Pre-menopausal

There are many studies that have looked at the relationship between the use of oral contraceptives and breast cancer risk. The results are not yet clear. This is due, in part, to the fact that the women who tend to take the contraceptives are unlikely to get breast cancer, so the numbers in the studies are low and hard to compare. A recent study did show that there is no link between use of oral contraceptives and survival of women who have breast cancer (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21551244). Another recent study showed that IN COMBINATION with other factors, use of oral contraceptives may influence risk of breast cancer (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21467202). There are many studies that have looked at the relationship between the use of oral contraceptives and breast cancer risk. The results are not yet clear. This is due, in part, to the fact that the women who tend to take the contraceptives are unlikely to get breast cancer, so the numbers in the studies are low and hard to compare. A recent study did show that there is no link between use of oral contraceptives and survival of women who have breast cancer (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21551244). Another recent study showed that IN COMBINATION with other factors, use of oral contraceptives may influence risk of breast cancer (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21467202).

For pre-menopausal women with estrogen positive breast cancer, the hormonal treatment options are:
- tamoxifen is the most common treatment
- medications that temporarily stop the ovaries from producing estrogen are: Zoladex (goserelin acetate), Lupron (leuprolide), or Trelstar (triptorelin)
- surgical removal of ovaries
- radiation treatment to stop ovaries from working

A couple of less common treatments are Megace (megestrol) and Halotestin (fluoxymesterone). These treatments are used in specific cases. For pre-menopausal women with estrogen positive breast cancer, the hormonal treatment options are:
- tamoxifen is the most common treatment
- medications that temporarily stop the ovaries from producing estrogen are: Zoladex (goserelin acetate), Lupron (leuprolide), or Trelstar (triptorelin)
- surgical removal of ovaries
- radiation treatment to stop ovaries from working

A couple of less common treatments are Megace (megestrol) and Halotestin (fluoxymesterone). These treatments are used in specific cases.