Hormone therapy tamoxifen
Common Questions and Answers about Hormone therapy tamoxifen
hormone
I was diagnosed at age 49 in May, 2007 with Stage II, 3 nodes positive. I had 4 rounds of A/C and 4 rounds of Taxol followed by 33 rounds of radiation. My doctor now wants to put me on hormone therapy. I am premenopausal but haven't gotten my period since July due to chemo. She won't put me on Tamoxifin because of a past history of TIA several years ago. She said I would be at too high a risk for stroke on it.
It seems to me that there is a lot more risk in taking tamoxifen for 5 years -then 5 - 8 weeks of radiation therapy, if that's the case, why would tamoxifen be recommended over radiation?
I have been told from the start that with a lumpectomy I would need radiation. I found out later about the hormone therapy. I want to know if this is standard of care for my situation. I had a 1cm lump including DCIS and ILC. My margins were 6mm, 1cm, 5cm, 6cm. The ILC was in a linear pattern and low nuclear grade. 4 of 4 nodes were negative for cancer. I am ER+ 100% and PR+ 90%. I am HER2 negative. I was told my cancer was caught very early and I should be OK.
My first question is does my chance of survival change because the pr was more receptive than the er or does hormone therapy work as successfully on either.
I have also been on tamoxifen for the past few months but I am about to commence ovary suppression with zoladex and then start femara. Would this be what you would recommend for my type of cancer or should I stay on tamoxifen for another 1 to 2 years and then change.
Women who have completed 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy can benefit from switching to an AI. This extended therapy should not exceed 5 additional years.
ASCO does not recommend using specific markers to choose optimal adjuvant therapy.
Because of drug interactions, caution is recommended when tamoxifen and CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, bupropion) are used concomitantly.
A recent study confirmed the long-term superior efficacy and safety of anastrozole (Arimidex) over tamoxifen as initial adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer.
It is apparently considered likely that this would hold true for the other AIs, such as Aromasin, but if you wish, you could ask your doctor about the possibility of trying Arimidex in place of Aromasin.
Best wishes...
Dear Denisa: Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy that blocks estrogen to breast tissue. It is the hormone that is recommended for women with ER/PR positive breast cancer who are premenopausal or postmenopausal. Arimidex (or other aromatase inhibitors) is another class of hormone therapy that also blocks estrogen to breast tissue but these drugs are only offered to women who are postmenopausal. Both tamoxifen and armidex only address the ER/PR status and do not have any impact on CerbB2.
It is manly the hormone therapy..Any treatment for cancer (chemotherapy/ radiotherapy/ hormone) in not safe for preganancy. Herceptin can cause decreased amount of fluid between fetus and uterus (amniotic fluid) but after 6 months its rik is low while tamoxifen is teratogenic (can cause developmental abnormality in embryo). It is wise to wait for 2-3 yrs after completion of therapy.
Bets wishes.
After surgery radiation therapy is usually recommended and also Hormonal therapy (Tamoxifen) but only “if” your hormone receptor status ER/PR turns out positive.
Since you had endometriosis ablation,and Tamoxifen could increase your risk of developing Uterine cancer, you should ask your OB/GYN and Oncologist if Tamoxifen is safe or not for you.
All the best...
It is also approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are within three months of completion of five years of tamoxifen therapy. Side effects that are comparable between Femara and tamoxifen include night sweats, weight gain, nausea and tiredness. Side effects seen more often with tamoxifen versus Femara were hot flashes and vaginal bleeding. The benefits of FEMARA in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment.
You know already that afterward I will start my 4 to 6 weeks of radiation therapy GRRRR followed by Tamoxifen double GRRRR hahaha.I will let you know how it all went.In the mean time I wish you the best and hope that one of the nice doctor including Japdib will give you an answer soon because I am interested to know their answer too.A big hug for you Madge. Stay well and take care.
The sequence of chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy, then hormonal therapy is usually followed. Hormonal therapy (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) is a reasonable option for early breast cancer patients not given chemotherapy.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology gave out guidelines as to when to offer post operative radiotherapy.
At my cancer center they try hormone blockers on everyone who has NED and a rising CA-125, even if they haven't been tested for hormone receptors. Albeit they don't use Tamoxifen. Hormone blockers may stop the cancer from progressing, and they say if it doesn't, what did you lose? My center uses the aromatase inhibitors such as Femara because they said they are seeing better results with it and they are a little safer.
Ovarian ablation can be accomplished by ovarian irradiation, surgery, or use of gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) and leutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. This can decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
The reason why your cancer is inoperable is probably because of the extent of disease. You mentioned that you have several spots in the neck and lungs. It would be impossible to remove all involved tissues.
If your doctor advises you to take an anti estrogen medication,please be aware that Hormone Replacement Therapy and Tamoxifen are contraindicated ,because HRT (Estrogen) is a female hormone that can fuel the growth of cancerous cells,while Tamoxifen blocks the actions of estrogen and is used to treat and prevent some types of pre-cancer condition or breast cancer.I am sure your Oncologist would be your best source of information regarding treatments.
All the best to you...
The benefit of 5 years of tamoxifen therapy can be between 10-20%. If you are already post-menopausal, or if your hormone levels are already post-menopausal levels (LH, FSH, estradiol), then you may want to ask your oncologist about shifting to an aromatase inhibitor (exemestane). This form of hormonal treatment has lesser side effects than that of tamoxifen.
Regards and God bless.
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