subject: Study To Prevent Breast Cancer [print this page] Breast cancer is a devastating disease and it is one of the most common reasons for disease related deaths in women. Though the number of deaths that are caused due to cancer in general and breast cancer specifically have been on the decline over the last few years, the actual number of deaths still is cause for concern.
It is estimated that almost forty thousand women die from the disease every year and more than 260,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a disease that takes a toll of the womans emotions as well as the body. Studies are still on to learn more about breast cancer and relentless research constantly uncovers new facts about the disease which helps us inch just a little bit closer towards conquering the disease.
A team of scientists will be working on how to prevent breast cancer using the drug exemestane. The reason behind the preventative properties of the drug is due to its aromatase inhibition. By aromatase inhibition, the amount of estrogen circulating in the womans body is reduced. The lesser the estrogen, the lesser the chances of developing the disease. Doctors have long prescribed the drug tamoxifen which is an anti estrogen drug to women who have already developed and successfully cured of breast cancer and who want to prevent relapse. Tamoxifen blocks the breast cancer cells from getting access to the estrogen, but it does not prevent the body from producing the hormone.
The aromatase inhibitors work in a different way. They actually shut down the production of estrogen in the body. So there is no mere blockage between the Breast Cancer cells and estrogen, but there is no estrogen supply at all. The new research being conducted on the long term effects of complete estrogen depletion in a womans body will shed new light on how effective and safe the araomatse inhibitor preventative measure is.
What is already known about loss of estrogen is that is accelerates bone loss. In certain case, it is also noticed that low levels of estrogen can aggravate hot flushes. Even in the light of some side effects such as the above, stoppage of estrogen production through aromatase inhibitors is seen as the more effective treatment in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer rather than through tamoxifen. While tamoxifen cuts the risk of developing breast cancer by 50%, aromatase inhibitors cut the risk down by another 50%.
It remains to be seen whether there are yet undiscovered side effects of complete estrogen inhibition, but as of now it seems to the most effective preventative treatment for breast cancer. The results of the new research are eagerly awaited by the scientific community.
by: Alex White
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