I am two years into the Tamoxifen and leg cramps are the worst! I started taking 250mg of Magnesium at night and drinking more fluids and they have subsided. My leg bones / hips ache a lot too.

Every day I wake up and tell myself to keep taking the Tamoxifen- Chemo destroyed my lady parts and I haven't had a cycle for 2 years but there are other hormone producing areas in your body so until I am completely shut down [ to their satisfaction ] I am stuck. I will be switched to an Aromatase once they feel I am post menopausal. I am going to be 49 yrs in Jan. so I am pretty sure I'm post menopausal.

I've already suffered for two years because of chemo and radiation side effects and I never want to go thru another round of either one in the future so I push through and trust that I won't get cancer again,

I am going through something opposite. My doctor wants thinks it will be time to take me off tamoxifen after 4 years and 5 months. I had assumed that I would take it for at least 5 years so now I am debating whether or not to discuss this with my doctor. He is concerned that the longer I take tamoxifen, I will be at risk for endometri cancer.

I trust my doctor at the same time my fear of getting breast cancer again scares me and I would be more comfortable if I could take it for the at least five years.

@GnatJo I drink tonic water for the legs cramps, that helps too. I do the same, I have to convince myself everyday to take that crap. I didn't take it for the past 4 days and was feeling a little better but my husband is so scared he wants me to continue to take it so I took it this morning. My 15 year old son thinks I shouldn't take it because he read up on it and was not happy when he found out it can cause uterine & liver cancer. He already knows my uterus is thickening because I had to go for a D&C.recently. Best of luck to you:)

@Koyu you're so lucky that the Tamoxifen doesn't bother you. I heard your chance of uterine cancer increases after 2 years so at lease your doctor is telling you the truth. My oncologist tells me nothing but fluff and I'm not that kind of person. I need a straight shooter when it comes to my health (and everything else). I'm going to change oncologists, I think she's too young, not seasoned enough. Getting breast cancer back scares the hell out of me too but GOD forbid if I get liver or uterine cancer. I'm so torn over it and no doctor will tell me NOT to take it, its a billion dollar business. Good luck to you as well & GOD bless everyone who has to deal with this terrible disease.

Thank you godluvya64 for your shares. It helped a lot to be able to talk about my anxiety over this.

I too had painful leg cramps. I would get up in the middle of the night in pain. Fortunately I haven't any leg cramps for awhile. I think drinking lots of water helps.

Prayers to every woman who is dealing with this illness.

I'm weaning myself off Tamoxifen now after 5 years...
decided NO to the 10. Doctor didn't object....gave
me the option.

For the first 3 years I got 80% of all the horrid side
effects too....then last 2 not much at all.

But there ARE other drugs besides Tamoxifen that do the
same thing eliminating Estrogen. Wonder why none of the
doctors recommended something else ???

Birdcat

@ Koyu I'm glad we can talk about this stuff, its a lot to put on my family and friends all the time and they don't really understand. They want me to put it behind me but I cant. We always have to keep one eye open now and its a real concern that I'm sure we all have. Hang tough! :)

@ Birdcat65 Thanks! I'm going to bring up other options at my next oncology appointment... so much for the # 2 Cancer hospital in the United States. Hopefully my side effects will go away soon like yours, that would be a blessing in it's self!

I am so grateful I can share about breast cancer here too. I still get teary eyed when I think about chemo. I had such a horrendous time. I barely got through it.

And I agree with godluvya64, it is hard for people even those who are close to us to understand the fear of getting breast cancer unless you actually go through it.

I have vaginal itching and dryness too. I noticed that drinking cranberry juice seems to help.

Speaking of cranberry juiice.....

At one point I got many UTI's (urinary tract infections) and I detest
cranberry juice :o) which is recommended for this.

I took it on my own to get the cranberry pills. Lo and Behold it has
been way over 5 years since I had another one~~
knock on wood. :o)

Thought I'd pass that along.

Birdcat

Wow! I knew it helped with UTIs but I didnt know it also helped with vaginal itching & dryness, I have to try it now!!! Thanks!