Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is a brand name drug containing Nolvadex. This medication can be taken in tablet form. This drug will impede the production of estrogen in the women using it. The drug is considered safe and was approved by the U.S Food and drug administration. Tamoxifen is used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer as well as some other forms of cancer at this time.

Tamoxifen will be giving in early stage breast cancer as well as later stage breast cancer when the cancers have spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). It is used as a secondary treatment, known as an adjuvant therapy to help with the chances of full recovery. Tamoxifen is also used to prevent breast cancer from returning. The drug has been on the market for over 30 years.

Tamoxifen is used to slow down the growth of cancer cells already present in the body. This drug has been used in therapy to prevent the presence of cancer in women who are at risk for breast cancer for over 10 years.

Tamoxifen and estrogen

Some types of breast cancer are known as estrogen receptor-positive, or hormone sensitive cancers. These cancers have protein connectors, which facilitate the growth of cancer by allowing estrogen to bind to the cells. Cancer cells require estrogen to grow. Tamoxifen is designed to prevent the binding of the estrogen hormone to the cells. Tamoxifen is referred to as an antiestrogen or Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM).

It is important to note that Tamoxifen is only effective as a breast cancer drug for estrogen production and is not a good cancer treatment for other cancers. The irony of Tamoxifen is though it acts as a cancer-fighting drug to halt the spread of estrogen in the breast, it actually resembles estrogen within other body tissues. The news is not as bad as it sounds for menopausal women can have the benefits of hormone estrogen replacement therapy, which could put them at, decreased risk for osteoporosis while using this drug

Length of Therapy

It has not been determined how long this drug is affective for fighting breast cancer, but women in early stage breast cancer have been on the drug for about 5 years with good affects. Studies are going on to determine if the Tamoxifen will be effective after the 5-year mark.

Common side affects

The side affects from this drug include: blood clots, cataracts, corneal scarring and changes in the retina, strokes, and uterine cancer. Tamoxifen will also produce side affects similar to the symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness or itching, irritation around the vulva, vaginal discharge, irregular periods, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, and skin rash. Men who are taking Tamoxifen can experience, headaches, skin rash, nausea and vomiting and either impotence or a decrease libido. Tamoxifen is known to cause uterine and endometrial cancer but is not known to cause any other cancers at this time.

Pregnant women must avoid taking Tamoxifen as it may harm the fetus. Tamoxifen causes symptoms similar to menopause but it did not cause menopause. The ovaries continue to function normally when patients are taking Tamoxifen.

Bottom Line: Do the benefits of using Tamoxifen outweigh the consequences?

Since Tamoxifen is a proven breast cancer treatment the benefits do outweigh the consequences. Breast cancer patents should talk over all their concerns with their doctors who will explain in details the pros and cons of using this drug.

Fareston and the function of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

When we look at the male anatomy we must start with the hypothalamus and the pituitary where estrogen will aid in the body’s negative feedback loop, which sends a signal to the pituitary to reduce the secretion of the luteinizing hormone (LH). When the luteinizing hormone is decreased, what happens is that it will also have an affect on testosterone levels (the male hormone), which will also be low as well.

Fareston will bind with the estrogen receptors to prevent estrogen production and the growth stimulating affects on cancerous tumors. Fareston can also change the estradiol induced vaginal composition in some postmenopausal women.

Though there are not enough studies to make predictions at this point in time, researchers believe that by keeping the estrogen levels down in males, it will increase the levels of testosterone. This is one of the functions of Nolvadex. Researchers also feel that in the long run Fareston may be more of an affective treatment for male bodybuilders and athletes who are using steroids, than Nolvadex.

Side Affects

Some of the known side affects of this drug include: hot flashes, edema, vomiting and nausea, sweating, dizziness, vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding in women with breast cancer.

Differences between Fareston and Nolvadex

Even though Fareston and Nolvadex share common properties and benefits, they also differ in some ways. Even though Nolvadex does not have many side affects Fareston has even less. However, even lower than present in Nolvadex, the risks for pulmonary embolism, stroke and cataracts are still present when using Fareston.

People who have floaters in their vision, a side affect of taking Nolvadex or Clomid will not have these issues with Fareston. Floaters are black or gray specks, strings, or anything, which floats around the eyes when the eyes are moving around. Fareston is less toxic to the ocular area. Fareston may be better at improving lipids (cholesterol) profiles. However, the two drugs are about equal in determining bone density.

