Tamoxifen and Menopause with no HRT

Hi, I have been taking Tamoxifen since May 2020 following a lumpectomy and lymph node removal fit Grade 2 Invasive Ductsl and Lobular Breast Cancer in my right breast. I had 5 days of intense Radiotherapy and suffered with hot flushes day and night from Tamoxifen which I was just about coping with. However now and following the removal of my last ovary and tubes on 2/2/21 following a torsion, I am now in the menopause which has made the hot flushes severe and I’m not getting any help from doctors or oncologist - they say take antidepressant and risk Tamoxifen not working so well or just cope with flushes. The flushes are so severe that I sweat on my hairline and get clammy all over for a few minutes until I cook myself with a fan. I’m getting very sad now and don’t know what to do to cope with both tamoxifen and menopause at the same time and nobody seems able to help me. I'm 48 years old and I work full time as an operation manager in research and development and it’s very embarrassing to sit in a room full of engineers to get out my fan to try to cool down or sit there with sweat dripping down my face. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as the future looks pretty gloomy at the minute despite feeling so good last year to beat breast cancer, now I feel deflated. Kind regards, Wendy x

  • Hi Wendy

    Look into Gabapentin and Venlafaxine - may help with your side effects.  I had been taking the anti-depressant Fluoxetine for years but when I started taking Tamoxifen was advised to switch to Venlafaxine as Fluoxetine may inhibit the efficacy of Tamoxifen.  Some people get relief from their hot flushes and night sweats with Gabapentin and/or Venlafaxine - sadly I haven't been one of them but it may work for you.  Best wishes Cx