Ellen Campbell -Grizzle

There is usually a flurry of information about breast cancer in October. Increasingly, both women and men are encouraged to be 'breast aware' so that they can notice any changes that occur early and seek treatment. There are many existing and promising drugs to treat breast cancer. Most are developed specifically for the job while some are borrowed from other fields of medicine.

The discovery of tamoxifen

Tamoxifen, an exceptionally effective drug in cancer treatment, was never planned to be a preventive agent. It was first discovered in 1962, as an anti-oestrogen, a substance that stops oestrogen from working in specific tissues by preventing the hormone from docking in oestrogen receptors found in these tissues.

Tamoxifen was first tested as a contraceptive, however women in the clinical trials became more fertile. In the search for other uses of the molecule, scientists discovered its selective activity for working only in certain tissues, such as breast tissue.

Researchers began to look at the drug's ability to combat the growth of human breast cancer that used oestrogen to promote tumour growth. Tamoxifen proved effective in the treatment of breast cancer. Today, the drug has a dual role of treating breast cancer and preventing the disease in women at high risk.

Another prominent candidate

Raloxifene was first developed to treat osteoporosis in women. The drug binds to oestrogen receptors .The molecule functions as an oestrogen sometimes (in bones and lipid meta-bolism) and as an anti-oestrogen in other tissues, such as the breast.

It has the potential for producing oestrogen's beneficial effects without producing adverse effects. In a trial for its use to treat osteoporosis, it appeared to have another completely different effect, namely, the prevention of new hormone-dependent breast cancers.

Preventing breast cancer

There are several drugs that are used to treat breast cancer effectively; others are in the pipeline and are at various stages of development. Despite these welcome scientific advances, breast awareness remains a very important factor in the early detection of breast cancer. This can mean more effective treatment if the disease is found.

Be breast aware

Changes to be aware of include :

Size - if one breast becomes larger or lower.

Nipples - if a nipple becomes inverted (pulled in) or changes position or shape.

Rashes - on or around the nipple.

Discharge - from one or both nipples.

Skin changes - puckering or dimpling.

Swelling - under the armpit or around the collarbone (where the lymph nodes are located).

Pain - continuous, in one part of the breast or armpit.

Lump or thickening - different to the rest of the breast.