They gradually go away during the recovery part of the chemotherapy cycle or after the treatment is over. In general, the side effects of tamoxifen are similar to some of the symptoms of menopause. The most common side effects are hot flashes, vaginal discharge, and nausea. As is the case with menopause, not all women who take tamoxifen have these symptoms. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention.
Doctors carefully monitor women taking tamoxifen for any signs of more serious side effects.
Women taking tamoxifen, particularly those who are receiving chemotherapy along with tamoxifen, have a greater risk of developing a blood clot. The risk of having a blood clot due to tamoxifen is similar to the risk of a blood clot when taking estrogen replacement therapy. Women who are taking tamoxifen also have an increased risk of developing cancer of the uterus . They should talk with their doctor about having regular pelvic exams and should be examined promptly if they have any abnormal vaginal bleeding. Careful studies have shown that the risks of adjuvant therapy for breast cancer are outweighed by the benefit of the treatment increasing the chance of survival.