Today I read that Tamoxifen is an anti-fungal, & that Arimidex/etc are
aromatase inhibitors (estrogen-production blockers).

I had very bad reactions to aromatase inhibitors, but might do OK on an
anti-fungal.

???

Susan, Su_Texas my opinions

kaye301

anti-fungal.??? >>

That is a possibility. There's no way to know until you try. Wishing you the
best.

Anti-fungal?? Are you joking?? I am about to go on that stuff and it's
sure not for some FUNGUS infection! Are you sure you are not reading
this stuff in "Mad Comics" Sue? What has estrogen got to do with
fungus? (What a time for that doctor to have left our website!)

Bea

tim jackson

A quick look around Google finds several mentions of the fact that Tamoxifen
has anti-fungal properties, and some theories that this is linked to some of
its anti-cancer properties beyond its effect on estrogen. A fringe theory
that a fungus causes bc is the subject of a book by a Dr A V Costantini.

However the accepted main function of Tamoxifen is to block estrogen
receptors in breast tissue cells, as opposed to aromatase inhibitors which
block the creation of estrogens.


Tim Jackson

Tim Jackson

My apologies to Su-Texas! Thank you, as usual, Tim for the education.
I was reading stuff on Tamoxifen today but did not recall seeing
anything about the anti-fungal properties. However, I take your word
(and Su's) that it is so. This site is such a great learning experience
for me and I thank all of you for enlightening me on this bc subject.
(Now if you will just enlighten me on how to take my Tamoxifen......I
will really be a happy camper.<g) Many thanks!

Bea

If some breast cancers are caused by fungus (mycoplasma, such as
Brucella), ... then it would seem that just blocking the estrogen with
meds, would be a partial approach to treating it, ... & that there
should be more.

???

Susan, Su_Texas my opinions

PS Maybe Tamoxifen is the better choice for now, since it might do
both?

tim jackson

Maybe it is, but I don't think that is the reason.

There is a difference between what causes cancer (eg carcinogens) and what
promotes the growth of tumours (eg hormones). Whatever the cause, we know
that most cancers achieve rapid growth by multiplying the number of
receptors for various factors, in the case of breast notably Estrogen (ER)
and Human Epidermal growth factor (HER)

Once you've got a cancer, taking away the cause (or causes) has no effect on
the existing cancers, it just stops more cancers starting. You have to
actively kill off the cells (chemotherapy, radiotherapy), or at least stop
them dividing (hormone therapy).

Of course hormone therapy is rarely a complete approach to destroying
cancer, it won't reverse well established aggressive tumours, but it can be
very effective in making individual cancer cells and small clusters of cells
go dormant for a long long time, long enough for the immune system to pick
them off. And in this way it reduces the number of recurrences perhaps by
half.

It seems more likely that the anti-fungal action would be more relevant to
protecting against the formation of new cancers. We know that breast cancer
survivors are at a relatively high risk of getting another independent
primary cancer. We know Tamoxifen does reduce that risk quite a lot, and it
may not be all due to cancers which form but do grow. There is no obvious
reason why estrogen deprivation alone should stop the formation of cancers.

Tim

Su-Texas

Whew! Thank you for adding that Su. I sure don't need to be telling my
onc I refuse to try Tamoxifen. So now I can take it with peace of
mine, right!

Bea

Whew! Thank you for adding that Su. I sure don't need to be telling my
onc I refuse to try Tamoxifen. * So now I can take it with peace of
mine, right!

========

Hi Bea,

I'm stumbling in the dark too, & scared. I'm trying to read & learn, to
come up with ideas & theories, ... & to get Tim & the others reactions
to them, which I really do appreciate.

Susan, Su_Texas my opinions

PS I think it would embarrass Tim all to pieces, if we were to give him
hugs, ... so I keep a stiff upper lip, & mumble Thanks from time to
time.

tim jackson

Uh, I think that was a compliment.

Thanks

((Susan))


Tim