Though Fareston is used as a breast cancer medication, some people do have a hypersensitivity to the drug. There have been symptoms of hypercalcemia and tumors caused by the drug. There is also pain associated with bone metastases. It is hard to foresee if Fareston actually causes cancerous growth at this time, because Fareston is used as a breast cancer medication in women who already have experienced the spread of cancer to various parts of the body. Also when patients have had different treatments prior to using Fareston, it becomes even more difficult to determine which side affect is attributed to which drug.

Endometriosis has been found in animal who were administered Fareston. It is not recommended that pregnant women use Fareston as this breast cancer treatment may cause harm to the fetus. People with any kind of blood vessel complications such thrombosis should not use this drug. Also if the cancer has already spread to the bones, it is recommended that Fareston not be used.

When a person is diagnosed, breast cancer surgery is most commonly the first plan of action. Decisions about surgery being the appropriate breast cancer treatment is never taken lightly, they are dependant upon many factors such as the stage of the cancer, the type of breast cancer, what are the acceptable surgeries in terms of the needs and wants of the breast cancer sufferer and the most appropriate breast cancer treatment.

One of the most horrifying thoughts about surgery that women have is that they will be scarred for life. Breast cancer surgery techniques have vastly improved over the decades. The days of the gaping scars have gone. Surgeons are very meticulous about the incisions that they make. They are aware that esthetic issues are as important to a woman’s quality of life as is the surgery itself. Incisions are made in such a way that a woman can wear just about anything without revealing the fact she has had breast cancer surgery. Surgery no longer produces the concave area revealing the outline of the ribs and the scars running all the way up to the collarbone have been eliminated. Patients are often surprised at how well the scar looks once they have healed.

What to expect from your surgery

It is so important that the breast cancer patient is involved in the whole process of breast cancer surgery from beginning to end. Today’s medical teams do not leave the patients out of the equation anymore. Patients are no longer left in the dark, they are involved in the process of preparation for surgery, receiving information about their illness and decision making about the type of surgery that will be employed. The more prepared the patient is for the upcoming surgery the more adjusted that patient will be with life after breast cancer surgery.

The first step in the process is to work with the doctor gathering necessary information. Your doctor will complete your medical history. This information processing is just as important as the surgery itself. Gathering the right information will insure a successful breast cancer surgery. Tell your doctor everything, do not hold back anything because it might be embarrassing to you or you feel it isn’t important, let him know everything you can think about, and if you happen to forget something let your doctor know the next possible chance that you can speak with him or her directly or with his or her staff.

The types of things you need to reveal are: if you are allergic to anything, or if you have had bad reactions in the past to certain drugs or medical procedures. It is vitally important to let your doctor know if you are currently on medication or if you have recently stopped taking any kind of medication. Don’t forget to include non-prescription drugs and even birth control pills. Embarrassing as it might be for you, you will have to mention any recreational drugs such as marijuana and alcohol that you are taking. If you are taking aspirin the doctor will ask you to stop. Your doctor must also know if you are taking any herbal remedies.

Some of these medications will affect the outcome of your surgery so you want to make sure that you do not leave out anything.

You may be required to donate a few pints of your own blood in case it would be needed during the operation.

You will need to prepare by having certain tests done prior to surgery so that your doctor is satisfied you can withstand the surgery and procedures.

You will need to have a both a chest x-ray and electrocardiogram (EKG) to confirm your heart and lungs are functioning well enough.

You will need to have blood tests done to check your blood counts, and your liver and kidney functioning as well as the risks for infection or bleeding.

You may need a CAT scan to determine the location and size of the tumor and if the tumor has affected other parts of the body beyond the breast.

Your doctor may ask you if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other condition that could affect the outcome of the surgery.

Some research indicates that the timing of surgery in relation to your menstrual cycle may be a factor and therefore you should talk it over with your doctor as well.

When breast cancer chemotherapy is used it is designed to destroy or weaken the cancer cells present in the breast. Chemotherapy breast cancer treatment is often the treatment of choice. Breast cancer chemotherapy can be used at the original site of the cancer cells or when the breast cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy is known as a systematic treatment because it enters the bloodstream and therefore affects the entire body.

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There are a number of different chemotherapy drugs used to kill the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy may be used prior to surgery to shrink the cancer growth.

Chemotherapy will be used in the early stages of breast cancer to kill off any remaining cancer cells, which could be not taken out at the time of surgery.

