Some cancers achieve uncontrolled growth by producing extra receptors
for hormones, usually estrogen.  Where this happens, the risk of further
cancers or of recurrences of the first one, can be reduced by drugs such
as Tamoxifen which blocks the receptors, or aromatase inhibitors which
prevent estrogen being made (apart from in the ovaries).

These drugs do not -prevent- recurrence, they lower the risk, by about
half.  In hormone receptor negative cancers, the risk of recurrence
tends to be lower anyway. but there is no drug that can lower it further.

That said, I have to mention Herceptin.  Some cancers produce extra
receptors for the growth factor HER2, and if the cancer is HER2 positive
then Herceptin can be effective against it.  However this drug is
expensive and has risks associated with it, which make it unsuitable for
'adjuvant' use, that is where there is no symptom of cancer.  It is
being trialled for use in this situation where the risks of recurrence
are very high, and some doctors are prescribing it "off-label", but in
general it is nor recommended.

Having survived 4½ years without recurrence, she has the worst of the
risks behind her, and even if she had been able to use Tamoxifen, its
usefulness would be coming to an end about now.  At this stage the risk
of a recurrence of her original cancer is getting close to the risk of
just getting another cancer anyway.

So I would just be happy that she does not have cancer, and not worry
about it any more than worrying about being knocked down by a bus or any
other of life's risks.

Tim Jackson

Hi John, Tim's response was 'right on.'  As far as doing anything
preventatively, it is hard to know what precipitated or triggered your wife's
breast cancer.  There is some research suggesting that exercise and low fat
diet can help--but not sure if that is for all breast cancers.  There is some
evidence that resveratrol (found in such drinks as red grape juice), tumeric,
and cruciferous vegetables (i.e.  broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage,
brussels sprouts, and others) may have a protective effect.  However, their
benefit has not been proven conclusively, nor is it known which types benefit
most or best.  However, I am sure these can be of positive benefit health-wise.

I'm on herceptin - in Brisbane Australia they are part of a world wide trial
as an adjuvant - In Australia the herceptin is free. I have it once every 3
weeks and hardly notice it - breast cancer usually recurs in 10 to 15 years
so it is crueler than other cancers and tricks patients into thinking
they're cured.

1 in 5 people are HER +ve.

In my case the oncologist simply faxed the pathologists who took out one of
my lymph nodes from storage and tested it - I was lucky enough to be
suitable for the herceptin.

I take a combination of bisphosphonate and herceptin thru my porta-cath and
suffer no side effects at all.