Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Hi everyone.
My saga continues. In 2015 after 4 years NED, I developed a blood clot in my leg as a side effect from tamoxifen. I got off tamoxifen and have been fine since. But Monday I was rushed to the ER. It was discovered I suffered a tiny stroke caused by a 2mm infarction. I was told that having had cancer puts me at a higher risk of hypocuagulation and therefore a stroke. Has anyone heard this? I’m ok. Just really scared because I’m only 43 and wasn’t expecting to be a risk for something as scary as a stroke.

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

WOW! I have not been told that cancer could lead to a higher risk of stroke. That is scary. I am glad you are doing ok after it. Hopefully someone else on the board will have insight into this.

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Sadly this doesn't surprise me. Last year I was under a lot of stress and started having chest pains. I had mentioned it when I went to my oncologist's office and they're ordered an echocardiogram because they said that chemo can cause heart problems years after you're done with treatment. Something I wasn't told before treatment. I doubt it would've factored into my decision to have treatment if I had known but it would've been nice beforehand.

Glad you're okay. We just have to be vigilant in knowing our bodies and trying to jump out ahead of things.

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

europa;

I had a lacuna stroke at some point during my treatments for bc. It was picked up later during an mri looking for brain mets. I was put on aspirin and following a TIA while walking through IKEA of all places, my drivers license was pulled for 6 months, tests were done and I was put on aggrenox, sandoz candesartan and ratio-atorvastatin (all of which have more common names I'm sure but one's a blood thinner, ones for the heart and ones a statin I believe). I was retested and got my drivers license back. All this was about 10 years ago and I have had no problems since. However, I also had radiation for a left side tumour and so that combined with the chemo's (Doxorubicin aka the red devil), herceptin and arimidex, it's not hard to figure that we could have longer lasting heart/stroke issues in my mind.

Having said all of this, I have had no issues with my heart or stroke since that time.

God bless,

Cathy

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Oh wow, this is very scary! So sorry Europa but thank you for posting your experience. I have noticed I have an irregular heart beat lately and it's been getting progressively worse. I will talk with my oncologist in May to see if I can get it checked.

Always something with this damn cancer journey!

Jessica

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

My sister had to stop tamoxifen due to a blood clot in her calf. I got the oophorectomy because I felt I was going blind while on tamoxifen. I was premenopausal so I had to get an oophorectomy to go on Armidex which agreed with me fine.

Nothing's ever easy.

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Hi Everyone,

Oh! - didn't know about stroke risk, but did know about blood clot risk with Tamoxifen.

I was given Tamoxifen 5 years ago without any discussion. I checked side effects & noticed blood clot risk so called my nurse to say I had family history of blood clots & I wasn't keen on taking it. Can't say they were very pleased with me questioning it. Eventually Doctor agreed to give me Femara instead.

Jessica-
I'm now on Kadcyla - it reduces potassium & magnesium in body & this can cause palpitations/irregular heartbeats. I'm sure AI's can do this as well? As you say always something!

Juls

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Oh jeez, Europa! I'm glad you're okay now but it must have been frightening for you

Re: Stroke after tamoxifen
 

Europa sorry to hear of your issue's which must have been scary. I remember being warned before chemo that it could lead to heart problems in years to come but didn't think I was at a higher risk of stroke.