Chemotherapy is also used in advanced stage breast cancer to destroy as many spreading cancer cells as possible.

Chemotherapy as a breast cancer treatment is uniquely designed to cater to the type of cancer, stage of cancer, and the medical particulars of the breast cancer patient. For example, when the woman is menopausal, and what other treatments and medications she is or has been taking for cancer or other medical conditions.

Though each person’s particular plan will differ there are some universal guidelines:

Breast cancer chemotherapy will be opted for if the cancer has entered the lymph nodes Chemotherapy is then necessary to counteract the threat of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy is recommended as a breast cancer treatment for women who are premenopausal because the breast cancer is more aggressive. Chemotherapy is recommended as an invasive breast cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy may be selected for certain women who are in early stage breast cancer that is hormone-receptor-negative, and HER2-positive. Both of these types of cancers are aggressive.

Chemotherapy is not recommended for non-evasive breast cancer where there is no risk of spreading to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy medicines:

Abraham (palliate), doily (doxorubicin), Adriamycin (doxorubicin), Ellence (epirubicin), Carboplatin (parplatin), Fluoruracil also manufactured as 5-fluorourcil or 5-FU (Adrucil), Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Gemzar (gemcitabine), Daunorubicin (Cerubidine, DaunXome), Ixempra (ixabepilone), Xeloda (capecitabine), Methotrexate (Amethopterin, Mexae, Folex), Vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PES, Vincrex), Mitomycin (mutamycin), Thiotepa (Thioplex), Mitoxantrone (Novantrone), Taxotere (docetaxel), Navelbine (vinorelbine) and Taxol (paclitaxel).

Chemotherapy medications are often used in combination so you are getting at least two or three of the drugs at the same time. The combinations are called chemotherapy regimens and they are often used in early stages of breast cancer. These chemotherapy regimens lower the risk for the breast cancer coming back. In the advanced stages of disease, these regimens can shrink the cancer or make it disappear in any anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of the cases.

Most chemotherapy regimens include a medication from one or both of the following groups:

Antrhracyclines are quite similar to an antibiotic. They attack the genetic material of the cancer cells causing the cells to die. The medications include: Ellence, Adriamycin and Daunourbicin.

The other group of medications is Taxanes and they will interfere with the way that the cancer cells divide and multiply. These medications include: Taxol, Taxotere, and Abraxane.

Talk to your doctor about your chemotherapy regimen. You may be given the form of a small injection in the hand or arm or you may be given pill form. Your doctor and oncology nurse are there to assist you through it.

If you are experiencing any side affects from the medication make sure you let your doctor know about it. These side affects could include: mouth sores, chronic nausea, diarrhea or fever, hair and nail changes, nerve damage, menopause or menopausal symptoms, taste and smell changes, vaginal dryness, fatigue, infection, osteoporosis, vision problems, heart problems, weight loss, and memory loss. Most cancer centers have someone 24 hours a day to answer your questions or concerns.

Finally talk out all your fears and concerns with your doctor who can help you get through this phase in your life.

A radiation oncologist, rather than your personal physician will handle your radiation treatments.

How radiation therapy is used?

Radiation requires the use of high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. These energy beams could be light beams or X-rays. These high energy beams while invisible to the naked eye are effective in attacking the cancer cell DNA and destroy them before they have a chance to divide and conquer, so to speak.

The cells in the breast will be damaged overtime, but unfortunately normal cells in the pathway of the energy beam will be destroyed as well. The good news is that radiation will attack more of the cancer cells than the normal healthy cells. Cancer cells are dividing and multiplying constantly and since this is their main function, it is harder for them to repair themselves after being hit by radiation. On the other hand, healthy cells have the ability to repair themselves and therefore survive radiation therapy.

Ways that radiation therapy can be administered

Radiation therapy can be administered by a linear accelerator which is a machine used to send radiation to the inside of the body from the outside of the body.

The other way of administering radiation is by pellets or seeds which when ingested will deliver the radiation beams from the inside of the body.

Radiation therapy is used in breast cancer tissue, the lymph nodes, or any other parts of the body.

Some times radiation therapy is used in combination with thermotherapy, also called, hyperthermia or thermal therapy. The process of destroying cancer cells through thermal therapy is to heat the cancer cells to very high temperatures (up to 113 degrees F). A microwave or ultrasound sound machine will be used to heat the cancer cells. Thermal therapy and radiation are given about an hour apart. There is still research going on to determine how affective thermotherapy is in killing cancer cells. The procedure is not available in every oncology center.

