Osteoporosis Drugs and Breast Cancer

Posted on July 11, 2008

Raloxifene and breast cancer. There has been a great deal of press interest recently in whether the osteoporosis drug Raloxifene can have an impact on the outcome for breast cancer patients. But what’s the evidence? Does this drug reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer?

The recent press reports all related to an extracted subgroup of patients from another research project. That trial was designed to look at heart disease - not breast cancer - but the data was re analysed and extrapolated to look at breast cancer in some of the women who took this medication. The study seems to show that the drug reduces the risk of invasive oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer in these women, regardless of any underlying risk factors

This was a large study and it backs up other reports which also seem to show a benefit from Raloxifene in terms of breast cancer in women after the menopause. The latter point here may be important - after the menopause.

But is there a place for the medication in the prevention of new breast cancer cases? That answer still remains elusive so we don’t know if it should be given to healthy women as a way of reducing breast cancer risk.

Cancer experts are encouraged by the results but warn that this trial was conducted in a particular group of postmenopausal women with heart disease and that therefore the results may not necessarily be applicable to other women - and further research will be needed to confirm the findings. Some commentators have also raised worries that this study was primarily designed to investigate the effects of raloxifene in reducing the risk of heart disease - which it didn’t do. They fear that the number of women in the trial might not have been big enough to properly assess breast cancer risks.

Also - before getting too excited about this new data we should remember that any benefit of taking this medication to reduce risk of breast cancer must be balanced against the risk of treatment - in particular the drug is known to increase the risk of thrombosis and an increased risk of fatal stroke was reported in the study.

Lastly - any benefit of taking it in women who already have oestrogen-receptor positive invasive breast cancer was not investigated by this study. We really need to hold fire for a while yet before we can draw any real conclusions.

Gordon Cameron is a physician in Edinburgh Scotland. He has a special interest in breast cancer symptoms since his wife Marjory underwent breast cancer treatment recently.

Article Author :Gordon_Cameron

Last 6 posts in Breast Cancer

Why Natural Breast Cancer Treatment is Best For Your Body

There is currently a raging debate about whether conventional or natural treatments are best for fighting your breast cancer.?Those on the conventional side will say that cancer cannot be cured, only managed, and that natural treatments have not been backed up scientifically.?Those on the natural side will say that conventional treatments are barbaric and usually do more harm than good.

I am a proponent of the natural way of doing things.?I believe that your body has developed breast cancer because of imbalances internally and if you can correct those imbalances, you can eliminate the cancer entirely.?Cutting off body parts and pumping… Continue reading

Breast Cancer Symptoms - What Are They and How Can I Get Rid of Them?

I imagine just about every woman after a certain age has some fear of breast cancer.?That’s not to say it’s on our minds night and day.?But with all we hear in the media and from doctors, it certainly has to be in there somewhere.?We all know someone who has it, has had it, or maybe has even died from it.?But as with all things like this, breast cancer starts with symptoms.?Here’s what to look for if you’re concerned and what to do to fix it if you find anything:

Lumps - Everyone knows this one.?Any odd shaped, irregular lumps in your… Continue reading

The Best Way to Help Someone With Breast Cancer

I’m sure most, if not all of us have had someone close to us diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of us have watched that person go through round after round of chemotherapy. Many of us have watched as their bodies were forever surgically altered. Many of us have watched them lose their battle and pass away. Whatever your experience may be, one thing is certain. Trying to find the right way to help someone with breast cancer can be tough.

I’ll fully admit that there are no right or wrong answers here. It will largely… Continue reading

Tags: , , , ,

Related posts

» Filed Under Breast Cancer

Comments

Leave a Reply