Post Tamoxifen Observations

[Traveller66]

Hi- I have been on Tamoxifen for five years- because I had a history of UTIs when I was much younger and was worried about the effects of tamoxifen on bladder and vagina I used local low dose estrogen -Estring or Vagifem depending on what was available - apparently this very localized dose doesn’t affect the amount of circulating estrogen so it’s not the same as HT which I did use before my diagnosis.

This is a very personal decision- but the lack of estrogen affects so many different aspects of our bodies- I feel glad that I had a choice.

I sometimes think that doctors trivialize the side effects of estrogen blocking meds- I found my time on tamoxifen very difficult- but the fear of a recurrence is always there- so we persevere- despite insomnia, hair and skin changes and emotional issues. I just knew that UTIs had been a problem for me in the past and I really didn’t want to cope with them as well.

Good luck in finding a solution that works for you.

I have just stopped tamoxifen after 5 years- I’m in Canada so that is the recommended timeline- feel much better- but as everyone knows there are no guarantees that the cancer has been cured- I just keep getting my yearly mammogram and hoping for the best!

[Happyrosie]

interesting. Before my diagnosis of BC I used Estring for Vag dryness but the moment I was diagnosed the onco told me to stop, even though it only has a local effect..