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Have Stage 2 Breast Cancer. Currently On Hormone Therapy. Any Alternate Treatment?

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Posted on Mon, 6 May 2013
Question: I have stage 2 breast cancer. Currently on hormone therapy, which makes me feel ill. Is there an alternative.
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Answered by Dr. Rohan Khandelwal (33 minutes later)
Dear Ma'am,

Sorry to hear about your problem. Hormonal therapy (anastrozole, letrozole or tamoxifen) need to be taken for 5 years and are associated with a few side effects like hot flushes, osteoporosis, DVT and endometrial hyperplasia. The benefits of these medicines far outweigh the minor side effects they cause. They reduce the chances of cancer coming back by as much as 50% and are a vital part of the treatment.
There are alternate hormonal therapy measures like GHrH analogues but they are associated with much more side effects.
It is better that you discuss the problem with your oncologist and take a call after understanding about the risks and benefits of this treatment.

Hoping for the best. Please feel free to clarify any other query.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Rohan Khandelwal

Oncologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 576 Questions

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Have Stage 2 Breast Cancer. Currently On Hormone Therapy. Any Alternate Treatment?

Dear Ma'am,

Sorry to hear about your problem. Hormonal therapy (anastrozole, letrozole or tamoxifen) need to be taken for 5 years and are associated with a few side effects like hot flushes, osteoporosis, DVT and endometrial hyperplasia. The benefits of these medicines far outweigh the minor side effects they cause. They reduce the chances of cancer coming back by as much as 50% and are a vital part of the treatment.
There are alternate hormonal therapy measures like GHrH analogues but they are associated with much more side effects.
It is better that you discuss the problem with your oncologist and take a call after understanding about the risks and benefits of this treatment.

Hoping for the best. Please feel free to clarify any other query.