If you do not have estrogen receptors, is it beneficial to take Tamoxifen following surgery and radiation treatments for breast cancer?
Everyone has estrogen receptors in their bodies. However, not all breast cancer tumors have estrogen receptors. Those tumors that do not are referred to as estrogen receptor negative. Approximately 25-50% of the patients with breast cancer have estrogen receptor negative tumors. In most cases, if the original tumor is estrogen receptor positive, recurrent tumors are likely to be estrogen receptor positive and vice versa. Tamoxifen may reduce cancer recurrence after surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy has destroyed the original estrogen receptor positive tumor. Tamoxifen blocks these hormone receptors and inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor positive cancer cells. Studies have shown that Tamoxifen provides a benefit to women with early detection of breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive. Studies have also shown that Tamoxifen is not effective in estrogen receptor negative tumors and should not be used.
