Hi,
Fingers crossed I’ll be having my recon in 6 weeks. On the leaflet with my tablets it says stop taking tamoxifen 6 weeks prior to surgery and I spoke to my nurse this morning and she said the same. However research I’ve done says 2days-2weeks prior to surgery.
Just wondering what everyone else has done.
Thanks
Em x
Hi Em,
I have been on Tamoxifen since 2002 and had bilateral LD recon in 2004.
Due to lots of problems,which I won’t bore you with here, I also had left TRAM and right DIEP recon in July 2009.
On neither occasion was I advised to stop Tamoxifen and therefore continued to take it throughout both surgeries, with the full knowledge of all medical and nursing hospital staff, who dispensed and administered it to me during my admissions.
Obviously you must be guided by your own medical staff, as we all have different medical histories - but I just thought I’d share my experience with you.
Wishing you all the best with your forthcoming surgery x
I was also told to stop taking it, due to the added risk of thrombosis, during and following surgery.
I cant really remember how long it was before but certainly more than a few weeks xx
julie
I’ve had 2 LD flaps; with the one in December 2008, I was advised to take Tamoxifen on the day of my admission, but the following day, being the day of the operation, I did not take it, and did not resume until the 4th day after surgery.
However, when I had my second LD flap op in November 2009, I was kept on it throughout.
And both ops were at the same hospital under the same consultant PS.
Bubs xx
Mine was 10 years ago, so maybe they have changed procedures 
Hi
Im due to geta recon and went to an excellent BCC event on the topic.I asked the surgeon who presented it if I needed to stop taking tamoxifen and he said no. I havnt heard from my own surgeon yet, but Ill def be checking with him-would hate any delays to the op because of this!
Cathie
Hi
I am also waiting on reconstruction, and take Tamoxifen. I cant comment on that aspect but didnt have to stop my Tamoxifen for knee surgery recently.
Carolyn x
Hi, I am due to have a double (risk-reducing) MX and recon in four weeks time (yikes!) When I last saw my surgeon which was a few weeks ago, she advised me to stop taking Tamoxifen then which I did. Strange how there is somuch conflicting advice around.
Shenagh xx
Hi,
Thanks all for the comments. I guess it’s just down to individual surgeons. I’m seeing my GP on Thursday for my Zoladex so I’ll check with her too. Wonder if I stop that too, due another one week before op.
Em x
OMG, i’ve just read your post & am now stressing as i’m meant to be having LD Flap & expanders Opp 3 weeks today but am still taking my tamoxifen tablets!!
Hadn’t even thought this would affect it nor had i read the instructions as i’ve been on it for nearly a year now!
Will have to ring my PS in the morning to check, but will be so gutted if it now needs to be put back :(.
Suz
I’m sure it’ll be fine, as others have said they kept taking theirs. Let us know what the doc says.
Em x
Hiya, I had same operation last week, and was advised to continue taking the tamoxifen throughout. Hope all goes well for you.
Oh lets hope it will be ok - Would have hoped that if i needed to have stopped taking it, someone would have said something to me?
You don’t think about reading instructions on something that you’ve been taking for a while do you?!!
Will let you know what PS says!
Suz
Relief!
Spoke to my PS nurse & told not to stop taking tamoxifen - they will be giving me blood thining injections!!
What a relief, so why do they put things like that on the instructions??!!!
Suz
Ooooo interesting, I shall call my bcn on monday and ask if that’s an option as much as I hate side effects of tamoxifen it’s like a security blanket.
x
I was on tamoxifen when I had my surgery- they gave me surgical stockings to wear and I had to have injections in my tummy afterwards to avoid any thrombosis