Many people fear radiation therapy because they connect it with atomic bombs and nuclear reactors. However, there is nothing to fear with therapeutic radiation which is pretty focused, highly effective, and safe for a breast cancer treatment.

The reason radiation therapy is so important in breast cancer treatments, is that it is able to reduce the chances that the breast cancer will come back after surgery. Even though your cancer surgeon does his or her best to remove all the cancer there are no guarantees that it is possible. It is difficult to remove every cancer cell and therefore radiation therapy is needed to finish off the job.

The cancer cells are so small they are hard to feel or see during surgery. If even one cancer cell is missed, that one cancer cell will divide and multiply and be big enough to show abnormalities on a mammogram or start the cancer growth all over again.

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The present research on breast cancer and radiation therapy is showing how women who get radiation treatment live longer than women who don’t. The chances of breast cancer returning in the same breast after a lumpectomy (removal of a lump) are 60 percent greater in women who do not have radiation therapy.

Hormonal Therapy

The medicines in hormonal therapy are designed to work on hormone receptor positive breast cancers by lowering the levels of estrogen in the body and by blocking the affects of estrogen upon breast cancer cells. It is also effective as a prevention treatment for women who are at a high risk for breast cancer. Hormonal therapy is also known as antiestrogen therapy.

The ovaries are responsible for providing most of the estrogen in a woman’s body. In breast cancers such as this type, it is the estrogen hormone, which is causing the cancer to grow. Therefore, reducing or blocking the amount of estrogen in the body will slow down the cancer growth and prevent a recurrence of hormone receptor positive breast cancer from coming back after surgery in early stage breast cancer. It can also shrink or slow down the growth and spread of cancer in advanced stages of hormone receptor positive breast cancer. However, hormonal therapy does not work for other types of breast cancers, which are not the result of estrogen binding to cancer cells.

After women enter menopause and beyond, the body produces a hormone called androgen, which is primarily a male hormone also found in women. Androgen is produced by the adrenal glands, which are small glands situated above the kidney.

After the androgen is present in the female body, there is a protein produced by the fat and muscle cells, which is called aromatase. This enzyme is responsible for changing the androgen into estrogen.

The different types of hormonal medications that are used are: aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and estrogen receptor downregulators.

Aromatase inhibitors include: Femara (letrozole), Arimidex (anastrozole) and Aromasin (exemestane).

Estrogen receptor modulators (SERM) include: Fareston (toremifene) Evista (raloxifene), and Tamoxifen.

(Estrogen Receptor Downregulators (ERD) include Faslodex (fulvestrant)

Hormonal therapy sometimes causes the ovaries and or the fallopian tubes to shut down because of the lack of estrogen production in the body. In some breast cancer cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes must be removed. The reason for the removal is because the ovaries are the main source of estrogen production in premenopausal women.

Again, it must be stressed that hormonal therapy is not hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy replenishes estrogen in the body and is used as a medication to relieve the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, and mood swings. In Hormone Replacement Therapy the treatment may require the use of other hormones such as testosterone as well.

Roughly 80 percent of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive and about 65 percent of breast cancers are also progesterone receptor positive. If a breast cancer has receptors for either estrogen or progesterone it is considered hormone receptive positive.

Which hormonal therapy is right for you?

The answer to this question will depend upon your whether you are pre or postmenopausal, the stage of breast cancer you are in, if you have any blood clots or have had any in the past, your bone density, if you or have had arthritis, if you are at risk for ovarian or uterine cancer, and finally your body’s reaction to hormonal therapy once the treatments commence.

Targeted therapies may also seek to destroy the blood vessels supporting the cancer cells and block off the oxygen supply that provides nutrients to the cancer cells. Some targeted therapies work like antibodies, which are produced by the body’s immune system. Their function is to kill off foreign toxins that enter the body. When targeted therapies are antibodies they are also called immune targeted therapies.

There are several types of breast cancer treatments such as radiation, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Most of these breast cancer treatments cause damage to healthy cells as well as the breast cancer cells. Chemotherapy, for example, will destroy healthy cells all over the body. Chemotherapy is a systematic cancer treatment, meaning that the chemotherapy drugs will be sent to the bloodstream and thus affects all areas of the body.

