Are there any good alternatives to Tamoxifen for breast cancer (after having chemotherapy and radiation therapy)?
The majority of breast and uterine cancers are estrogen receptor positive, indicating that these cancers may be stimulated or maintained by estrogen. Fortunately, growth in estrogen receptor positive cancers may be halted by a number of agents, such as Tamoxifen as well as many other drugs that have been developed in recent years. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is part of a class of anti-cancer drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators, or SERMs. The drugs in this class, although all slightly different, block tumor growth by mimicking estrogen and filling up estrogen receptors which prevents the cancerous growth. Estrogens themselves have good effects in the body, but tend to “feed” breast and uterine cancers as well as increase the risk for blood clots. In favor of estrogen, they can relieve symptoms of menopause, have positive effects on bone density, raise the good HDL cholesterol, and lower the bad LDL cholesterol. Ideally, the perfect drug would have all of the good effects with
