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We reported tonight on the latest study to look at a drug to reduce the risk of breast cancer. These days most medical studies have acronyms and this one is called the RUTH trial (Raloxifene Use for the Heart). It was designed originally to see if the drug called raloxifene, sold under the trade name Evista, would reduce the risk of heart disease. It did not. But this study of more than 10,000 women for 10 years turns out to be the third large trial demonstrating that raloxifene reduces the risk of breast cancer by about 44 percent –- albeit with some significant side effects, including an increased risk for stroke and blood clots.
As I’ve mentioned before in this space, whenever possible we are trying to give viewers access to the original research so they can read it for themselves and share it with others, including doctors, who often don’t have time to keep up on the most recent studies. You can see the research paper here, and an excellent editorial discussing it here.
There is an important history to this. In 1998, a study found that a different drug called tamoxifen could reduce the risk of breast cancer in women at high risk. High risk is defined as having a mother or sister with breast cancer, being 60 years of age or older, or having non-malignant lumps in the breast. The National Cancer Institute said 29 million women could be eligible to take the drug. But almost no one did –- because tamoxifen also has side effects, not just stroke and blood clots, but an increased risk of uterine cancer.
Meanwhile, raloxifene came on the market as a treatment to preserve bone density. In its first clinical trial, doctors noticed a reduction in breast cancer incidence. This finding led the National Cancer Institute to sponsor a large study comparing tamoxifen with raloxifene. The results were far from clear and I discussed them at length in this recent column.
I often wish -– as I know many of you do -- that health news was simpler. Both raloxifene and tamoxifen are synthetic versions of the female hormone estrogen, and for four years now much of the news we’ve heard about hormone treatments has had few clear answers. But the clinical trials like the one we report on tonight are the only way we can get any answers, as unsatisfying as they might seem.
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Premature birth rate
I'm not sure if I'm entering a blog or typing something to Mr. Bazell. I do hope it's the latter, :)I had breast cancer July 1996, followed by 6 months of chemo & 35 consecutive radiation treatments. In the last 10 years I received 3 scares, and after 2nd testings all was well (at one point I had a sterotactal biopsy ending with the doctor placing a clip in the area where my cancer was). My gynocologist back then had asked if I wanted to try something called EVISTA because I thought I was going crazy. I was feeling down, crying for now reason, etc etc. So 2 months into my chemotherapy I started it. He told me what it was for, bone density and a synthetic hormone because the type of tumor I had I couldn't take a hormone replacement. I ofcourse agreed and have been on it almost 10 years and I think I am doing well. I don't know if there's some kind of test to prove that, but my emotions etc aren't out of whack any longer, thank goodness. My bone density test for the last few years has not gotten better but definitely not worse and has remained the same, that's great news. My menstruation stopped when I was 43 same year as my breast cancer, right after my 2nd chemo treatment so he told me I was going through a "forced" menopause (bad chemo). Anyway, for the past 10 years I have been very pro-active, in going for my mammo's every 6 to 8 months, seeing my oncologist at the same intervals. Last year the imaging place cleared me for a year for my next mammo and I went about 6 weeks ago. The radiological doctor at the imaging place told me abruptly and then had to leave, that she is sending a letter to my breast surgeon recommending a bi-lateral MRI. I went yesterday, and I wasn't told that I was going to get an IV, and the position I had to remain in for an hour and a half, was a bit uncomfortable. I have been a wreck since yesterday and am hoping I will be ok. My question is does EVISTA really help in the chance of breast cancer striking twice. Thank you!
(Sent Oct 31, 2006 4:19:41 PM)
I feel it is critical to identify women at highest risk for Breast Cancer and perform more than just Mammograms, as vital as they are. Counselling and choices are vital, I feel.
I refer, especially to women who may have inherited the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for Breast Cancer. I also refer to women who have a history of first degree relatives who developed breast cancer. The earlier the Breast Cancer develops the more urgent the warnings, I feel.
I feel as a society, we are dangerously remiss by the lack of medical and genetic counselling prior to development of Breast cancer. I believe that it is vital to make women of any age aware, especially young women, with risk for these genes, that prophylactic mastectomies followed by oopherectomy may be the safest course to live. The result would be NOT allowing Breast Cancer to develop in the first place. Of course, Breast reconstruction would follow. Preventive Mastectomies are definitely not a choice that some would even consider. Also, I am aware of the implications of removal of ovaries and perhaps a total hysterectomy as a prophylactic choice. I also am aware of risks women face from estrogen in any form and the need for replacement. I am aware in some Breasts there are Estrogen sensitive receptors which play a factor in breast cancer and its treatment choices.
I would wager that probably only about 5% of women in this nation have ever heard of these surgical options. Maybe 50%, I estimate are aware of medications which may reduce certain risks of Breast cancer. Yes, there are breast cancer survivors, and thank God for every survivor and healing hands.
However, I have a friend whose first breast cancer was dx. at age 27. The second recurrence was at 37. She has two daughter's and is a survivor. Yeah!!!
I can not help but feel silent concern for her daughters. I have a 41 year old friend who is in Hospice Care with Breast Cancer dx. only a few months ago. It looks as though she will leave a husband and two sons behind. One of her sister's died from Breast Cancer. Another sister is a survivor of Breast cancer, and there is another sister with no Breast Cancer. The Mother, still alive, is also a survivor of Breast Cancer, I believe. In some cases, with an especially vicious history, we are not talkig lipstick and eye shadow cosmetics, but life and death.
Ann Doe of Knoxville, tennessee (Sent Jul 15, 2006 6:06:00 PM)
Hydrazine sulfate is being studied and is responsible for the remission of many cancers it is developed by a Dr. Gold in Syracuse New York. All I have heard is good things about it and there are plenty of testamonial on the web for it's successful treatment of cancer but the medical society prefers chemotherapy and drastic operations to remove cancer.They should give some alternative methods a try.
(Sent Jul 14, 2006 2:18:34 AM)
Almost 50 years ago, when I was a child, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and two years later, she died at the age of 38.
At that time, cancer in any form was a death sentence. Cancer was a disease and the only unique aspect was in what part of the body it presented. Therefore, you could have cancer in your breast, or cancer in your lungs, etc.
Today, I believe 19 forms of breast cancer have been identified. We have mammograms available and the whole diagnosis process has become more accurate. If discovered in time, breast cancer has an excellent chance of being cured.
If more women were covered by medical insurance, and if breast cancer drugs were affordable, more women would have the chance to partake of this miracle.
Barbara, Tullahoma, TN (Sent Jul 12, 2006 11:46:32 PM)
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