Source: BBC Health; Cancer Research Journal; Cancer Research UK
A recent US study of more than 1,000 women at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggests that Tamoxifen, a common drug used to treat breast cancer, increases the risk of developing aggressive secondary tumors by 4x.
Dr. Alison Ross of Cancer Research UK, advises that the benefits for breast cancer patients of taking Tamoxifen outweigh this risk and that despite the increase, the odds of secondary tumors are still low.
It should be re-stated that this is not an indictment of Tamoxifen. According to the study, Tamoxifen decreased recurrences of estrogen positive breast cancer by 60%, attesting to its therapeutic validity. However, following 5+ years of Tamoxifen therapy there was a 440% increase in the risk for aggressive and non hormone receptive tumors in the contra-lateral (opposite) breast.
Clearly women on long-term Tamoxifen therapy following diagnosis and treatment of primary breast cancer should be monitored closely to ensure that they do not develop a secondary cancer. Common sense approach here. Not a medical opinion.
posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.