For HR+ - why anti-hormonals after chemo, not together

Options
FarAwayToo
FarAwayToo Member Posts: 255
edited September 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I'm still new at this, and will ask this question when I see my doc tomorrow. But I was just curious: why for those of us who ER+, the hormone suppression doesn't start until after chemo is done. I've heard about chemopause. Does it always happen and considered sufficient suppression?

I'm 40, Er+/PR+, very much pre-menopausal (I'm having a period right now!) and starting neoadjuvant chemo tomorrow. if my tumor is feeding off my hormones, why can't they be shut off at the same time as we are killing all these fast dividing cells with chemo?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2017

    I believe chemotherapy and endocrine therapy work by such different mechanisms that giving them together is counterproductive. Chemotherapy works best on dividing cells, while endocrine therapy works by stopping the cells from dividing, therefore, giving these therapies concurrently may make either, or both, less effective.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories