I can't figure this out

OK, I can help a little bit! And this is just from what my Onc told me, so others could have a different opinion....

Because of the risk of infection, I had to wait 4 weeks from finishing Chemo before having any Surgery. That then ran into my Rads, so I finished Rads first before having my ooph. I also had to wait 4 weeks from finishing Chemo before starting on Tamoxifen. So, I had my last Chemo, waited 4 weeks and started Rads and Tamoxifen. 

I finished Rads at the beginning of July, had my ooph at the end of July. (that was just scheduling, I could have had it sooner - I also wanted to give myself a few weeks just in case Rads got delayed, etc) The recovery was very fast - didn't need morphine after Surgery, took a couple of advil the first day or so, but had very little pain, and I was up and about the next day, etc.

Onc then switched me to Arimidex about 3 weeks after having my ooph. 

The whole Tamox or AI debate is unclear. There was one study that showed an initial benefit for people taking Femara over Tamox....but the study included people who were not metabolising Tamox. Also, once initial findings came out, they allowed people to switch from Tamox to Femara, so they don't know what the longer term outcome would have been. 

My Onc more or less told me that they are "all the same." If they want you to take Tamox, I would take the metabolising test. If you can metabolise it, I think it is as good as an AI.  I am doing fine on Arimidex, so decided just to stick with it for the time being. I think there is constantly going to be new findings on the hormonals - you just need to decide on a path that you are happy with and go for it.

Pure.....I was in a rush to get through the whole Tx thing!!!! started chemo 3 weeks post bilat.....rads 3 weeks post chemo....had shot of Lupron and started on AI's at the same time as I started rads.....had ooph about 6 weeks post rads.  Sorry I can't help at all with chemos doses....I had TAC chemo.

My ooph was done laproscopically and I took a week off work.....fatigue was the biggest issue....If you need to wait on oooph, ask your onc about Lupron which also shuts down your ovaries and would allow you to take an AI. 

My onc says that AI's are somewhat better than tamox, but he still believes that tamox is a good drug.  I have struggled with the AI's and been on all of them including a couple months on tamox.  The first year was 8 months on Arimidex, then month on Femara, 2 months Tamox.... 2 or 3 week break and since July 2007 Aromasin. 

You are truly amazing.....Hugs.....