When did you start tamoxifen...before or after rads

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NJMom10
NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all,
Just curious when you started tamoxifen. I finished chemo 2/1/11. Had lumpectomy on 3/2/11. I'm going for rad consult tomorrow and will probably start that next week. My oncologist has given me the prescription for tamoxifen already and said I can start as soon as I get it. I thought I would start it after the radiation. Anybody else doing tamoxifen and rads at the same time?

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  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #2
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    I did
    I finished chemo on July 2nd-10 finished rads Sept 7th-10. I started Tamoxifen on Aug. 21st-10
    I had thought I would wait till rads were over too but Onc. said to go ahead and start it. I had mine for a few days before I would take it, not sure why. I think I was scared. So I did it and rads for 2 1/2 wks. I have not had any major probs with the Tamoxifen at first I was moody and irritable but that passed pretty fast. I do have hot flashes and in just the past 3-4wks have had some leg cramps but they are manageable. Prayers and God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #3
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    I started the day I was
    I started the day I was rediagnosed, then started rads a week later, and now chemo and the tamoxifin. The first time, I didn't start the tamoxifin until I was done with the chemo.

    Wish you the best!
    Carol
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
    #4
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    Boppy_of_6 said:

    I did
    I finished chemo on July 2nd-10 finished rads Sept 7th-10. I started Tamoxifen on Aug. 21st-10
    I had thought I would wait till rads were over too but Onc. said to go ahead and start it. I had mine for a few days before I would take it, not sure why. I think I was scared. So I did it and rads for 2 1/2 wks. I have not had any major probs with the Tamoxifen at first I was moody and irritable but that passed pretty fast. I do have hot flashes and in just the past 3-4wks have had some leg cramps but they are manageable. Prayers and God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice

    Thanks Janice
    Thanks for the quick response! I have been holding off too. Have had the prescription for 2 days now and I haven't even filled it yet. Happy to hear you aren't suffering any major side effects. I was told about the hot flashes and possible blood clots in legs so I guess that's why I'm a little nervous to take it. Plus I just wanted to feel good for a while first! I'm just feeling better after the surgery and now I'll be doing rads which will probably make me tired and if I'm taking tamoxifen at the same time there won't be a feel better period for 5 year I guess! Oh well. I'm just whining. Thanks again. Hope your journey continues on without any pain or aggravation!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #5
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    camul said:

    I started the day I was
    I started the day I was rediagnosed, then started rads a week later, and now chemo and the tamoxifin. The first time, I didn't start the tamoxifin until I was done with the chemo.

    Wish you the best!
    Carol

    a couple of months
    I started a couple of months after radiation ended. I'd planned a trip and didn't want to start tamoxifen right before the trip in case I had any side-effects. Onologist said that was fine. Took trip ... got back home ... started tamoxifen ... and no side effects.

    hugs.
    teena
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #6
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    Taking tamoxifin
    I am taking tamoxifin now. I didn't need chemo or radiation with my diagnosis.I was given the prescription after I went to my oncologist after my 2nd surgery.That was mid Oct 2009. It took me almost 6 weeks to start.Those side effects worried me to no end.The clots and especially you can have breathing problems and so many other serious issues.Started it and now been taking it since Dec 2009.No side effect that are serious so far but I do have thinning hair, some slight memory problems.BUT one thing that makes me wonder??? This med is supposed to cut down your estrogen levels that is high in bc patients but it hasn't done that for me.

    From what others tell me after they finish radiation they start taking tamoxifin.Their doctors never give the prescription to them till then.

    I just hate taking new meds.Always have been that way and a few I had bad side effects.Like heart racing, chest pain etc.Why I was in fear.Not pleasant reactions to go through.


    After tamoxifin my friend said there is another pill for 5 years she took.She is a 16 year survivor and says she wishes now there was another to get her through life. She would feel more comfortable but we can only take these meds so long. I keep meaning to ask my doctor about that pill.I am thinking way ahead!!!!!


    Lynn Smith
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
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    I'm on Femara, not
    I'm on Femara, not Tamoxifen. I started it 2 weeks after the last Chemo, I had started Rads 1 week after Chemo so I started it 1 week into Rads. I got my script for it on Wed morn, took it to VA - they gave me 10 days worth that afternoon (started the next morn) from the local VA pharmacy and had 3 months worth mailed to within 5 days. I've been on it for over a year with no SE.

    Susan
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
    #8
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    Lynn Smith said:

    Taking tamoxifin
    I am taking tamoxifin now. I didn't need chemo or radiation with my diagnosis.I was given the prescription after I went to my oncologist after my 2nd surgery.That was mid Oct 2009. It took me almost 6 weeks to start.Those side effects worried me to no end.The clots and especially you can have breathing problems and so many other serious issues.Started it and now been taking it since Dec 2009.No side effect that are serious so far but I do have thinning hair, some slight memory problems.BUT one thing that makes me wonder??? This med is supposed to cut down your estrogen levels that is high in bc patients but it hasn't done that for me.

    From what others tell me after they finish radiation they start taking tamoxifin.Their doctors never give the prescription to them till then.

    I just hate taking new meds.Always have been that way and a few I had bad side effects.Like heart racing, chest pain etc.Why I was in fear.Not pleasant reactions to go through.


    After tamoxifin my friend said there is another pill for 5 years she took.She is a 16 year survivor and says she wishes now there was another to get her through life. She would feel more comfortable but we can only take these meds so long. I keep meaning to ask my doctor about that pill.I am thinking way ahead!!!!!


    Lynn Smith

    Onc said I can take Arimidex if post menopausal
    Lynn,
    My onc told me I could take Arimidex when I am truly post menopausal. Tamoxifen is for pre menopause and peri menopause. I had my last period 10/31/10. He said when I am fully menopausal...I'm guessing on 10/31/11, I can take Arimidex. My breast surgeon listed 3 drugs that postmenopausal women can take. One was Arimidex, I think another was Femara and I'm not sure of the 3rd, but all have less side effects than tamoxifen. Thanks. Hope all goes well for you.
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #9
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    NJMom10 said:

    Thanks Janice
    Thanks for the quick response! I have been holding off too. Have had the prescription for 2 days now and I haven't even filled it yet. Happy to hear you aren't suffering any major side effects. I was told about the hot flashes and possible blood clots in legs so I guess that's why I'm a little nervous to take it. Plus I just wanted to feel good for a while first! I'm just feeling better after the surgery and now I'll be doing rads which will probably make me tired and if I'm taking tamoxifen at the same time there won't be a feel better period for 5 year I guess! Oh well. I'm just whining. Thanks again. Hope your journey continues on without any pain or aggravation!

    You are welcome
    You are very welcome NJ Mom! I think I had my rx for a week before I would even fill it then waited a little longer to start taking the pill. Hoping it is easy for you and no problems. Prayers and Gods blessings
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #10
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    I started about a month after radiation
    I had surgery early APril 2008, then radiation that ended June 28-2008 and started Tamoxifen Aug 2008

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