Tamoxifin and ER-/PR-

lisajones4 · 02-10-2009, 02:21 PM

Hi everyone. I have a friend who is in the midst of her treatment. She is HER2+++/ER-/PR-. She had the standard 4 AC, 12 Taxol/Herceptin and now will be on Herceptin for the rest of the year. The doctor wants to put her on Tamoxifen for five years as a preventative measure (event though she is not ER/PR-) for her other breast. Has anyone heard of this? It just does not make sense. Any help would be great!

Lisa

mts · 02-10-2009, 02:34 PM

I am barely ER positive and PR negative... and taking tamoxifen
Sometimes a low ER does not warrant tamoxifen. In my case even a little positivity was enough for my onc to put me on it. His comment was like being pregnant... either you are or your not.
A pathologist friend told me that some of the ER "degrades" between the time of the surgery to the time it sits under the microscope. If this is true, then I am higher than believed to be.

Maria

lkc Gumby · 02-10-2009, 03:07 PM

Hi Lisa, I was put on Tamoxifen as a prophylactive measure for my non affected breast.It's very unusual. My affected breast was er/pr negative.
Anyway, I developed endometrial thickening and went off it.
The thickening resolved after a few months.
( I did opt for a proph. mast eventually)

Debbie L. · 02-10-2009, 04:48 PM

Hi, is your friend for some reason at high risk of a new primary in the other breast (like BRCA mutation or strong family history, lobular cancer, etc?)?

Tamoxifen is used for prevention in high-risk women, but they have a hard time showing their benefit is greater than their risk (of side effects).

I might be a good idea for your friend to get a second opinion before starting Tamoxifen. And if it's contrary, maybe even a 3rd one. It could be done remotely (phone, fax, email).

Maybe there's more to this story than we know?

Debbie Laxague