When did you start taking hormonal therapy?

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scaligirl
scaligirl Member Posts: 74
edited September 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Just curious when people started. I had a pre-surgical consult with my oncologist and she recommended I take Tamoxifen but I didn't think to ask when it would start. I just had my surgery last friday and have a post-surgery follow up in 2 weeks so will definitely ask then.

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  • HoundMom
    HoundMom Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2017

    I started after radiation. They wanted me to start 2 weeks after radiation but I waited about a month. So far, thigns are managemable.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited September 2017

    They wanted me to start about six weeks after my surgery, but I dragged my feet because of some problems I was having with SE's from an antibiotic. I've decided that it seems like I'm never going to be 100% feeling great and I'll just stop taking the Tamoxifen if I have problems from it. I didn't want to postpone beyond a safe time.


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  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited September 2017

    I finished radiation last Thursday and took my first dose of anastrozole that night. I wanted to start earlier but I wanted to go on AI's so had to have my ovaries suppressed so had first shot of Zoladex second week of radiation and my MO wanted to check my estrogen levels to make sure I was suppressed before taking the meds. I am glad to get started as highly ER/PR positive and very low Oncotype and knew this is what would my cancer would respond to most.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited September 2017

    I started Femara a week after starting Rads. I started Rads a week after last Taxol so it was 2 weeks after last adjuvant Taxol. (Had done A/C neoadjuvantl.). Femara was only available in brand name - Femara - then not as generic letrozole. Have been on generic letrozole since it became available.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited September 2017

    I had surgery on the 8th of August and saw the Onc for the first time on the 1st of this month and package from mail away pharmacy came this past Saturday and I took first pill today. So a little over a month.

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  • MickeyB17
    MickeyB17 Member Posts: 117
    edited September 2017

    I started 9/1, 1 week after radiation. So far so good. My MO wanted to wait until after radiation for me to begin. Am glad to have started instead of anticipating SE's. I tracked whatever aches and pains I had to be sure and differentiate new SE's. One (sort of) gift is that my stress level over work has dropped considerably after coping with BC dx. Good luck!

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2017

    I was started 3 weeks after radiation finished. There are lots of ways they can time it though.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited September 2017

    I had, in this order, surgery, chemo, and radiation. Started Tamoxifen 1 week after radiation concluded.

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  • scaligirl
    scaligirl Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2017

    Thanks everyone for the responses. I had a call with my BS today to review the pathology from my surgery and in addition to the cancer that we knew about, turns out I also have ALH so that may change my chemotherapy recommendation. My Onc is out this week so I have to call back nx Monday to schedule that appointment. The shitstorm just never ends does it?

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited September 2017

    2 weeks after my last radiation treatment.

    Diane

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited September 2017

    I actually started tamoxifen at the same time as radiation

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited September 2017

    hi scaligirl, I started tamox after chemo. Took it for five years without too many bad side effects. Best wishes!

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