Merry Christmas Monique, you may not have any side effects at all from Tamoxifen. I know several women who have none. We just don’t usually see them here in this conversation. I am glad you are having none. Please continue to follow up with your doctor, a UTI can be a serious thing in post menopausal girls like us.

Hi Monigue, The side effects I'm having with Tamoxifen are maybe one hotflash every few days, but those have seemed to subside for the last week or so I haven't had one. For the first week of taking the Tamoxifen it was a bit of nausea about an hour after taking and then occasional hotflashes; but after one month I'm not having any side effects. In fact my mood improved so dramatically my Onco said I don't need to see him monthly now it will be every 3 months. Very exciting for me as I experienced "extreme toxicity" from the aromatase inhibitors.

I have heard of the mistletoe, I think the actress Suzanne Somers used it and has had successful remission for over 20 years. I don't have any knowledge of it other than that. I am taking Lions Mane for neural transmitter (brain health) and Turkey Tail Mushroom as an immune booster.

But I also took the massive extra step of changing to a primarily vegetarian, alkaline diet which although there is no proof that it helps, appears to boost the immune system very well.

For me the Tamoxifen, based on my oncotype DX score of 17, gives me all the protection of the AI's and only a differential of 1% according to Onco. In other words Tamoxifen for me offers a 6% chance of a "distant recurrence" in the next 9 years. That's a number I can live with and am making all of the lifestyle changes needed to support my never going metastatic. I know it could still happen and that our family may have additional genetic components to this cancer that are unknown to date; but I feel I have the best prognosis based on what my plan is.

Just keep in mind we are all different, our cancer is different i.e. I only had lumpectomy in one breast, no spread to lymph nodes and chemo was determined to be more harm than benefit in my case. I did have Brachytherapy radiation (5 days, no harm to lungs or heart) and then I was done except for my new way of living to support not having a return of the cancer. I miss sugar, I miss simple carbs, but I am fighting for my proverbial life so going to do the best I can!!!!

Liberal amounts of greed tea, alkaline diet, hormone free meat or wild caught salmon, hormone free eggs, tons of vegies and a healthy dose of supplements that boost immune system and all of this is to support my now taking Tamoxifen!

I wish you all the best and happy to answer any other questions!