How long after chemo do you start hormone therapy?

Going through breast cancer treatment Hormone therapy
1

Hi, I am currently halfway through my chemo and I wondering when the hormone therapy starts after chemo. Do they give you a break to let the chemo side effects disappear before they start you on it?

Thanks,

Helen

2

It varies by consultant. I didn’t start mine until a few weeks after finishing radiotherapy. So a couple of months after chemotherapy. It seems to be more common to start during radiotherapy though.

3

Hi Helen

Since their aim is to get you cancer-free and maintain that status, the oncology teams tend not to go gently with us. Presumably you will have a short break (2 weeks?) before starting your radiotherapy but that’s only three/four weeks long and oncologists generally want to start you on hormone therapy as soon as possible. I started in the third week of radiotherapy.

I’m sorry to disappoint you but getting over side-effects is rarely factored into their equation. Numb fingertips, fatigue, sore mouth, hair loss - they know these will soon be rectified once you stop the chemo. The one factor that would possibly bring a delay would be your blood counts, neutrophil levels etc,  but even then, they’d still be doing the radiotherapy so long as you can stand upright. This is tough, brutal regime but it has to be if it’s to be effective.

Don’t worry too much about hormone therapy. Remember, those of us who use these forums are here to seek help and support so that’s why you will read worrying things about it. Why would someone who is doing very nicely bother to join a support forum? So you only get a fraction of the real picture. As with your chemo, you won’t know how you will react to it till you’re a few months in. Keep an open mind?

I wish you all the best with the rest of your treatment x

4

Hi Helen - I agree with Jaybro and Sparkle123 that it varies by consultant. I had chemo first, then surgery, and started radiotherapy and Tamoxifen at the same time, about 4 weeks after surgery, and 8 weeks after chemo. As Jaybro said, they don’t go for the gentle approach! Are you having Tamoxifen or Anastrozole/Letrozole do you know? Definitely do keep an open mind, your team have to tell you about all the side effects but that doesn’t mean you will get all or indeed any.

All the best as you go forward - and don’t hesitate to ask any further questions. Evie xx