Tamoxifen 10mg vs 20mg

Posted by jeannie53 @jeannie53, Jun 25, 2019

I was on Anastrozole for 6 months my doctor switched me to Tamoxifen because of severe muscle pain. I was given 20mg of Tamoxifen is that the regular dosage every day. It also comes in 10mg. I saw a study that women were given 5mg each day by cutting the 10mg in half and was wondering if anyone has cut their dosage so it is better tolerated.

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Radiologists read mammograms and ultrasounds. Radiation Oncologists may look at them but don’t write the report. Despite knowing most of my MDs for years because I worked at hospital I have found many mercurial moods, change of tactics. When I questioned how my chest wall would be followed the surgeon said they palpate for tumors. I made a weird face and she said she would get a yearly MRI. my tumor was closer to center of chest yet my oncologist is concerned with my axillary nodes being followed but the surgeon indicated she was more concerned with the internal mammary lymph chain which is much closer to where my tumor was. I thought the surgeon was more on target so plan to ask the radiation oncologist about mammary lymph chain. It’s been unnerving to have to ask the right questions to get to what is most compelling to specific MDs.

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@partI the MRI teams do write summaries, but I have to have my oncologist explain it more to me. I have had a tumor in my chest wall and the Doc has tried to shrink it with AI's (drove up my blood pressure horribly, until Labile hypertension), but the two I tried seem to have shrunk the inaccesible tumor by 2/3. Then she followed with Fulvestrant shots, but that gave me bad leg & joint pain, and finally a rash so I went off of it. They said they couldn't adjust the dose down. It may have contributed to my new swelling feet/ankles & possible venous insufficiency; still have to investigate that. So now I'm on Tamoxifen, first 10 mg, which gives me joint pain.
Anyway, I'm going to see a Proton Beam Radiologist to see if there is anything they can do to eliminate the remainder of the tumor, I think about the size of a grape. They use this on lymph chains too I've read.

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Hi, I am currently cutting the 10mg of tamoxifen in half so I am taking 5mg a day. I started on Anastrazole but found out I have osteoporosis. I was then put on 20mg tamoxifen but I was too fearful of the side effects so my dr agreed to 5 mg daily or 10 mg every other day. I was initially having bad headaches but not anymore. I do get leg cramps at night sometimes, and joint pain daily which is uncomfortable . I have been on this dose for 5 months. Hope this is helpful

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