A 36-year-old member asked:
Why do we give antiestrogen drugs to those who have breast cancer ?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 51 years experience
Cancer needs estroge: Some breast cancer need estrogen to grow and their growth can be retarded by anti-estrogenic drugs.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Andrew Turrisianswered
Radiation Oncology 49 years experience
Tumor cell: Receptors: are not on all tumors, and are checked for estrogen (er); Progesterone (pr) and now her-2-neu. If er and pr +, anti-estrogens are of some benefit. They cause tumor cells to stop dividing, and tumors to shrink. They are variable in ductal cancers, but very commonly positive in lobular carcinoma.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
Why do we give antiestrogen drugs to women who have breast cancer ?
3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Surgical Oncology 20 years experience
To slow growth: Most breast cancers are stimulated by estrogen and progesterone, the normal female sex hormones. When deprived of these hormones, the tumors often die. Consequently, breast cancer tumors are tested to find out if they are sensitive to these hormones. If so, medicines to block these hormones are given as part of the cancer treatment for breast cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Andrew Turrisi commented
Radiation Oncology 49 years experience
They are used ONLY if the tumor expresses am estrogen/progersterone receptor, an assay done on the tumor when resected, in the path department. These drugs wither block or partially block the receptor, or undo the ability to producse estrogen, a driving force.
May 5, 2012
Last updated Jun 30, 2014
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