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Men with breast cancer: Your experience wth hormonal therapy?

Posted by dick61 @dick61, Aug 28, 2022

I had a mastectomy and 3 positive lymph nodes and 16 proton radiation treatments at MN Mayo. I am taking 20 mg of tamoxifen. What side effects are MALES experiencing from this drug??

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Arvind Natarajan | @malebreastcancer47 | Dec 17, 2025

Hello….I took 20 mg Tamoxifen for 1 year, and recently asked Mayo oncology to lower as I could not handle the side effects. Daily menopause, chills, fatigue, drowsiness, lack of any energy, depression, sleep issues, nutrition issues etc.
So far with 10 mg, taken every other day, life is much better. Still have daily drowsy but drink green tea. At night drink chamomile tea, which helps greatly to fight fatigue.

Due to my oncotype dx score of 34, I have to take Tamoxifen, vs stop taking. Its a good compromise.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 9, 2024
In reply to @dick61 "Thanks for the articles. Confirmed what Dr. Ruddy explained to me." + (show)
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Thanks for the articles. Confirmed what Dr. Ruddy explained to me.

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I'm a fan of Dr. Ruddy. Nice to get confirmation that the articles confirm her expertise. Thanks for letting me know.

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dick61 | @dick61 | Jul 6, 2024
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @dick61 and @deebee41, here are some research papers specifically about men and tamoxifen: - Management..." + (show)
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Hi @dick61 and @deebee41, here are some research papers specifically about men and tamoxifen:
- Management of Male Breast Cancer: ASCO Guideline https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.19.03120
- Survival benefit of tamoxifen in male breast cancer: prospective cohort analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-020-0857-z
- Tamoxifen in men: a review of adverse events https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27152880/

There is earlier research as well that establish tamoxifen as safe and effective in men with breast cancer.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the articles. Confirmed what Dr. Ruddy explained to me.

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1 reply
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dick61 | @dick61 | Jul 4, 2024
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @dick61 and @deebee41, here are some research papers specifically about men and tamoxifen: - Management..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Hi @dick61 and @deebee41, here are some research papers specifically about men and tamoxifen:
- Management of Male Breast Cancer: ASCO Guideline https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.19.03120
- Survival benefit of tamoxifen in male breast cancer: prospective cohort analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-020-0857-z
- Tamoxifen in men: a review of adverse events https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27152880/

There is earlier research as well that establish tamoxifen as safe and effective in men with breast cancer.

Jump to this post

Thanks, Colleen. Thought I would get your interest!

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 3, 2024
In reply to @dick61 "Deebee, I agree! There must be enough males with BC to conduct a study! I have..." + (show)
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Deebee, I agree! There must be enough males with BC to conduct a study! I have been taking tamoxifen for 3 years. Have occasional bad headaches and use Esgic Plus which works! Exercise every day, wear support hose on long drives and fight late afternoon fatigue with a nap. Hope you stay well and vertical. I'll be 85 shortly. Hope the director of this group chat reads our plea.

Jump to this post

Hi @dick61 and @deebee41, here are some research papers specifically about men and tamoxifen:
- Management of Male Breast Cancer: ASCO Guideline https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.19.03120
- Survival benefit of tamoxifen in male breast cancer: prospective cohort analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-020-0857-z
- Tamoxifen in men: a review of adverse events https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27152880/

There is earlier research as well that establish tamoxifen as safe and effective in men with breast cancer.

REPLY
2 replies
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dick61 | @dick61 | Jul 3, 2024
In reply to @deebee41 "I just started Tamox. after breast cancer surgery which was 2 weeks ago. I tried to..." + (show)
Profile picture for deebee41 @deebee41

I just started Tamox. after breast cancer surgery which was 2 weeks ago. I tried to get lowest dose but oncologist said only 20 mg.Surgery went well and healing is progressing well also. Waiting for oncotype results. Wish there was more data for men using Tamox. They are basically treating me as an 82 year old post-menopausal woman ! Cheers and best to all survivors !

Jump to this post

Deebee, I agree! There must be enough males with BC to conduct a study! I have been taking tamoxifen for 3 years. Have occasional bad headaches and use Esgic Plus which works! Exercise every day, wear support hose on long drives and fight late afternoon fatigue with a nap. Hope you stay well and vertical. I'll be 85 shortly. Hope the director of this group chat reads our plea.

REPLY
1 reply
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deebee41 | @deebee41 | Jul 3, 2024
In reply to @dick61 "I have ER+ breast cancer and am 15 months post mastectomy, 6 node removal (3 positive)..." + (show)
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I have ER+ breast cancer and am 15 months post mastectomy, 6 node removal (3 positive) and 16 proton radiation treatments. Surgery in 4/21. I am taking 20 mg of tamoxifen and have daily headaches that I try to ignore. I had a cording issue that PT resolved and now a pectoral muscle/shoulder issue that, again, PT is helping. Otherwise, I am back to normal. I am about to be 83. My Mayo oncologist never mentioned another drug, but I did have a genetic test to confirm that I was properly metabolizing tamoxifen. Good luck to you. Hope surgery and follow up treatment goes well.

Jump to this post

I just started Tamox. after breast cancer surgery which was 2 weeks ago. I tried to get lowest dose but oncologist said only 20 mg.Surgery went well and healing is progressing well also. Waiting for oncotype results. Wish there was more data for men using Tamox. They are basically treating me as an 82 year old post-menopausal woman ! Cheers and best to all survivors !

REPLY
1 reply
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mpirruccel | @mpirruccel | Mar 17, 2023
In reply to @dick61 "Does/did he wear compression stockings when driving long distances, etc.?" + (show)
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Does/did he wear compression stockings when driving long distances, etc.?

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Yes he wore one for a few months every day but now nothing unless flying. Exercise is very important.

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dick61 | @dick61 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @dick61 "Thanks for your quick response. I do look at my legs after showering. I am a..." + (show)
Profile picture for dick61 @dick61

Thanks for your quick response. I do look at my legs after showering. I am a patient at the MN Mayo Clinic and will soon return for a follow up appt. Will talk to my oncologist. Hope he continues to do well off meds.

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Does/did he wear compression stockings when driving long distances, etc.?

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1 reply
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dick61 | @dick61 | Mar 15, 2023

Thanks for your quick response. I do look at my legs after showering. I am a patient at the MN Mayo Clinic and will soon return for a follow up appt. Will talk to my oncologist. Hope he continues to do well off meds.

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