Chhavi Mittal, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, triumphed over the deadly disease and now shares her recovery journey — along with her day-to-day health and fitness experiences — on social media. Recently, she candidly discussed the side effects of taking tamoxifen, a medicine prescribed to her daily for a decade.
“The breast cancer led to the treatment, a major part of which is tamoxifen which I have to take every day for 10 years (9 more to go),” she started out saying.
Chhavi revealed that tamoxifen leads to hormonal changes which, in turn, is leading to bone mineral density loss. “The BMD loss is causing uncalled-for fractures (like the one I had in my foot) and also positioning me as an osteopenia patient, putting me at a high risk for spinal fractures,” she added.
The treatment for this, according to the actor, is an injection administered intravenously, which she took two days back in a hospital. “That injection has a plethora of side effects. Yesterday, my entire chest, back, shoulders, and neck went into a spasm. I couldn’t even breathe without wincing in pain. I thought I was dying and this is how it feels when the body degenerates,” she wrote.
Then, Chhavi took medicines to settle those side effects. “Currently, I feel tightness in my chest and my joints feel like they will break. This is what is called a butterfly effect. But, what choice do I have? Once a cancer survivor, always a cancer survivor. There’s no undoing it,” she said.
“My heart goes out to ALL survivors out there who have gone through similar things and more and continue to fight living their lives on a daily basis. All I can say is, today may not be a good day, but tomorrow will be better. Of that I’m sure,” she concluded.
Dr Tirathram Kaushik, consultant oncosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road said that tamoxifen is a medication commonly used in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. “It belongs to a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Tamoxifen blocks the estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, thereby inhibiting their growth and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.”
He agreed that like all medications, tamoxifen may have side effects. “Some common side effects of consuming it daily include hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, vaginal dryness or discharge, and irregular menstrual periods. Rare but serious side effects can include blood clots, uterine cancer, and cataracts,” Dr Kaushik said.
To manage the side effects of tamoxifen, the experts asked patients to openly communicate with their oncologist or healthcare team. “Lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest can help manage fatigue and mood changes. For hot flashes, avoiding triggers like caffeine, spicy foods, and wearing breathable clothing may be beneficial. Vaginal dryness can be addressed with lubricants or vaginal moisturisers,” he said.
Dr Kaushik added that regular follow-up visits with the oncologist are crucial to monitor for any potentially serious side effects and ensure the overall well-being of the patients. “It’s important to adhere to the prescribed treatment plan and discuss any concerns or discomfort experienced during the course of therapy,” he said.
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!