After my bc diagnosis, I often wonder had I been on Timoxosifin (sp) due to family history?

Question

would it have prevented me from getting it entirely, or greatly reduced the chance? My gyno & I talked about it maybe 5 yrs ago but neither pursued it. I realize hindsight is 20/20, what's done is done but can't help but wonder.

Answer 1

Maybe, but my radiologist said "What's done is done and let's just get to the business of getting rid of it" when I kept wanting to address the cause of my bc....

Also, if you are hormonal receptor +, talk to your doctor about arimidex. I was premenopausal, but I get monthly lupron shots so I can take arimidex, which provides a longer survival rate than tamoxifen. Peace!

Answer 2

The use of antiestrogen or SERMs (that's the type of drug Tamoxifen is) for breast cancer prevention is still controversial at best. Sure, you can hypothesize that a ER+ breast tumor in formation would have its growth slowed if you are taking the drug... But it would have no effect on a ER- tumor. Also, all studies made on tamox have shown that it starts *stimulating* tumor growth after five years of use.

You also have to take into account the side-effects of the drug on cardiovascular health and bone mass. You can die of a heart attack just as well as from breast cancer.

I have heard of some women whom had undergone complete removal of all breast tissue after seeing family die from bc. That would have been the safest way to avoid it, if you were ready to go to that extent...

Personnaly, I think anybody having a family history should arrange for thorough testing at a young age. Mammography, and a careful attention to any suspicious anomaly, and no hesitation to go for further testing. That way you are sure to catch it before it goes to a late, poor prognosis, stage.

Answer 3

I'ts a balance between the benefits and potential serious side effects of the drug. See what I pasted below from the link I included.

"In women at high risk of developing breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the chance of developing the disease. Tamoxifen continues to be studied for the prevention of breast cancer."



Can tamoxifen prevent breast cancer?

Research has shown that when tamoxifen is used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, it reduces the risk of recurrence of the original cancer and also reduces the risk of developing new cancers in the other breast. Based on these findings, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded a large research study to determine the usefulness of tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer in women who have an increased risk of developing the disease. This study, known as the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT), was conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), a component of the NCI’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program. This study found a 49 percent reduction in diagnoses of invasive breast cancer among women who took tamoxifen. Women who took tamoxifen also had 50 percent fewer diagnoses of noninvasive breast tumors, such as ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ. However, there are risks associated with tamoxifen. Some are even life threatening. The decision to take tamoxifen is an individual one: The woman and her doctor must carefully consider the benefits and risks of therapy.

Women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer have the option to consider taking tamoxifen to reduce their chance of developing this disease. They may also consider participating in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (see question 5).