TAMOXIFEN AND BREAST CANCER: IS TAMOXIFEN A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMOTHERAPY?

Evaluation of the use of antiestrogenic agents, including tamoxifen, to treat breast cancer began in the late 1960s. Because most antiestrogens temporarily arrest or slow the growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells and have no apparent effect on breast cancer cells that are not estrogen dependent, there was only modest interest in using these agents, particularly for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in premenospausal patients. Because of the low incidence of side effects compared to chemotherapy, though, tamoxifen has become a satisfactory alternative to cytotoxic chemotherapy, particularly in individuals who cannot tolerate the rather harsh side effects of chemotherapy. From experience we now know that tamoxifen may be used as an alternative to chemotherapy in many patients and may even be used in conjunction with it.

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Cancer