Targeted therapies are focused upon what influences the cancer cell to grow and cut it off at its source. Targeted therapies attack the molecules of the specific cancer cells but not the rest of the body cells. Targeted therapies may be the only breast cancer treatment. More often than not, they are combined with other breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Targeted therapies block the growth of new cancer cells and chemotherapy will kill the existing cancer cells.

Cancer cells divide and multiply in a disorderly fashion. They multiply much faster than new healthy cells do. When they do this, because there are so many of them, that they cluster together and often form a malignant tumor.

Doctors use three different targeted therapies for breast cancer patients

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Herceptin

Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a targeted medication that works well pre and post breast cancer surgery in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. It is a proven hormonal drug, which can stave off the return of cancer cells after surgery. When cancer cell genes grow and multiply too quickly they are given the clinical term overexpression. When overexpressed cancer cells are the result of the genetic coding of the HER2 gene, Herceptin is used to target and block the HER2 gene receptor from receiving the HER2 gene. The HER2 gene receptors are the signals for the cancer cells to grow. Blocking this gene will slow down the growth of cancer. Herceptin will also alert the immune system to go in and destroy any cancer cell where HER2 has attached itself.

Side affects

Approximately 40 percent of breast cancer patients who take Herceptin will express flu-like symptoms, which include: fever, muscle aches, chills, and nausea. However, the side affects will usually subside after the first application and or when the dosage has been adjusted. If you are receiving this medication every three weeks, the side affects will be stronger.

Between five to 30 percent of patients will experience some kind of heart problem such as shortness of breath, and in a very small percentage there may be some more serious heart problems such as congestive heart failure and or stroke. These severe conditions are usually due to receiving both chemotherapy and Herceptin together.

HYPERLINK “http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/targeted_therapies/tykerb/” Tykerb

Tykerb (lapatinib) also works on the HER2 receptors. The side effects of this drug are usually symptoms of fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting. This drug may be discontinued if the diarrhea is too severe. Tykerb can cause mild heart problems but even that is very rare.

Avastin (bevacizumab) works for breast cancer patients who have not yet received chemotherapy and it works by blocking the new growth of blood vessels supporting the cancer cells. The side affects include, proteins in the urine, nosebleeds, and weakness. A small percentage of individuals experience blood clots, low white blood cell count, slow healing wounds, and are at a higher risk for heart or kidney problems. However, if Avastin is also given with chemotherapy drugs there would be those side affects to consider as well. Avastin will be discontinued if the symptoms are severe.

The different therapies may successfully in ridding the breast cancer survivor of the horrible cancer and insure that it does not return. However, even these therapies can be uncomfortable with side affects ranging from very mild to very severe. The following is a list of treatment side affects associated with breast cancer treatment. Keep in mind that although some of the side affects are so severe that the treatment might be discontinued others medication are vitally important to keep the cancer away and to provide a good quality of life for the breast cancer survivor.

Treatment side effects

Abdominal pain is a common breast cancer side effect, which can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cramping, and constipation. Abdominal pain is a side effect often experienced by breast cancer patients who are taking Chemotherapy, the hormonal therapy drug Faslodex, and the targeted therapy drug Tykerb. Medications used to strengthen bones and used as a treatment for osteoporosis, are called Bisphosphonates will illicit abdominal pain. Also breast cancer patients who are using common over the counter drugs such as aspirin or medications such as Celebrex or Aleve can cause perforations or holes in the stomach or ulcers, which can cause abdominal pain.

Addiction

Addiction to certain medications such as OxyContin, Demerol and morphine is a side effect from prescribed painkillers; however there can be psychological dependency as well.

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions often occur when taking antibiotics, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy. The symptoms of allergies include: rashes, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, swelling in and around the face area, difficulty swallowing, feeling anxious, wheezing and difficulty breathing, and fainting or passing out, runny nose, and itchy watery eyes. Any breast cancer medication can cause an allergic reaction.

Anemia

Anemia can produce weakness, feeling tired and cranky, nosebleeds, and bruising. Chemotherapy treatment and Herceptin, which is a targeted therapy can cause anemia.

Anxiety

Although anxiety is a normal reaction to breast cancer, some drugs such as the drugs used in hormonal therapy and painkillers, can worsen anxiety. You may experience chest pains and nightmares or trouble sleeping.

Chest pain

Chest pain is quite common after breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy. You can also experience chest pain if you have an implant in place.

