Treating Breast Cancer with Estrogen

Each year, metastatic breast cancer takes the lives of an estimated 40,000 women. Reachers are constantly exploring new options for treatment of this cancer, and in many cases, drugs being used for an extended period of time by breast cancer patients often become ineffective. One surprising treatment that doctors are now prescribing for women with metastatic breast cancer is estrogen, which is known for aiding in the growth of a tumor. However, in a new study presented at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, it was found that estrogen therapy brought tumor growth to a standstill in 30 percent of the women involved. For some of the women that took part in the study, not only did they see their tumors stop growing, they saw them shrink in size.

The estrogen therapy study included postmenopausal women, with an average age of 59, that had advanced metastatic breast cancer that was also considered estrogen-receptor-positive cancer. These women’s bodies were no longer benefitting from aromatase inhibitor (AI) drugs, which lower estrogen levels. Eventually, the tumors had altered themselves and became resistant to the AI drugs, allowing the cancer to grow without estrogen. Researchers introduced the estrogen to lab-grown breast cancer cells, observing them as their growth slowed down significantly. However, since these types of treatments become uneffective with long-term use, the estrogen therapy did eventually stop working. Fortunately, most women with metastatic breast cancer are able to switch back to the drugs they were previously taking to treat their cancer and prevent growth. Some patients are even able to go back and forth between the estrogen therapy and the AI estrogen-lowering drugs.

For women with metastatic breast cancer that are interested in learning if this estrogen therapy would benefit them, it is necessary to have PET (positron emission tomography) scans done before and after an estrogen treatment test. The PET scans will allow doctors to see whether or not the estrogen therapy will treat the cancer effectively. Anyone looking to find out more about this type of treatment should talk to their doctor and do extensive research before starting treatment.

With all new treatments, there is a greater chance that a doctor or hospital will make a mistake, causing the patient additional problems. If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York related to breast or any other type of cancer, please contact the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

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