Tamoxifen to prevent HR+ recurrence?
Meet the Experts
Kathy D. Miller, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology at Indiana University, and a Sheila D. Ward Scholar.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.
Question from AnnG: Is there any evidence to show that tamoxifen prevents the development of hormone-positive tumors at a later date in ER/PR-negative patients?
- Answer —Kathy Miller, M.D.: The short answer is no. In most women who have two separate primary breast cancers, those two breast cancers have the same ER status. So in most women whose initial breast cancer was ER-negative and who do develop a second breast cancer, that second breast cancer is also ER-negative. In women with ER-negative tumors, tamoxifen doesn't seem to decrease the risk of developing a second primary cancer.
On Wednesday, November 19, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Hormone-Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer. Kathy D. Miller, M.D., Marisa Weiss, M.D., and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions about a wide range of issues related to hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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