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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
A third tamoxifen question
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
A third tamoxifen question
by smokey 234, Jun 25, 2004 12:00AM
What hormone therapies are available and what are the advantages of the different therapies? I have met with two doctors, and received two different recommendations: One for tamoxifen for 5 years and then femara. The other was to take armidex, I think for 5 years but am not sure. My cancer was stage IIA lobular, no lymph nodes involved. I'd appreciate any information you have that would help me make an informed decision.
Thank you
Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Jun 25, 2004 12:00AM
Dear smokey 234: All of these drugs are selective estrogen receptor modulators. They work in slightly different ways. Tamoxifen has been around the longest. This is the only drug that should be used in premenopausal women. Both arimidex and femara are aromatase inhibitors. These are recently approved in postmenopausal women after a study using arimidex showed some advantage to using this drug in postmenopausal women. So, it depends a bit on your situation. If you are premenopausal, you should be taking tamoxifen. If you are postmenopausal, there may be some advantage to arimidex or femara.
