If you had radiation, when did you start hormone therapy?

Posted by brighterdays @brighterdays, Aug 9, 2023

Did you start during radiation? Right after? Or waited until you healed?

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dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Aug 10, 2023

I started the day after finishing radiation.

chickenmom10 | @chickenmom10 | Aug 10, 2023

August 9 was my last radiation treatment. I started anastrozole Aug 16. For the next 5-7 years. I was estrogen and progesterone positive. Been 1 year to the day of no signs of cancer per mammogram. MRI is due Aug 22

sugarbear0 | @sugarbear0 | Aug 10, 2023

I started Tamoxifen during radiation w/ encouragement from my medical onc while the radiologist advised against it.
Last radiation was Oct 31. Tamoxifen gives me horrible side effects & I have uterine hyperplasia, but don’t have any idea of Tamoxifen caused it. I’m down to taking it sometimes.

sugarbear0 | @sugarbear0 | Aug 10, 2023

In reply to @raebaby "I decided not to take it at all. That was around 2 years ago." + (show)

I think I’ll end up stopping too. Between carcinogenic Tamoxifen & taking AI despite osteoporosis & fractures, I feel doomed if i do, doomed if I don’t.

kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Aug 10, 2023

In reply to @dlmdinia "I started the day after finishing radiation." + (show)

I started 30 days after I finished radiation.

dinod1923 | @dinod1923 | Aug 10, 2023

In reply to @raebaby "I decided not to take it at all. That was around 2 years ago." + (show)

What type of cancer did you have? Grade, lymph involvement?

dinod1923 | @dinod1923 | Aug 10, 2023

In reply to @sugarbear0 "I think I’ll end up stopping too. Between carcinogenic Tamoxifen & taking AI despite osteoporosis &..." + (show)

I hear you

raebaby | @raebaby | Aug 10, 2023

I was grade 2a. 3 lymph nodes removed, a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. HER2positive. I had been taking estrogen supplements from the age of 48 up until they found the cancer at 79. I feel that probably had a big effect on getting cancer.I stopped taking it at that time. I felt awful on the AL's. I already had osteoperina. I have peripheral neuropathy from the Taxol during chemo. I'm 81 and don't need more misery from the AL's.

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 10, 2023

In reply to @brighterdays "What was the reason for starting before or during? My onc told me a month after..." + (show)

I guess I don’t really know why they got me started before, except I do remember that I didn’t see the medical oncologist for 6 months. I guess he didn’t want me to wait 6 months to start.
I did not have unbearable side effects either. Yeah, hot flashes aren’t fun but they won’t kill me. I don’t love looking and sometimes feeling 20 years older than I am, but I am very grateful that I have lived almost another 20 years since diagnosis.
Have you finished radiation yet?