|
|
|
Tamoxifen
December 31, 2009 |
As researchers continue their quest to find the cause and cure for breast cancer,
one medication is providing some hope.
“People who are at a very high risk for breast cancer, they have a drug called Tamoxifen,”
explains Dr. Lea Blackwell, a breast surgeon on the medical staff of Lee Memorial Health
System. Tamoxifen has been shown to reduce these high risk cases by 50%.
“It’s the one way that’s been proven to reduce the risk and that’s the only preventative
medication,” she says.
Tamoxifen has been used for more than 30 years to treat breast cancer in
women and
men. The drug interferes with the estrogen-making process. Certain amounts of estrogen
are thought to be one of the culprits behind breast cancer.
“Otherwise, the breast prevention is to be very vigilant about monitoring for breast
cancer. The increase use of mammography, increased awareness about breast cancer,
increased screening has drastically reduced the mortality of breast cancer and has
increased the amounts of breast cancer that are presented in an early stage which
are more manageable and have a higher survival,” adds Dr. Blackwell.
There are some serious side effects that have been associated with Tamoxifen: blood
clots, joint pain; even uterine cancer.
You are encouraged to speak with your physician
about your breast cancer risk and see what might be best for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
