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Tamoxifen and breast cancer
I have recently had an operation for breast cancer and the removal of a small lump. I am taking Tamoxifen - however the side-effects include hot flushes, day and night, and insomnia. I am also concerned about the long-term effects. I’d rather not take this drug. Can you suggest an alternative?
According to Dr Julian Kenyon, a medically qualified doctor practising at the Centre for the Study of Complementary medicine, there have been two large clinical trials investigating the use of Tamoxifen as a means of preventing the recurrence of cancer. Unhelpfully, one trial showed it had a significant impact in reducing recurrences, the other showed it had no effect whatsoever - which means, says Dr Kenyon, the jury is still out.
In any event, complementary practitioners do not accept the wisdom of relying on just one drug or treatment to prevent a recurrence of this disease. They believe cancer is a complex disease process in which a faulty immune system allows cancer cells to grow unchecked.
There is, says Dr Kenyon, an increasing move towards immuno-therapy treatments where practitioners monitor the immune function on a regular basis and in your case, would continue to do so for five years because this is the period during which you are at highest risk of a recurrence.
Your tailor-made immuno-therapy treatment plan is likely to include recommended changes to your diet, plus the prescription of herbal, vitamin and homeopathic remedies. Once you embark on such a programme, you need to continue to be monitored because the immune system itself changes depending on what else is going on in your life.
Contact the Centre for the Study of Complementary medicine on 0171-487 5209 or 01703-334752.