Tamoxifen

Today I had my Herceptin infusion; it was infusion number 9 of 18 so I’m half way there. I also had some blood work done today. Although my white cell count was low, everything looks to be in the acceptable levels. It was actually nice to be back at the Cancer Clinic today to see some familiar faces…the radiation technician, radiation receptionist, Cancer Society volunteers and countless others.

The main topics covered in my appointment with the nurse practitioner today were my return to work and Tamoxifen. I will be returning to work at UWO on January 29th. I will be working part-time for 2 weeks then hopefully I’ll be back fulltime in mid-February.

When the pathologist did the biopsy on my tumour, they found out that it was estrogen receptor positive. Basically the estrogen was promoting the growth of breast cancer cells by causing the cancer cells to divide and multiply. What the Tamoxifen will do is slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. I will likely stay on Tamoxifen, an oral pill taken daily, for two years. Once it has been confirmed that I am officially in menopause, I will probably switch to taking an aromatase inhibitor. The aromatase inhibitors block the conversion of aromatase, an enzyme pumped out by adrenal glands near the kidneys, into estrogen. In women who are premenopausal, the aromatase inhibitors may actually boost estrogen levels so that is why I can’t take them now. Like all medications, there are side effects to taking Tamoxifen. The most common being hot flashes (just when I thought I had that under control), nausea and weight gain. In reading an article about Tamoxifen, one woman said she gained 20 pounds while another gained 60lbs!!! %$*&!!! Less common side effects include bone pain, swelling at the tumour and blood clots.

That’s about all my brain can process for today. Take care.

me