QuestionMy mother recently had a breast biopsy and the doctor told her that there were "precancerous cells." He put her on a drug called Tamoxifen.
Does this mean she has breast cancer? How does Tamoxifen work and does it work well?
I am very concerned about her - she is my mom, but she is also one of my best friends.
AnswerDear ReneeNance, Precancerous cells are abnormal growing cells..... A "cell life" includes birth of the cell, gorwth of that cell, and then death of that cell and then the cycle starts all over again..... When a cell does not die, and begins to seperate and continues to grow, this cell becomes ABNORMAL and can turn to cancer.... This is what doctors mean by precancerous cells....
Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen drug used when the precancerous cells are estrogen-progesterone as the proposed cause... Tamoxifen is used to reduce the changes of precancerous cells becoming cancerous cells, but it also has its draw backs with side effects and also tamoxifen can increase the risk for 2 types of cancer such as endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma in patients that have NOT had a hysterectomy.... The hope with tamoxifen is that this drug will keep the precancerous cells from becoming malignant, unfortunately, like with all types of cancer, there are no guarantees that even with treatment, the cancer will not come....
Here is a web site about Tamoxifen that you may want to read and I also suggest that you do more research at other web sites and use YAHOO because it is more down to earth with explanations.... You also need to find out from the biopsy report exactly WHAT TYPE of precancerous cells were found etc.... You can get this by having your mother sign a release for at the hospital or clinic that did the biopsy and they will give her a copy of the PATHOLOGY report for this breast biopsy..... You will know more by getting the actual report than trusting doctors to tell you everything... When you get it, if you have questions or can't understand it, get back to me with the EXACT typing of the report and I will help you .....
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/7_16.htm
Here is ONE of the BEST WEB SITES about breast cancer and precancer conditions and it will also explain in my opinion as to what I said about getting your own copy of the pathology report so YOU and your mother know exactly what you are dealing with.... Precancerous is a term doctors LOVE to use, but it could actually also have a NAME and the pathologist will usually give it a name so that doctors know more what they are dealing with.... Unfortunately, the doctors do not pass this information on to their patients... A LOT of doctors do not want their patients educated so they can not question treatments or other major decisions....
www.susanlove.com/decision/c_1_1.htm
Get back to me if you have more questions or if you can get your hand on a copy of the pathology report and write it here for me.....
Thank you, karen
