How do breast cancer patients choose endocrine therapy

For breast cancer patients, endocrine therapy is the oldest and most commonly used treatment method among various other treatment methods besides surgery. Factors such as the age of breast cancer patients, the location of the lesion, the interval between surgery and recurrence, and receptor determination can be used as the basis for the selection of endocrine therapy drugs. At the same time, the mechanism of action and side effects of different drugs should also be considered.

1. Tamoxifen is the preferred endocrine therapy drug for both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Its advantages are that it is both economical and effective, and the duration of medication is generally 5 years. After 5 years, menopausal patients can also use aromatase inhibitors for another 2 to 5 years with better efficacy.

2. For postmenopausal breast cancer patients with good family economic conditions, aromatase inhibitors can be used, and the medication period should be at least 2 to 5 years.

3. Premenopausal high-risk breast cancer patients, if their financial situation permits, can first choose the "double-D" therapy, that is, the combined use of Norad and Arimidex, which is more effective than tamoxifen.

4. If breast cancer recurs or metastasizes during the use of tamoxifen or other endocrine drugs, another type of endocrine therapy drug can be used instead.

5. Progestogen drugs are a good choice for patients with advanced breast cancer as second-line drugs. In addition, they are also applicable to patients who have failed other endocrine drug treatments.

6. Endocrine therapy is generally used sequentially after the completion of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and is not usually used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

7. For some elderly patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, endocrine therapy alone may be considered.