how soon tamoxifen after radiation (or with radiation)?

yan123

Hi,

How soon should my mom take tamoxifen after radiation therapy? She has IBC (3 stage, HER2+ ER+), she had neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and starting radiation soon.She is postmenopausal, I hope tamoxifen is a right choice for her.

Thanks

ErenTo

yulya, I started tamoxifen 3 weeks after final chemo and 10 days before radiation started. So it can be started at the same time. But some MOs or ROs might have a preference, mainly to isolate side effects

ruthbru

I started Arimidex the day after I was done with rads. My doctor gave me a choice to start when I started rads or immediately afterwards. I am curious, since your mom is postmenopausal, why is tamoxifen being prescribed instead of one of the AIs? Aromatase inhibitors are more effective than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women and generally have less side effects. (There may very well be a good reason they choose tamoxifen instead, but if they haven't given you an explanation of what that would be, make sure that they do.)

keepthefaith

I started Tam about 2-3 wks after rads were completed. MO wanted to minimize SE's. I don't think there is a set protocol...just depends on the individual.

I was prescribed Tam instead of Als bc of my osteoporosis and osteopenia. Als can cause bone loss, where Tam does not. I know that you can take other meds to prevent bone loss, when on Als, but I have no SE's with Tam, so not going to rock the boat at this point!:).

ChemoBrainRWF

I started tamoxifen 3 weeks after radiation. I would have started at one week, except that my dr. told me to wait till I came home from a much needed beach vacation in case there were unpleasant side effects. There were. I was taking it before bed and it ruined my sleep. Changed to morning, no problemsexcept the occasional hot flash. Much better than my first go around 10 years ago.

Moderators

Great advice, ChemoBrainRWF, and welcome to our Community!