Tamoxifen - Start During or After Radiation Tx?

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Jo_Ann_K
Jo_Ann_K Member Posts: 277
edited February 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Just curious how is this usually prescribed.  Do you take the Tamoxifen during rads tx, directly after rads tx, or a specific time after rads tx?  What are the pros and cons of each way?

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  • Kleenex
    Kleenex Member Posts: 764
    edited November 2008

    My medical and radiation oncologist both agreed that I should start Tamoxifen about two weeks after I finished radiation. They said it wasn't good to us it during radiation. Tamoxifen apparently might make the side effects of radiation worse. The cell-injuring effects of the radiation allegedly start to diminish and healing begins about two weeks afterward.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2008

    I took it through out rads, but strickly by accident...

    My medical oncologist started me on it directly after surgery and it was in my file but the rad department I guess missed it so I was 3 wks into rads before the realized I was taking it....they told me that since I wasnt having burn issues that I could continue to take it...from what I understood they prefer you dont take it because it can cause the burning to worsen. I didnt have burn issues so I took it throughout the entire treatment.

    And yes, to the effects for rads continuing for several weeks after treatement ends.....they told me that it stops somewhere between 10 and 14 days.

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited November 2008

    I started taking tamoxifen only five days before I began rads. Both my medical onc and radiation onc know I'm doing both, and neither said not to, so I'll carry on.

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  • irishdreama
    irishdreama Member Posts: 938
    edited November 2008

    My onc put me on Tamoxifen about a month after I finished rads.

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  • pdb
    pdb Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2008

    I didn't have chemo, so both my med onc and rad onc agreed I should start tamoxifen at the same time as rads. (This was in 2005). I didn't have any issues doing both at the same time.

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  • AllieM22
    AllieM22 Member Posts: 464
    edited November 2008

    I asked both my oncologist and my radiologist about this having read a few studies about it but they both said that nothing has been proven about either worse cosmetic effects or less of an effect of radiation b/c of tamoxifen but they also said if I wanted to wait until after radiation that was fine too. So I am going to wait although I worry as I would like to get the tamoxifen in my system to prevent any new cancers ASAP--so I am a bit torn...

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  • LorenaB
    LorenaB Member Posts: 937
    edited November 2008

    I started the tamoxifen a week or two after I finished rads. I hadn't heard anything about the potential interaction of the two treatments -- I just wanted to do one thing at a time, since I didn't know how any of it would affect me.  My oncologist said this was fine. Fortunately I tolerated rads fairly well (skin was sore only the last couple of weeks) and I have had no side effects from the tamox. 

     Good luck with your decision -- and I hope you have minimal se's as well!

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  • BrendaD
    BrendaD Member Posts: 26
    edited November 2008

    I was placed on Tamoxifen at the same time I started radiation.  I asked the doctor if I was suppose to wait until after radiation was over, because I had read most post here and on the web that most people started after radiation therapy was over.  He said no, that I could start taking it immediately.  I did and have not have any real problems so far.  Not too may side effects from Tamoxifen and radiation is going pretty well too.  I mainly have to set it out somewhere so I will remember to take it everyday.  I take 10 mg, 2 times a day.  Hope everyone gets along ok.  Hang in there, we'll make it through all this.   

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  • dancemom23
    dancemom23 Member Posts: 56
    edited November 2008

    I was given my script for Tamox before I started Rads, but was told not to take it until I finished.  It was coincidental that my med onc appointment was the day after I finished rads, and she told me to go ahead and start it that day, so I did. 

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  • Ivy
    Ivy Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2008

    I asked about this issue on another thread and was directed here.  It's helpful because until reading these posts, I hadn't come across anyone doing tamoxifen and rads at the same time, as I was directed to do by my med onc.  After 3 wks. of tamoxifen, I don't notice any side effects, except that when I wake during the night I'm usually hot; but that might have been the case before, and now I'm aware of it.  I've had 5 rad so far and am glad to go and get them because they decrease my chances of recurrence! 

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  • Valentina7268279
    Valentina7268279 Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2018

    I started taking Tamoxifen before rads by mistake....i worry rads will be less effective and my white blood cells are very low...the oncologist says I can keep taking tamoxifen, I am finishing rads in 5 days...but I am just so worr

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