Radiotherapy and Tamoxifen

Hi there, I’m due to start 10 years worth of Letrozole in 2 weeks time after I’ve finished chemotherapy and then 3 weeks later I start a daily course of radiotherapy for 3 weeks. So it sounds like my oncologist is doing the same as yours. Sorry that’s not much help but just trying to reassure you that my treatment plan is the same as yours . Hopefully others will comment/reply also. Best wishes Magtie I hope everything works out extremely well for you 

Hi Magtie

I don't think it matters when the oncologist prescribes your hormone blocker tablets.  I had radiotherapy nearly 3 years ago and I can remember picking up my tablets in the hospital where I had the radiotherapy, so I'm pretty sure I was taking them before and during radiotherapy. (My radio hospital was 30 miles away from my operation hospital as they didn't have the facilities there at that time).  When I signed the authority form, there was only the potential side effects of radio. I can't see how they would contradict either other.  

Don't panic about the potential side effects of radio. I nearly had kittens reading it (especially as I was LHS and couldn't do the breathe technique due to damage to my arm in a road accident) and despite this, I only had minor burning to the underside of my breast.  I'm sure that I put too much cream on and my bra strap rubbed it, so be warned on that one - if I had known what I know now, I would have stopped creaming under my breast after 2 weeks. R1 & R2 gel if you can get it from your doctor.  If not (it's well expensive and they might not prescribe it) then aloe vera GEL is a very good substitute.  Drink, drink, drink as much as you can during radio as it really makes a huge difference to fatigue.  I drank pints and pints during the day and happily drove the 60 miles each day as well as going to work.  No side effects then or since.

Side effects of the tamoxifen (I'm on Anastrozole) - I nearly didn't take mine because I was worried about the side effects having read such horror stories online.  However, these are the only stories out there because if you're fine, you don't complain do you?  So, take them and see how you get on.  I decided to do that and again - no side effects on the 2 brands that I've worked out are good for me.  The tablets will stop you creating the oestrogen hormone which is 'firing' the cancer that you had, so by suppressing that hormone, it's a way of preventing the cancer coming back.  I've only got a couple of years left and already I'm a bit concerned about stopping them now!!  Reducing oestrogen can have an effect on bones, so ask your oncologist about vitamin D / calcium tablets.  I specifically asked for mine and I had an MRI to check the density of my bones after I'd been diagnosed and then another one recently.  There's been no change to my bone density after 3 years of taking these tables.  DEXA scan it's called, so ask for both if it isn't mentioned to you.  No rush or panic, but just make sure that you ask within a few months of starting the tablets. I just dropped it into the conversation on a follow up with my oncologist and he just said 'yeah ok' and wrote out the prescription there and then and typed up a referral to my normal hospital for the DEXA scan. They automatically called me back for my 3 year scan (just before lockdown- lucky!).

Hope this helps,

Lesley 

Thank you petit and lesleyhelen for your advice. Ive got to stop panicking about each stage. I have read about the tamoxifen but decided to just take it and see how I feel. Then cross each bridge if I need to. Can either of you tell me are there different types of Tamoxifen as mine just say that on the box.  I will ask about the dexas can and vit D/ calcium tablets. 

Best wishes to you both x

Hi Magtie

There aren't different types of Tamoxifen, so much but there are different brands. The other non-active ingredients can be very different and lots of us find one brand might be better than the others. it's different for everyone, though - I'm fine on the Wockhardt brand but I've seen posts on here from people who it doesn't agree with. There can be a significant difference in price so pharmacists will sometimes have more of the cheaper brands. I find my pharmacists really helpful about this and even if they can't get my preferred brand, they'll try to work with me to find one that suits. If you find you get bad side effects, then you could try talking to your GP to specify a brand on the prescription or just ask your pharmacist if they have another brand you can try until you find one that works. Incidentally, I don't think the price is any indication of how they will react with you - I am fine with Teva which is £13 or more but also with a no-name generic that is probably about £3. Another no-name generic  gives me an almost constant hot flush!  I ask to see the packets because I remember what they look like.

R

Im guessing this is all trial and error. 

Thank you for everyones messages