Cancer Research yesterday issued a press release on this and it was in the news tonight (maybe just the local news!?). It seem that they have discovered the mechanism by which Tamoxifen operates, by identifying the protein Pax2 which acts as a ‘switch’ to keep the bc gene ErbB2 switched off.
I guess my question is how do you know if you are resistant to Tamoxifen?
Could anyone tell me whether their symptoms have lessened over time? I started taking it in April of this year and gradually the hot flushes etc have reduced.
Hi Wizzbaby
I didnt see the news tonight - but that of course is very interesting.
I started tamoxifen in July, I had some minor hot flushes, but they have stopped now.
I am wondering if it is working for me also.
I went on the live chat last night and was told by the nurse that it doesn’t stop working just because the symptoms reduce. However I will make a note to ask my consultant at the next check-up.
The body adjusts to being in menopause and that is why your symptoms are reducing.
If you are already menapausal and started taking the drug then the side effects kick in again and then quieten down.
This will also happen if you change to another hormone drug.
Hi Ladies
I read this report also and wondered whether the drug was working for me as I’ve been taking it for a year now and I’ve had no side effects whatsoever. I had cancer return in the same breast in July 2008 just months after completing treatment for original diagnosis in May 2007.
I will be asking about this at my next check-up, because surely for this research to have an application those of us on Tamoxifen should be offered a blood test to see if it’s working for us.
Hi
I too saw the report on Look East. I was horrified that only two thirds of people respond to Tamoxifen and that, at present, the only way you know if it is working is if the cancer doesn’t come back! Scary stuff!
Hi,
gillc I looked up the report and it is as many as 35% of women that it does not work or cancer returns. It is two thirds of people with BC who are actually prescribed Tamoxifen. It is still not good but a bit better odds. Lets hope they get on to this quickly. Of course if these figures are old it may not be allowing for all the people who were not allowed herceptin as I believe some were still given tamoxifen.
Lily
gillc, I would say try not to dwell on the ‘two thirds’ business too much. Tamoxifen was, and is, a valuable drug. As for only knowing if it’s working if the cancer doesn’t come back, that’s true for Arimidex, Exemestane, and Femara, too.
Unfortunately Tamoxifen (or the others, for that matter) don’t work for everyone - if it did, it would be game, set and match, no more worries, no one would ever die of er+ positive cancer again. But Tamoxifen was a real breakthrough, has undoubtedly saved many lives and will continue to do so.
Understanding why it doesn’t, or stops doing so, is vital.