Raloxifene/Evista for Estrogen positive Breast Cancer?

Anneelise

My mother, 86 years young, recently was diagnosed with stage one BC, one part ER+ and one part HER2+. A lumpectomy and biopsies showed no spread of the cancer. She will begin to take Herceptin to attack the HER2+, but for the estrogen positive aspect, the doctor recommended a drug called Raloxifene (also known as Evista). Mom is otherwise very healthy, but her bones are thin, so the doctor said that this drug will help both her thinning bones AND modulate the estrogen in her system, with the hopes that that type of cancer will not start up again in her body.

This all sounds well and good, but the patient reviews that we've read of Raloxifene/Evista sound awful.

Has anyone taken Raloxifene/Evista for ER+ BC? We are interested to get any feedback you'd offer.

MelissaDallas

That is interesting that you read that, because my reading and experience is that Evista is tolerated very well with few side effects. I wish I could take it instead of an AI

Anneelise

Melissa, maybe only the patients who had bad experiences wrote about them, and maybe the majority of patients actually tolerate it well. That crossed my mind as I read the negative reviews.

LisaAlissa

Anneelise,

I changed from Tamoxifen (which has side effects I couldn't tolerate) to Evista (Raloxifene) because it was much easier for me. I suspect, as usual, only the people who have trouble with a drug/treatment write about it much.

I'd definitely encourage your mother to give it a try!

Best wishes,

LisaAlissa

Moderators

Anneelise -- there's also some great info on the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Evista.

We hope this helps! Please keep us posted on what mom decides to do and how she's doing.

--The Mods