[astrid]

I am contemplating entering a clinical trial to compare ovarian function suppression (by triptorelin, oophorectomy, or ovarian irradiation) in combination with tamoxifen vs ovarian function suppression in combination with exemestane vs tamoxifen alone in patients with endocrine-responsive breast cancer in treating Premenopausal Women with Hormone-Responsive Breast Cancer.

I am 48 years old and still Premenopausal. I am ER+, PR+ and HER2+ (3.4). That combination is only about 15-20% of all breast cancers. The clinical trial does not specifically deal with the HER2+ aspect of my cancer. Susan Loves breast book says that tamoxifen is not very effective with HER2+ cancers, so I did some web research and have seen the following: The tumors most resistant to tamoxifen are those that contain not only estrogen receptors but also an overabundance of another growth factor receptor called HER2/neu and a molecule that activates the estrogen receptor called AIB1. Other studies suggest that some estrogen receptors may be located in the membrane, close to HER-2. “Tamoxifen binds to the estrogen receptor in those cells and instead of antagonizing it, it activates it. It acts like estrogen”.

I am scared to start tamoxifen alone because of what I read above and I am not aware of long term treatment for Premenopausal women other then tamoxifen. I am also scared of ovarian function suppression because my husband and I still have great sex and I do not want my drive to be decreased and this WILL happen. What do I do?? Go for the trial and leave the decision to fate or the lord? Do nothing and risk reoccurrence?? Do the standard treatment and risk a reoccurrence??

My sister died of BC at 40 and my grandmother died of BC at 53. I want live long then both of them. My sister died before they tested for HER2 and I would bet that both my sister and grandmother were ER+, PR+ and HER2+