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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Take Drug Treatment ?
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic - breast cancer
Cleveland - OH
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.
Take Drug Treatment ?
by kpchan15, Dec 23, 2007 09:57AM
I am 65 years old, went through a lumpectomy for DCIS
Stage 0 cancer with clean margins, ER is 82% and PR is
1%, take 6 weeks of radiation after lumpectomy, my
questions are as follows:
1. Is it ok not to take any drug to prevent
recurrence ? Do you have data that how many percentage
of people not taking drug after lumpectomy and
radiation ?
2. What is your recommendation on taking drug or
not to take drug after lumpectomy base on my age,
cancer stage and with radiation ?
3. If taking drug, which Tamoxifen or Raloxifene is
better ? I am postmenopausal, with no hot flash
experienced before and have uterus intact and took 5
years of Prempro about 10 years ago.
Stage 0 cancer with clean margins, ER is 82% and PR is
1%, take 6 weeks of radiation after lumpectomy, my
questions are as follows:
1. Is it ok not to take any drug to prevent
recurrence ? Do you have data that how many percentage
of people not taking drug after lumpectomy and
radiation ?
2. What is your recommendation on taking drug or
not to take drug after lumpectomy base on my age,
cancer stage and with radiation ?
3. If taking drug, which Tamoxifen or Raloxifene is
better ? I am postmenopausal, with no hot flash
experienced before and have uterus intact and took 5
years of Prempro about 10 years ago.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Dec 27, 2007 07:29AM
, Dec 27, 2007 07:29AM
Dear kpchan15, Consideration of hormonal treatment with tamoxifen is appropriate after lumpectomy, particularly if the DCIS contains estrogen receptors. In women who have had lumpectomy for DCIS, this has been found to lower the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer. It may also lower the risk of cancer in the other breast. A decision about treatment in your individual case would need to be based on the risks and benefits for you specifically. There is no data for Raloxifene for treatment of DCIS. Trials are underway to help answer the question as to the role of aromatase inhibitors in treatment of DCIS. You would want to discuss with your surgeon the risks and benefits of hormonal treatment in your individual case. Another option for you would be to seek a consultation appointment with a medical oncologist.
