Hormone theray and radiation treatment

chialan

I am in a very early stage and have done the surgery in May 2018. Dr. told me I am in zero stage. But, Oncologist suggest me that I should do radiation and hormone both, or just do hormone

therapy alone to prevent recurrence.

I am not sure if I can have hormone therapy for 6 months first, if the result turns out it is not good, than I do radiation treatment.

Do I definitely should do radiation treatment first, then do hormone therapy after radiation ?

Please advise.

I very appreciate your help.

Best Regards,

-Jenny

edwards750

Jenny - zero stage - that’s good. I was Stage 1b, Grade 1. I had surgery, 33 radiation treatments and then took Arimidex and then switched to Tamoxifen after 1 year. Oncologist told me radiation first. My sister didn’t have radiation and just took hormones.

Btw I’ll be 7 years out next month.

Good luck!

Diane

DrDavid

it totally depends on the etiology of your diseas, Chemo is a group of anti-cancer drugs that work by attacking the cell machinery that allows cells to divide, grow, and spread. Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (in the vein). Chemotherapy is administered in cycles (over a certain number of weeks), and not every day.

Hormonal therapies require the presence of specific receptors (binding sites) in the cancer cell for estrogen and/or progesterone in order for the treatment to work. Most hormonal therapies are medications taken daily in pill form. A breast cancer that has neither estrogen or progesterone receptors will not respond to hormonal therapy.

Hormonal therapy include tamoxifen and the use of femara.

A breast cancer that has neither estrogen or progesterone receptors will not respond to hormonal therapy.

chialan

I am sorry, I should have described in details about my condidtion. I have breast cancer receptors positive.

Oncologist prescribed me anastrozole 1 mg per day for 5 years. But I haven't taken the medicine yet.

Because I am not sure if I can do hormone therapy for 6 months first. If I don't get a good result, then I do radiation treatment. Do you think it is feasible ?

Or, I definitely should have radiation first, before hormone therapy.

Thank you very much for your help.

-Jenny

chialan

Thank you so much Diane. And congratulations for your 7 healthy years

What is your sister's condition, is she in early stage ? And, how many years ? If I may ask.

I appreciate your help.

edwards750

My sister has ILC. She had a MX and took Arimidex initially. She was 4 years out and had a local recurrence on the chest wall near her MX scar. She did have radiation this time. She gets 2 shots a month as well. Not sure exactly what they are. She lives in another state. Things are going well so far.

Diane

chialan

Hi Diane, Thank you so much for providing the information to me.

Please stay healthy.

-Jenny

Georgia1

Chialan - you will not have a benefit from six months of anti-estrogen therapy. So the best course of treatment is radiation first and hormonal therapy second.

The treatments do different things. Radiation reduces the risk of recurrence in the treated breast only. It's daily, but you might ask your radiologist about a short course.

Hormonal therapy reduces recurrence risk in your whole body. And from what I've read the shortest treatment period with proven benefits is two years.

Hope that helps.