New Study on Tamoxifen Efficacy

Almost every day, I hear from friends and acquaintances that I have met through BFFL Co., and I feel very fortunate to be a trusted sounding board for their questions and concerns. Here's one email I received just a few days ago from a 40-year-old premenopausal woman who has completed chemo and lumpectomy/radiation for Stage 2 breast cancer: "Hi Elizabeth, I was curious to know your thoughts regarding this study. I am currently on tamoxifen and will be undergoing a hysterectomy by the end of the year, as per my gynecological oncologist, because I'm at higher risk now not just for recurrence of breast cancer, but other cancers as well." This touches on some very confusing medication issues and decisions that patients must make. When it comes to new information and data that actually might change the course of therapy in real time, I always turn to an expert. The study my friend asked me about is a trial conducted in Scotland that compared the effects of tamoxifen vs. exemestane -- two drugs that block the activation of the hormone estrogen. The study analyzed the effects of administering either medication in conjunction with the suppression of ovarian function (with a separate drug) or removal of the ovaries altogether. Before we go any further, let's explain how the hormone estrogen relates to breast cancer: Estrogen is an important "fuel" for breast cancers. When young women who are premenopausal develop breast cancer and their tumors are referred to as "Estrogen (ER...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news