How long after surgery should hormone blockers be started?
I had a single mastectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma, lymph nodes were clear.
I am getting a bit concerned as I haven’t yet started hormone blockers and am wondering if it’s okay to leave it this long?
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I saw my oncologist when I did a follow up with my surgeon after lumpectomy. I think it was about 4 weeks after surgery, oncologist put me on Anastrozole then. I hope this helps.
Hi Sandy
I am ER/Pr positive, HER2 negative. I had a mastectomy on Sept 1, 2022. I started letrozole a month later ie October. Hope this helps. Wishing you well.
Hi @sandy2
I had my surgery in July but didn’t actually start Tamoxifen until November (partly due to a mixup with which ones I should go on) you may wish to chase them up but I wouldn’t be overly concerned at this point, especially if you are also having radiotherapy
AM xxx
Same with me. Mastectomy 25th Sept. Told last Thursday I have prescription for 5 yrs Letrozole immediately and oncology appointment with 2 weeks. Not seen either yet. I feel a phone call coming on if there’s nothing in today’s post.
Hi sandy2
Thanks for your post.
You don’t say when you had your surgery for breast cancer, and it’s not clear from your post whether you have had an appointment to discuss the results of this.
Once you’ve had this appointment and agreed to any further treatment if it’s necessary, including hormone blockers (hormone therapy), it’s usual for people to start this within a few weeks as @suzzflwr and @Siggi have explained.
Hormone therapy is usually started after surgery (and chemotherapy, for those having it). If you have radiotherapy, you may start it at the same time as radiotherapy or your doctor may suggest waiting to finish your radiotherapy before starting hormone therapy.
It sounds as though it would be a good idea for you to contact your breast care nurse or treatment team as @adoptedmanc has suggested to ask them to explain when you can expect to start hormone therapy.
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