This coming weekend (Aug. 28-30) is the 3 Day Komen Breast Cancer Walk in Denver. The proceeds from this walk go to fund breast cancer research, mammograms for those who cannot afford them, and other efforts to stop breast cancer.
A study published last week in JAMA is a new twist on breast cancer treatment – using estrogen to treat the disease. This is a 180 degree turn from the common drug Tamoxifen. The “rule of thumb” is that patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer did not receive any estrogen.
Let’s take a closer look at this study that breaks new ground in breast cancer therapy. The drug traditionally used to treat breast cancer and prevent recurrence is Tamoxifen – a drug that is an “anti-estrogen” or “estrogen blocker.” In this new study, the researchers showed that using estrogen in women in whom Tamoxifen was no longer working helped prevent spread of the disease in 30 percent of the women given estrogen.
The study was set up to give either 30mg or 6 mg estrogen to women with breast cancer who had Estrogen Receptor positive in the first place and who had been treated with Tamoxifen, but in whom the Tamoxifen had quit preventing spread. These women were then given either 30mg or 6 mg of estrogen. At both doses, 30 percent of the women had cancer that responded by stopping growing or shrinking.
In addition, by doing a PET scan before starting the estrogen, and then 24 hours after starting, the researchers were able to predict quite accurately which women would benefit from the estrogen. Another interesting finding was that a percentage of the women who responded to the estrogen became sensitive to the Tamoxifen again after using the estrogen.
Why is this study such big news in the treatment of breast cancer?
The big news is that estrogen can help treat breast cancer in specific situations. We have traditionally been avoiding all types of estrogen after a breast cancer diagnosis, but here we have one specific situation where some estrogen is helpful. This does not change the rule – no estrogen after a breast cancer diagnosis – it simply provides one specific exception to that rule.
The big news is that estrogen can help treat breast cancer in specific situations. We have traditionally been avoiding all types of estrogen after a breast cancer diagnosis, but here we have one specific situation where some estrogen is helpful. This does not change the rule – no estrogen after a breast cancer diagnosis – it simply provides one specific exception to that rule.
Is there anything breast cancer patients should do in response to this news?
This treatment should only be used under very specific situations, so women with breast cancer should talk to their physician if they want to know how it applies to them.
This treatment should only be used under very specific situations, so women with breast cancer should talk to their physician if they want to know how it applies to them.
However, for most of us, this should be a reminder that breast cancer is still with us, and though we are making headway in treatment, prevention and early detection are still the best tactics, so:
1) Do your monthly breast self-exam
2) Get your yearly mammogram
3) If you have a family history of breast cancer, discuss what else you should do with your physician
4) Exercise and a normal BMI have been shown to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer
1) Do your monthly breast self-exam
2) Get your yearly mammogram
3) If you have a family history of breast cancer, discuss what else you should do with your physician
4) Exercise and a normal BMI have been shown to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer
Many of us want to help in the fight against breast cancer - here is more about the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk that we have in the Denver and how it contributes to winning the battle against breast cancer.
It takes a lot of funding to do the research necessary to determine how to prevent diseases. The work that has been done in the last 10 years has brought us a long way toward the day we have a cure. However, we are not there yet, so this weekend 900 people from Denver and across the country are doing this 3 day, sixty-mile walk. Each of them has raised $2300 or more in order to walk. So this is not a race, in fact, it is all about celebrating together the funds that have been raised to do fund this very important research and prevention efforts.
Centura Health is proud to be the medical sponsor for the walk, and to help staff the medical tents. I am personally very honored to be the medical director of the outstanding group of nurses, EMT’s, physical therapists, chiropractors, trainers and physicians who will be taking care of the walkers day and night during the event.
The Komen Three Day walk begins 6:30 am Friday morning at Colorado Mills Mall and will end on Sunday at 4:30 pm at City Park. If you would like more information about the Walk, or the study we discussed, go to
Good Health!
Dr. Dianne
September 9th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for getting the word out! We'd also love to have you as a guest at the upcoming Race for the Cure!