Test for effectiveness of Arimidex, etc.?
 

Hi;

Does anyone know if there is a test that measures the effectiveness of Arimidex, or tamoxefin, or other "anti-hormones"? I understand that these drugs are also (like herceptin) not effective with 100% of women who take them. Is there any way to find out if they are working for us and actually reducing our hormones?

Thanks,

Cathy

As far as I know there is no foolproof marker of efficacy currently available for antiestrogen drug treatments.In addition, since these drugs are slow acting (in comparison with chemo) signs of efficacy take a long time to show up which is not helpfull when the treatment is not working from the begining or is starting to fail.

However there is hope that a very accurate & very early diagnostic tool of efficacy may be in the works based on this initial small scale study:

Nuclear Medicine Imaging Allows Prediction Of Breast Cancer Patients' Response To Hormonal Treatment

http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...60119231641.htm

If this pans out, months of useless treatments may be avoided in the case of non responders to hormonal therapy.

Thank you so much but I am not getting the article at the link...nor when I do a search on the site.

Cathy

I think the link is here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0119231641.htm

Heblaj01;

I googled the article and got it!! That's great. I do seem to think that I remember reading somewhere....oh where oh where I just can't remember.....that there was actually a blood test for this as well. However, this sounds fabulous and I could be wrong. Thanks so much....again.

Cathy