joint pain.  I feel like I'm 80 years old when I get out of bed in the morning, or out of my car after driving to work (1/2 hour 1 way)  I have not seen a doctor- and nothing is listed on any of the websites showing this as one of the side effects of Tamoxifen.  My sister experienced terrible leg pain while she was on Tamoxifen for 2 years, then it went away when she started Arimidex (sp?)

Do any doctors chat on these to comment?

Hi I don't know how I ended up on this message board but I guess I'm meant to help you ladies!

I lost a friend to breast cancer last year and she was on Tamoxifen. I had read an article on the side effects of this drug and kept asking her to speak to her doctor but she thought that she was under the best doctors! The cancer returned on her Liver.

I have the article "Tamoxifen Dangers" in a PDF Format and would be happy to forward it you if you email me. This article is by Sherrill Sellman: 

Book "Hormone Heresy - What Women MUST Know About Their Hormones" 

http://www.ssellman.com/

I hope this will help. 

I agree that if you are not happy with your doctor find a new one I am also a nurse at a doctors offece and at the end of the day for them it is just a job but I don't think they are all like that I am in the process of changing oncologist after2 and 1/2 years mine just doesn't seem to care anymore it took me 3 days to get in touch with him after a bad ct scan then his receptionist actually had the nerve to tell me I was about to get on her nerves who does she think she is

http://www.canceractive.com/page.php?n=1417

 

 

On 4/11/2007 Ahlbrand wrote:

Good to hear that others experience this bone or joint pain.  I feel like I'm 80 years old when I get out of bed in the morning, or out of my car after driving to work (1/2 hour 1 way)  I have not seen a doctor- and nothing is listed on any of the websites showing this as one of the side effects of Tamoxifen.  My sister experienced terrible leg pain while she was on Tamoxifen for 2 years, then it went away when she started Arimidex (sp?)

Do any doctors chat on these to comment?

I've managed to hold on for almost 3 years:  2 years on Arimidex and now almost 1 on Tamoxifen.  I am SO discouraged.  I don't know if my depression is my "usual" depression or medication related.  I am over weight, hurt much of the time, have VERY sensitive, itchy skin, hot flashes... but they are all intermittent.  If I take enough Benadryl to not itch, I fall asleep and get mad at myself for not accomplishing anything.  The MD gave me an anti-arthritic which helps in the sense that it's all worse when I forget a dose. But getting up in the morning makes me feel like I'm 85, too.  One hip in particular twinges.  And sometimes my ankles. 

Suggestions, encouragement welcome.  I'm calling my MD's nurse because writing this makes me realize how much of a trial it is.  Is the suffering "worth it"? 

 

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On 2/25/2008 PainterWoman wrote:

 

On 4/11/2007 Ahlbrand wrote:

Good to hear that others experience this bone or joint pain.  I feel like I'm 80 years old when I get out of bed in the morning, or out of my car after driving to work (1/2 hour 1 way)  I have not seen a doctor- and nothing is listed on any of the websites showing this as one of the side effects of Tamoxifen.  My sister experienced terrible leg pain while she was on Tamoxifen for 2 years, then it went away when she started Arimidex (sp?)

Do any doctors chat on these to comment?

I've managed to hold on for almost 3 years:  2 years on Arimidex and now almost 1 on Tamoxifen.  I am SO discouraged.  I don't know if my depression is my "usual" depression or medication related.  I am over weight, hurt much of the time, have VERY sensitive, itchy skin, hot flashes... but they are all intermittent.  If I take enough Benadryl to not itch, I fall asleep and get mad at myself for not accomplishing anything.  The MD gave me an anti-arthritic which helps in the sense that it's all worse when I forget a dose. But getting up in the morning makes me feel like I'm 85, too.  One hip in particular twinges.  And sometimes my ankles. 

Suggestions, encouragement welcome.  I'm calling my MD's nurse because writing this makes me realize how much of a trial it is.  Is the suffering "worth it"?