When did you start tamoxifen or AI post mastectomy

It was about forty or so days between the time of my surgery and the time I got started on Letrozole. I had a checkup with the Surgeon, then waited for my first Oncologist appointment. My OncotypeDx report was done by the time of my first appointment, At the time of my first Oncologist appointment, my Letrozole was ordered from a mail-order pharmacy and held up by the usual mail delays that come around the ends of the calendar quarters.

In the first few days of my Letrozole dosing, I lost some pills to throwing up, then took another pill a while after each of those times. My Oncologist gave me an additional prescription to be filled locally so throwing up and mail delays would not have to result in my not being adequately supplied for daily dosing.

I am so sorry you are in this difficulty. I would be very frustrated too. Can you get in with your usual (Primary) Doctor or your Gynecologist to explain the problem and request a Tamoxifen prescription to get you started on your course?

My DX and TX was very different than yours. But it was 2 weeks after my last of 12 weekly Taxol that I started Femara which was a week after starting rads.

My time line had been - 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant, 2 weeks til UMX, 3 weeks til 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant, 1 week to 25 rads,and 1 week after starting rads to Femara.

I started Tamoxifen 4-5 weeks after my BMX, concurrently with starting chemo. Not "standard of care" protocol but was my MO's recommendation.

Initially I tried Tamoxifen for ten days about 45 days post dx. I had side effects, but I also has PTSD like symptoms, which I blamed on the meds. I stopped T for a year, but the thought of not doing all I could to prevent recurrence was the worst side effect. In hindsight, I wish I'd stuck it out the first time because I'd almost be done with five years now, but I did what I could at the time. No do-overs. It is what it is.

So sorry Meow. May I ask how it presented? I'm having a bit of bleeding and have called my gyn. I had a D&C a year ago and several biopsies so I'm hoping it is nothing. You know in some ways the past five years have been fast, but in other ways, like taking HT, it has been so slow. Big hug to you. Stay warm sister.

Oh wow. That sounds terrible. I'm originally from the Midwest and folks there always head up to Mayo in Rochester.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

Meow13 - I noticed you mentioned your nottingham scores. I haven't checked in a a while, but had a nottingham score of 9, which I believe is the worst. I also had a humungous tumour. Can you, or anyone reading, please share what you know about the nottingham score? It has always intrigued me. My br surg. had very little to say about it, given my score etc., but when I asked him, every time I saw him, for years after, he response was "yours was not the travellin' kind". I ended up 2b.

I have NEVER figure this out. Except that, upon diagnosis, I bought a heavy duty juicer, made and drank cabbage juice, pretty much wrecked my digestive lining for 6 weeks till I grew a new lining, all through my surgery & recovery & starting chemo. My theory is the cabbage juice was so horrible it drove the cancer off. But don't ever try it, ladies!

Thanks specialK. My pathology report was the one thing that was gone over in detail by my surgeon. Always have been diappointed with the lack details in my oncodx report. I did see the magee curve fitting equations but never thought I got to see the details to understand.