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[Lizzylou]

Hi I’m new to this site, I had breast cancer 3 years ago and now take Tamoxifen which means forced menopause and no HRT 😫 sweats are unbelievable any ideas, I take evening primrose and vitamin D and it’s not helping

[CLKD]

Why would tamoxifen force menopause  .  It's an oestrogen suppressant, it made me so ill that I stopped taking it after 3 months!

R U having regular follow up appts., if not, get in touch with the Oncologist to discuss HRT.  Mine told me as I left the final appt. "No HRT for you young lady".  Well, Quality of Life first.  Tnx.  MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary for 3 months, in the mean time ask for that appt..  I think many consultants feel that it is dangerous for ladies who have undergone breast surgery to even consider relieving menopause symptoms 

Let us know how you get on.  Some Anti-depressants can ease hot flushes, which your GP should be aware of.

[Taz2]

Hi Lizzylou. Welcome to the forum.

Sorry that you are going through this with the hot sweats. They can really affect your life especially when they are caused by sudden suppression of oestrogen. Although you are unable to use HRT some women do get some relief from a low dose of an SSRI antidepressant such as fluoxetine. Another possibility is a drug called Dixarit. This is usually prescribed for high blood pressure but has been found to reduce or even stop hot flushes/sweats. Two of my friends have had good success with it.

You will find support and friendship on here. Also if you put Tamoxifem into the search box it will bring up any other posts about it. 

CLKD. Because oestrogen is suppressed by Tamoxifem the body is technically forced into menopause.

Taz x 

[Lizzylou]

Good morning, another restless night what I would give for a solid 8 hours with no sweats aching joints and to wake up refreshed, so when I got breast cancer and was put on the tamoxifen I did not think it was going to be this bad and to be honest was not really told what it would do to me, bloating, weight gain, sweats, itchy skin to name but a few, but did go to my GP and asked to be taken off the tamoxifen but she said it was too risky and to preserve, I was already on Sertraline for severe depression and am on maximum dose 200mg a day absolutely no relief at all with the sweats, so what do I do ? How much longer can I stand this ? GP said take the primrose oil it will help !!!!
Has it ? Nope 🤦‍♀️  Get a grip Liz I say to myself but wow it’s hard. So onwards and upwards another day ahead but on the plus side I’m keeping the shower gel people in work Lol.

[CLKD]

Morning.     Taz.  That was never explained to me!  Also tnx for the details about 'fluoxetine'. 

Lizzylou - ring the surgery to ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic - he/she is out of date and should be offering much more support.  However.  Not a gynae.!!!

It is up to the patient to decide which meds we are taking.  'too risky' as compared to what exactly  .   I was given it on the basis that it 'might' stop future cancer - 'might' wasn't good enough when I was so ill I was unable to eat.  (long story short).   Also, GPs shouldn't make wide statements!

If you feel so ill then stop the Tamoxifen for a couple of weeks: within days I felt better.  That will give you an indication as to whether to ask for an alternative oestrogen suppressant. 

[Lizzylou]

Thankyou for your advice will ring surgery and see if I can get any information about menopause nurse as that was not even mentioned, my Dr retired and since then have had locums, the first one I saw I reported him to NHS England this guy was unbelievable, told me he didn’t even know why I’d come to see him, was shouting at me and was very aggressive in his whole manner, I’m a strong person and he scared me so that’s in hand now so I see another locum instead but no joy there either, but will definitely speak to reception at surgery might get more help from them 🤔

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on. 

[Taz2]

I definitely wouldn't suggest stopping your Tamoxifem without professional advice. I know though that this is an old drug and friends have been put on kinder ones but it does seem to depend on which type of breast cancer you had.

Did you see my mention of blood pressure medication being prescribed for hot sweats when hrt isn't allowed? It's called Dixarit or Clonidine and two friends had really good results on it.

[Lizzylou]

CLKD, will do, Taz2 will ask about this medication I’ve got a cancellation in 20 minutes with the nurse practitioner as there is no dedicated nurse on staff to deal with menopause, so we will see, will post result later 🤞🤞🤞

[Lizzylou]

Morning all, saw nurse and she said she does not have the authority to take me off Tamoxifen 🤦‍♀️ So back to Drs today at 3pm to see him, but I’m not hopeful of a good result but you never know, will post result later 🤞

[Taz2]

Good luck. Fingers crossed for you. 

[CLKD]

Discuss. Discuss. Discuss.  If necessary, ask for a referral to the Oncologist who treated you.  There is also an option to send a query to Dr Curry who began the Forum for which there is a cost.

Let us know!

[Lizzylou]

So I’ve been to Drs and basically has not listened to a word I’ve said he’s replaced Tamoxifen with Letrozole, same thing yes ? Different name !!!!! I give up 🤦‍♀️

[CLKD]

Ask the Surgery for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic.  Or ring the Oncologist that treated you if the GP wasn't listening?

[Nas]

Hi,
Ask for a referral to a menopause clinic.
I’m a breast cancer survivor, 13 years now and take HRT.
I was referred to Liverpool women’s hospital and have had detailed conversations with a specialist there.

I’ve been on HRT since 2019 now. As long as GP knows what to prescribe, they’ve been okay.

Don’t suffer. You didn’t survive cancer to suffer the damm menopause.