Depression

Depression is a normal reaction to a life threatening disease. Breast cancer patients can have worsened symptoms of depression from certain breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, ovarian shutdown, and painkillers.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes are mineral found in the body, which are responsible for keeping your body fluids at normal levels. Potassium, sodium, chloride and calcium are all electrolytes. The imbalance of electrolytes can cause weakness and fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Chemotherapy can cause electrolytes levels to be too high or even too low. Changes in the fluid in the body caused by diarrhea and vomiting can also cause the electrolyte imbalance.

Endometriosis

The cells of the inner lining grow outside the uterus rather than inside in the condition known as endometriosis. These uterine cells can be found anywhere, but they are most common under the ovaries, on the bowels and bladder or behind the uterus. Endometriosis is painful and sufferers have pain in the abdomen, back or pelvic area. Endometriosis can cause fertility problems and heavy periods. Tamoxifen can cause endometriosis.

Other treatment side effects include: fever, gas, hair changes, Hand

Breast cancer clinical trials

Clinical trials are necessary to test new treatments on breast cancer patients and to determine if the treatments are effective. Clinical will determine the side affects if any. The clinical trial could also test new medical procedures, for their efficacy in detecting cancer and determining the shape, size, location, and progression of the cancer as well. When a study is done using petri dishes, examining cells, or using animal experimentation, these studies are not clinical studies they are what is called pre clinical studies. A clinical trial is only merited after the initial pre clinical trial suggests that this new treatment would benefit humans. It is then, that testing must be done on people to further ascertain if the results of pre clinical trials are substantiated. Pre clinical trials are an important first step in breast cancer research but they cannot replace the necessity of testing out how effective these new therapies would be on the actual people who are affected by breast cancer.

Clinical trials set out to answer two questions

Does this new therapy, drug, or procedure work in humans and will it be proven to be a better treatment than what is out there now? Will it work in people who are currently benefiting from the current therapies or breast cancer treatments?

The second question that must be answered is to determine the side affects of the drug or procedure and if this medication or breast cancer therapy is so good that it will outweigh the side affects?

Clinical trials show researchers which therapies and procedures will or will not work and why. Unfortunately, researchers cannot predict what the results of the clinical trial will be otherwise there would be no reason to conduct these clinical trials in the first place.

Since this is the case, many breast cancers patients are afraid of participating in a clinical trial. It is important to note that even though there may be some negative affects resulting from the participation in a clinical trial, there is also the fact that thousands of patients have benefited from new and improved therapies and medications because of the clinical trial volunteers.

Deciding on whether or not participating in a breast cancer clinical trial is right for you is a personal choice but it is also one that should be talked over with your doctor. Your doctor will go over the benefits and risks unique to your personal situation.

Many of the current hormonal and targeted therapies such as the use of Herceptin, Aromatase inhibitors, Tamoxifen and even radiation were first tested in clinical trials. There are actually about 1,000 pre clinical tests on new drugs done, before one of them will be deemed successful enough to make it to the clinical trial stage of testing. Furthermore a new drug will be tested at the pre clinical trial stage for about six years before it graduates to the clinical stage if it can make it that far.

Clinical trials can take place at hospitals and various cancer centers across the nation. Researchers wanting to conduct a clinical trial will have to fill out a detailed plan of how the trial will be conducted, what dosages of medication will be given, how this treatment is expected to be better than current therapies and so on. Then a review board will study the plan to determine if the clinical study is justified.

Clinical studies are usually divided into one to four treatment plans.

Randomized studies select breast cancer patients at random

Double blind studies are studies conducted where neither the researcher nor participant will know which treatment will be given to them. This type of study is designed to eliminate any kind of bias such as a preconceived idea of how you would respond to a given treatment. This kind of bias could affect the outcome of the study.

Any person wishing to participate in a clinical trial will be asked for their written consent. Furthermore a participant can quit the trial at any time.

The stages of the drug testing include:

Phase 1 testing in humans, using a small sample of about 15 people. Here the researchers are looking at the best way to administer the drug (pills versus injections) and what is the highest dosage that can be given.

Phase 2 testing will involve about 25 to 100 participants. The goal is to find out if the medication works and whether it will enhance the breast cancer patient’s quality of life.

Phase 3 testing can involve thousands of people and the main focus of this phase is to determine if the new therapy is better than the current therapies in use.