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Reduced tamoxifen dose increases quality of life
After two and a half years of taking 20 mg of Tamoxifen and having constant fatigue I cut my tablets in half and started taking 10 mg. After one month the effect has been dramatic and my quality of life has improved enormously. I am 80 years old and do not want to spend my remaining years feeling like a zombie. A recent study shows that 80% of patients who did this still had endoxifen levels above the accepted efficacy level. I intend having an annual mammogram.
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Question - Did you concur with your oncologist before cutting down to 10mg?
I took 20 mg for a year and asked my Mayo oncology team if I can reduce due to side effects. I now take 10 mg. They do make 10mg, so you don’t need to break in half.
Suggest speaking with your oncologist.
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3 Reactions@malebreastcancer47 , @dorothy80 congratulations to you both in finding a way to continue to reduce your risk and increase your quality of life!
These drugs are hard to take, and I see a lot of people just quitting their treatments and increasing the risk of recurrence, due to side effects.
Can you tell more about the ways it increased your quality of life?
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1 ReactionThe drug blocks Estrogen. I experience menopause daily, hot flashes, and brain fog. Now on 10 mg, I am less fatigue, less drowsy, less hot flashes. Brain fog is different, as there is no drug for this yet but Mayo said there is one once its approved.
In my case, I chose an alternative route, neurofeedback that not only reversed brain fog (cognitive decline) but also helped with quality sleep. It also helps to reduce anxiety. I also now take chamomile tea at night to reduce fatigue next day and drink green tea to offset drowsiness.
I was much worse on 20 mg, where I napped more each day. I am 50 now.
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6 ReactionsThe standard dose of Tamoxifen used to be 40 mg & now it's 20 mg! My oncologist prescribed 10 mg for me & I started on Jan. 1st. Ongoing trials suggest that 10 mg might be standard dose for early-stage breast cancer in the future. I'm 72 & agree that quality of life is priceless!
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7 ReactionsI recently asked about reduced dosage of my 2nd surgeon with an immediate referral a 2nd med onc. To bring her up to date since last MRI 6 mo ago, I have now had another MRI and CT Scan, both with contrast. Now ANOTHER mammo scheduled. Then back to med onc who hasn’t responded to the question Re a reduced dosage of tamoxifen. PS My mother died of uterine cancer in 1981 and I’ve been on Zoloft for decades.
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3 Reactions@mimi09 I'm no expert, but your family history of uterine cancer seems like a red flag for Tamoxifen, if you're post-menopausal. It does carry an increased risk. My opinion is, don't accept the delays to your questions. Either they answer you or you should find someone who does. No excuses.
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