what can we do after tamoxifen?

[rona]

My mother is sufferring breast  cancer, she had an operation in 1997 and  after chemotheraphy she  started  taking tamoxifen.Now her estrogen results are vey high, doctors  say it is very  dangerous, she didnt take  hysterectomy operation. After  tamoxifen what can we do? Tamoxifen reduces uterine  cancer risk. We are living in Turkey,in capital  city Ankara. That's why i wonder if they make a diffrent treatment somewhere on earth, if there is another  posible drug exists which has less risk of cousing another cancer to body. if you may reply me, i would be  very appreciated.
Sincerely,
Asli

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear rona:  I am unclear from your message.  Is the estrogen high while she’s on tamoxifen?  Tamoxifen should make her estrogen low.  Tamoxifen is the drug that we have the most data on so far regarding it’s use as adjuvant breast cancer treatment.  Although the risk of uterine cancer is higher for women on tamoxifen, the incidence is only 1% higher, very small when compared to the benefit of tamoxifen in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.  If the tamoxifen is working, it is probably in her best interest to take the medication and be monitored for any possible complications.  If the tamoxifen is not working, there are second line drugs available that could be used.  You should discuss this with her physician.

[isabel68]

I am not a Doctor, but you may want to ask your mother's oncologist about Femara, this is a drug recommended for women that failed on Tamoxifen.  Removal of the ovaries, which is the main source of estrogen is another option.  I also wanted to add that Tamoxifen increases uterine cancer risk.
Take care and my best wishes to your mother