![Mayo Clinic home page [logo]](/images-global/mayologo.gif)
Discover how you can help support Mayo Clinic.
G44 - STAR Trial Update
Click here to copy and paste this text.
Intro: In the spring of 2006 the National Cancer Institute released initial results of the STAR trial for breast cancer prevention. The study compared the drug TUH-MOX-UH-FEN to another drug called RUH-LOX-OH-FEEN. Both reduced the incidence of invasive breast cancer by 50 percent in high-risk postmenopausal women. But neither drug is risk free, and there are differences between the two. So how do women know which one to take? Doctors at Mayo Clinic have the details.
| Video | Audio |
|
Total running time 1:46 | MUSIC RUNS IN PAM MOBERG'S FAMILY. |
|
Pam Moberg | "MY GRANDMOTHER, MY MOTHER'S MOTHER, HAD AN OLD PIANO." |
| UNFORTUNATELY, BREAST CANCER MAY HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN TOO. HER GRANDMOTHER HAD THE DISEASE. HER MOM DIED FROM IT AT AGE 56. THE SAME AGE PAM IS NOW. | |
| Pam Moberg | "I MADE A VOW TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD LIVE LONGER THAN MY MOM DID." |
| PAM TOOK ACTION. SINCE HER FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER PUT HER AT HIGH RISK, SHE WAS PERFECT FOR THE STAR TRIAL -- A BREAST CANCER PREVENTION STUDY LED BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. IT SHOWED THAT A DRUG USED FOR OSTEOPOROSIS CALLED RALOXIFENE WAS JUST AS EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING CANCER AS TAMOXIFEN, WHICH IS A DRUG ALREADY KNOWN TO PREVENT BREAST CANCER. GOOD NEWS FOR WOMEN AT HIGH RISK OF THE DISEASE. | |
|
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D. | "THE ISSUE WE STRUGGLE WITH NOW IS HOW DO YOU TELL A WOMAN WHO IS AT HIGH RISK WHICH IS THE RIGHT DRUG?" |
|
From Dr. Pruthi to graphics
Tamoxifen
Standup | DR. SANHYA PRUTHI SAYS BOTH DRUGS PREVENT INVASIVE BREAST CANCER AND OSTEOPOROSIS. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. BOTH TAMOXIFEN AND RALOXIFENE INCREASE YOUR RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS, STROKE, HOT FLASHES AND VAGINAL DRYNESS. TAMOXIFEN INCREASES YOUR RISK OF UTERINE CANCER BUT IT ALSO PROTECTS AGAINST NONINVASIVE BREAST CANCERS WHICH RALOXIFENE DOES NOT. DECIDING WHICH IF EITHER IS THE RIGHT DRUG FOR YOU ISN'T EASY. YOU NEED TO KNOW THE RISKS AND BENEFITS AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION YOUR OWN RISK AND HISTORY OF THE DISEASE. |
|
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
| "IT REQUIRES A CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR WHO'S EXPERIENCED IN HOW THESE DRUGS WORK." |
|
| PAM TAKES TAMOXIFEN. AND THOUGH SHE'S STILL AT HIGH RISK SHE REMAINS CANCER FREE. |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. |
Tag: Both tamoxifen and raloxifene work by blocking estrogen, which is a fuel for breast cancer, from reaching the breast. Dr. Pruthi says other drugs are being tested that may protect against breast cancer with fewer side effects. For more information, visit our Web site at...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
.
