tamoxifen before or after rads?

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1

Do you get tamoxifen before or after rads? The consultant prob told me but it was a lot to take in at the time.

Thanks

C x

2

Hi Chicci

Think it varies a bit, but I was told to start taking tam the day I started rads - 3 weeks after I’d finished chemo.
Dx

3

Hi Chicci, I would love the answer to that question too, when I met with the oncologist she said that my doctor would arrange to get the prescription for me so I too am a bit unsure as to when I start taking them. Only thing that did sink in was that RADS were belt and braces to catch any stray cells but tam was the most important thing for me to take, so it must be good stuff. Read about the SE’s though and it seems like if you take tam after food at night then that is the best time. You are probably like me trying to get any info you can before you have to take them.

4

Hi Chicci,

I started my Tamoxifen prior to rads and two weeks after surgery. Like you I had IDC, had WLE and no lymph node involvement.

Tina
x

5

Hi Chicci Like others on here have said,I think it varies from person to person and probably from doctor to doctor too,but I started Tamoxifen after both my chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment had finished xx

6

Hi Chicci, I started Tamoxifen 3 weeks after chemo finished and before rads started. Rads have no effect on the Tamoxifen however you do need to wait after some chemos.
Take Care.

7

Hi

I’ve been told it will be after I’ve finished rads.

8

It’s normally after surgery, no matter in which order you have it.

9

Thanks all - good to hear your experiences.

All best wishes

C x

10

Hi my onc gave me the prescription and told me to take 3weeks after chemo. I was worried re all the side effects he had gone through with everything else I am having too all in same week is herceptin rads and tamoxifen so was a little worried my BCN said I could wait and take them after rads had finished if I wanted and that some ladies prefer to do this. Good luck x

11

I waited to after rads - had 8 chemos - started herceptin with chemo no.5 - so decided to wait as long as possible to try and get used to eash stage of treatment individually as possible - have now finished the lot, good luck x

12

Thanks silver and debsy

It’s good to hear that there’s some flexibility in how you get your treatment.

Take care

All best wishes

C x