Thought I was going crazy .....Tamoxifen and fog brain

Hi GtlHeart,

I was told that my ongoing breast pain and swelling after lumpectomy is due to the radiotherapy and that it could take up to 2 years to recover. Once I got over the initial sunburnt look post radiation, the swelling lessened but then flared up 6 afterwards and has stayed like that since. I had another mammogram this week to check and as you said the pain was unbelievable. Like you I was told that everything was fine. A huge relief.

I have a foggy brain too but I think it's from chemo. Returning to work has really helped to get me out of the cancer world and to get my brain back working on normal things again. I still forget things, people's names or what their connection with me is, or get lost or struggle to find the right word at times but it's definitely getting better. I have Tamoxifen too, but my fogginess was there before I started it.

There are a few Tamoxifen threads that might help you on this site.

Good luck

Kath

I am starting tamoxifen on Monday, not looking forward to it. I had a bad reaction to chemo (which is long over now) and am still suffering from this fog, putting orange juice in my tea, seeing my car keys on the table, walking out to my car wondering where my keys are, going back in to realise I never picked them up, taking my phone out of my bag to turn it off, hearing it ring 5 mins later. Just not doing the things my brain told me to do, missing the physical steps. I have real trouble sequencing things, so I can't cook dinner-too many things can't keep it all in my head. Is this kind of thing normal? Or am I just off the wall? Do I need another brain scan?? Getting very frustrated with it! Will it get worse with the tamoxifen?

Hi Guys

I was interested to see you posts concerning Tamox and fog brain. I finished chemo in June 2011 and my brain is still mush. Have been on tamox for over a year so not too sure if its the tamox or whether it is still chemo brain. Somedays words just wont come to me. I rang the beautician to book a massage and that word would not come to me so had to say to the receptionist that I wanted to book " that thing where they rub your back" I was mortified!!! This is a fairly common occurance for me and have started to laugh it off as there is sod all I can do about it. I am heading back to work in a weeks time and Lord knows how I am going to manage beacuse I am a Lecturer!!! God help the students, I will probably have to draw pictures to explain the words that wont come!!! I am also very forgetful , putting things down and then not being able to find them, even though they are under my nose!!!
I wonder if this will ever go away ? The tamox is causing me all sorts of problems with joint pain and night sweats and now perhaps it is to blame for the foggy brain. Another four years of this, I will be sent to the funny farm!!!

Sinéad

Hi Ania,

Just to tell you that in my case at least Tamoxifen did not make my memory or what they call cognitive function any worse than it already was. It didn't make it any better either , but getting enough rest, doing some sport and getting back to work have all helped a lot

I read recently that just getting a diagnosis of cancer, even before any treatment starts, causes some loss of cognitive function.

Hope it went well today for you.

Kath