The rats who were living under normal conditions had blood melatonin levels that rose during the dark period and fell again during the light period. Compared with the rats living in normal conditions, the rats living in the dim night light conditions had tumor growth that was 2. Additionally, the team found that the rats living in the dim night light had tumors that were completely resistant to tamoxifen, while the rats living in normal conditions had tumors that significantly regressed.
However, the team also found that when given a nighttime melatonin supplement, the tumors of the rats living in dim night light conditions likewise regressed. Though melatonin supplements can be purchased over the counter, Prof.
Hill cautions that their research is not yet at the point where he and his team can recommend that breast cancer patients on tamoxifen take melatonin:. The team is now conducting further studies to investigate how much light exposure suppresses nighttime melatonin production in humans to the point where it would make tumors tamoxifen-resistant.
Medical News Today recently reported on a study that suggested the gel form of tamoxifen is just as effective as the oral form , with fewer side effects. Stage 4 breast cancer occurs when cancer spreads to distant parts of the body. Learn more about the symptoms, outlook, and treatment options here. There are two main types of HER2-negative breast cancer: Hormone receptor-positive and triple-negative. Many treatments exist, and outlook varies.
If you have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse so they can give you treatment. Some people who take tamoxifen have reported that the drug affects their ability to sing. If this is a worry of yours, talk to your cancer specialist. Women who have gone through menopause and have taken tamoxifen for a long period of time are at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer.
But this risk is offset by the benefits of taking tamoxifen. When uterine cancer is detected in time, the treatment is very successful. Abnormal vaginal bleeding may be an early sign, so if this happens it is very important that you let your specialist physician or nurse know so they can examine this. Bleeding is often caused by a non-cancerous condition, but always talk to your doctor or nurse.
Tamoxifen can change the way the liver functions. It is very unlikely you will notice any problems, though your doctor will take periodic blood samples to check whether your liver is working properly. Taking tamoxifen after menopause may help prevent and reduce the risk of bone thinning. But taking it before menopause may cause some thinning of the bones.
Taking regular walks will help you maintain strong bones. Eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and following guidelines for drinking alcohol will also help.
Tell your doctor if you have any bone problems. Your doctor will advise you not to become pregnant when taking tamoxifen. This is because tamoxifen can harm developing babies. It is important to use an effective, non-hormonal contraceptive during treatment and for a few months after the treatment has finished.
Even if your periods have stopped or are irregular, you still have to use a contraceptive. You can talk to your doctor or nurse about this. Women who have not gone through menopause yet may become pregnant when they have finished their tamoxifen treatment.
Doctors normally recommend waiting for a few months after treatment with tamoxifen before trying to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are trying to have children. The side effects can be controlled or managed most of the time. However, they may be more problematic for some women. If this is the case, make sure you talk to your cancer doctor or nurse. They can normally suggest ways to improve the side effects. If things do not get better, go back to your oncologist or nurse.
They may suggest trying something else. It is very important that you do not stop taking tamoxifen without telling your doctor, as this may affect the success of the treatment.
It the side effects are very bothersome and are unmanageable, your oncologist may suggest you start on a different hormone therapy. Tamoxifen can interact with other drugs. For example, it can increase the effect of an anticoagulant called warfarin. Tell your doctor immediately if you are taking warfarin or other drugs. Some other drugs may make tamoxifen less effective. Tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs, including complementary therapies, and herbal remedies.
If you have to go to the hospital for whatever reason other than cancer, always tell the doctors and nurses that you are taking tamoxifen. Explain that you are taking hormone therapy that no one should start or stop without taking to your cancer specialist in the first place.
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram. Web Map. Contact us at There are certain important things to remember when taking the tablets. Do not double the dose if you forget to take one of your pills. Keep the pills in their original packaging at room temperature.
I kept forgeting it in the morning what with the school run and getting out the door for work. I have 10mg tablets so I can take one in the morning and one at night. I found that this way the hot flushes were more bearable. I had tried taking the 20mg tablet both in the mornings and the evenings and found I got hot flushes round the clock either way.
Taking half the dose twice a day still gives the flushes around the clock, but not so intense. I take mine at night but am really suffering with the hot flushes which I get mainly in the evening and through the night, so might switch to the morning. Don't get any other side effects with it, or none that I've noticed, anyway! I take my tablet at night too. I used to take it in the morning but gave me alot of aches and pains. Also very tired. So it suits me better at night.
I take mine in the morning! Tried it at bed time but found I was sick when I got up. I'm ok now, think it's because I've not stopped eating!! I've been on it 16mths now, and, having found the brand that suits me best, the side effects are nowhere near as bad now as they were in the first about 9mths. Hi, l am like most of the other girls and take mine at bedtime, l think if you are going to get any side effects then most of them should happen during the night. Good luck with it, Love, Barbara.
I take mine at breakfast each morning. Have been on it 3 months and so far the only side effects have been hot flushes, but they have been confined to night time and not really all that bad. It sounds like different times work for different people. Just experiment - start either morning or night and if you have problems you can always change the time you take it. Have found a Chillow great for cooling me down from hot flushes in particular I like the mini chillow as it isn't too big and cumbersome.
Good luck on the Tamoxifen. Thanks girls - you've confirmed what I thought. It's strange that I'm so worried about a pill after having survived the horror of chemo!! I take mine just before I go to bed. I've been on Nolvodex for about 4 months and have been really lucky so far as I've had hardly any side effects. I was advised to take it just before I go to bed as any side effects will occur while you are sleeping.
Some people can feel a bit queezy and dizzy but I have been fine.. I have been taking it for 6 months now and have been ok.. I also take cod liver oil and evening primrose oil which helps with my joints and sweats.. Hi all, am after a bit of advice please. Am due to start taking tamoxifen on Wednesday and wondered if anyone had a view on what time of day to take it and whether this has any influence on side effects. Am thinking I will take it just before I go to bed each night.
What do you all do? Thanks Al xxxx. Sign In Help. Breast Cancer Now Forum. Talk to our breast care nurses Turn on suggestions. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. Showing results for. Search instead for. Did you mean:. All forum topics Previous Topic Next Topic. Reply 0 Hugs. Report Inappropriate Content. I am four months in and do 10mg AM and 10mg PM. Reply 1 Hug.
Guest user. Not applicable. Hot Flushes, sore fingers etc - I was taking it in the morning and after a break to check out these SE's with my Onc I decided to take it again at night - much much better - lesson learned LR xx.
Hi Sammy, I had a nasty rash about 6 weeks in from starting Tamoxifen but it disappeared after about a month and hasn't come back. Nymeria x.
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