Can you take tamoxifen and Verzenio together? Side effects?

Why Verzenio? Seems aggressive for stage 1b. I am also stage 1b, and I am on tamoxifen only. Had lumpectomy and radiation. No chemo. Verzenio, I believe, is for more advanced stages

She keeps looking at my Oncotype and shaking her head and saying “I’m just so surprised by the results…. the biology of your cancer”…. My tumor was 2.5 cm and a grade 3….. so I don’t know if that’s why she’s pushing me to do more. Right off the bat she really wanted me to do ovarian suppression, but that was an absolute no for me. I’m wondering if I should seek a second opinion at this point.

Yes to getting a second opinion. In her book, Dr. Susan Love, mentioned many cases of *over treatment* better to ensure that you really need Verzenio.

If your oncatype is high they will recommend Verzinio for early stages. My Onc Dr highly recommended (score was 32) and I just completed a two-year course. The biggest side effect was the cramping and diarrhea which sounded similar to ppl I know with IBS. I’m glad I took it but even happier to be finished. I am also taking an aromatase inhibitor - those side effects are different (joint pain).

Thank you for sharing your side effects Pam. Was the cramping and diarrhea consistent throughout all 2 years? My Oncotype was only 13. My onc did say that her reasoning was based on very soft indicators.

Not really consistent. Very mild at the beginning but became more intense towards the end (last six months). My Dr was pointing me to some very substantial research findings on Verzinio results. I’m not sure what other indicators would be considered for treatment. I have been NED for 3 years now😊

I started on Letrozole, but switched to tamoxifen after 3 months due to mood swings and joint pain. I also didnt like the idea of my bones degrading from the Letrozole. My joints don’t hurt as much, but the mood swings didn’t really improve. I have terrible insomnia and I’m constantly fighting falling into a depression. Unfortunately, I think all the estrogen blocking medications for HR+ cancers are going to cause these debilitating symptoms. Estrogen and progesterone regulate sleep and calm us by telling our brains to release endorphins. There are little to no endorphins being released while taking them.

Many people in this community have experience combining these treatments, and it's great that you're reaching out to learn from others who've been on a similar path. The side effects can vary quite a bit from person to person, so hearing different experiences from community members who've taken both medications together could give you valuable insights to discuss with your oncologist. Consider asking about strategies to manage any potential side effects and what to watch for as you potentially add this second medication to your treatment plan.