I3C instead of Tamoxifen?

[cin54]

I was diagnosed with DCIS this month and am awaiting surgery this week.  My doctor did mention to me that I would need to take Tamoxifen.  Being a research hound before I take any medication,  I see terrible side effects from this...some life threatening.  I fear the blood clots because my mother did get them taking Evista and as a result had an amputation and a stroke.  Another acquaintance had a stroke at the age of 45 and is in a nursing home.  I don't know if blood clotting is hereditary or not but I seem to be following in my mother's footsteps with the breast cancer. I have read many articles about I3C that does the same thing as Tamoxifen without the harmful side effects.  There are numerous sites including the PDR that list I3C as an anti-estrogen for breast cancer.   Do you have any input on this?I  My husband and I don't know what to do.  

[riley180]

Hi.
If you are post-menopausal, another option is Raloxifene/Evista, which is related to tamoxifen. The side-effect profile is somewhat better than Tamoxifen.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The efficacy of Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) supplements as an alternative hormonal treatment for breast cancer has only been SUGGESTED by trials involving very small populations of women (less than 60) and not DEFINITIVELY proven through decades of testing on thousands of women, like Tamoxifen.  The safety of this substance in the recommended therapeutic doses of 300-400 mg per day is also not known.  There are reports about adverse effects on fertility, and increased incidence of osteoporosis and certain types of cancer with the use of this substance.  Until larger, definitive studies are made, I3C cannot be recommended as replacement for Tamoxifen.