Which hormonal therapy will I be given?

Options
tangandchris
tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
edited July 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

How is this determined? I'm just curious of course and wondering what type of SE's to expect. I'm about to start rads on Monday, so that means the step after rads will be hormone blockers. Is there a certain type of of medication based on stage or age...or what?

 

Thanks :)

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Annie54
    Annie54 Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2014

    Hello,

    I believe if you are pre-menopausal they start you on Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen blocks the use of estrogen by cancer cells and doesn't deplete it so your body still has estrogen to use. Post menopausal they give you AI's such as Arimidex, Femara etc which depletes the estrogen. Side effects are different for both and there are several AI's available so if you have trouble on one they can switch you to another.

    That said, I'm post menopausal and my onc wants me on Arimidex for two years and then will switch me to Tamoxifen as it is easier on the bones. I think each person is unique and your doc will decide what is best for your situation. Good luck with radiation.....I breezed through rads, it was the easiest part of the whole process for me.

    Annie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited July 2014


    well, I'm premenopausal, even though I haven't had a period since starting chemo. So Tamoxifin will still allow some estrogen? Thanks for the info :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories